/Letters to My Children/ October

dearemma Whew! What a month October was for us! We usually try to avoid throwing a ton of change at you all at once, but this month it was pretty unavoidable. We kicked off the month by moving into our new house, and while Daddy and I were super worried about how you'd react to the move, you handled everything with patience and understanding well beyond your 3 years. You really seem to love the new house, having more space, and you especially love having a playroom.

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Only a few days after moving, we left for our long awaited beach vacation. You were SO excited to spend a whole week at the beach and couldn't wait to dig your toes into the sand. We ate lots of Kohr's ice cream and we even bought you your very own kite. You loved running with Daddy to get it up in the air, then you'd take over the string and fly it all by yourself!

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You and Zachary ran each other ragged each day, laughing one minute and bickering the next (like typical toddlers!) And you got lots of special time with Nana and Grandpa Ed.2014-11-03_0003 2014-11-03_0004 2014-11-03_0005

I'll never forget you feeding the seagulls on one of our last days there. You were completely fearless, holding up the bread and letting them snatch it out of your hand. You were in heaven and could have spent all afternoon running around feeding those birds.2014-11-03_0006

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Not long after we got home from the beach, you had a school closure and we got to spend a special day just the two of us. While it's often hard for me to manage work and play on those days, I always look forward to them because spending time with you is one of my all time favorite things to do!

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We finally trekked out to the pumpkin patch at Gaver Farm, and you had a blast. I think you tried every single activity they had, but your favorite was the cow train. (Which of course I didn't get a picture of!) You also had a school field trip to Mayne's and got to pick out even more pumpkins. It was so fun getting to see you with all your little school friends. 2014-11-03_0010 2014-11-03_0011

Lastly, the day you'd been waiting for most of all - HALLOWEEN! There is no article of clothing you've been more excited to wear than your Rapunzel dress. (Even now that Halloween is over you like to go into your closet and touch it, and your whole face lights up!) You looked perfect, and having Jonah as your Pascal made it even more fantastic. Once it was time for trick-or-treating you were super shy at first, but after a few houses you really got the hang of it and were running up ringing doorbells all by yourself. We were very proud of you, and it was impossible not to stand back and feel like you were growing up right before our eyes.2014-11-03_0012

It was a month for the record books, my little love, filled with memories that I hope will last a lifetime. <3

lovemama

I encourage you to head over to my super talented friend Renee’s blog to read her letter to her children.

Lil' Red

Happy Halloween! Well, first I hope everyone is safe, sound, with power, cell service, etc. Second, Happy Halloween! I'm so glad the kids around here will still get to go trick or treating tonight. Emma's still a little young for that, but I made her a costume anyway because we all know I just couldn't help myself.

I used Simplicity 1774, red fleece for the cape, and blue gingham for the dress. The pattern could not have been easier, especially with fleece because that meant I didn't have to line the cape. I did add some topstitching to give it a more finished look. And I used buttons to fasten the shoulder straps instead of hook and loop tape. Mostly because I forgot to buy hook and loop tape.

We were late getting out the door this morning, so this was the best I could get. (Note to self, learn how to use my Speedlight. That grain is killing me!) What you can't see here are the adorable new white chucks I got her to go with her costume, which of course are her favorite part.

Have a happy, safe, and sugar-filled Halloween, everyone!

Halloween sandwich cookies

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halloween sandwich cookies

Hold on to your hats, folks... this may or may not be the start of me getting back to regular blogging. I'm putting it in writing so that it might come true. I'm really trying hard to find time to sew, craft, bake - whatever gets my creative juices flowing and doesn't take a lot of time - which means I may actually have stuff to blog about. Hooray!

I hope you all had a lovely, treat-filled Halloween. I did my best to get into the spirit of things, which was a lot easier this year now that I can deflect my costume wearing obligations onto my daughter. (Reason #143 to have a kid.) The mom's group I belong to had a Halloween get together on Sunday, and we signed up to bring Jared's suuuuper yummy chili and a dessert. (I swear I've blogged about the chili before, but I can't seem to find it, so you'll have to trust me on its awesomeness until I can get the recipe posted.) I'm still doing the no dairy thing, which makes dessert a bit challenging, but I've been determined to make a dairy-free version of the funfetti sandwich cookies that are all over Pinterest, and thought this would be a perfect opportunity. Here's my version...

Ingredients:

  • 1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix*
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Chocolate sprinkles
  • Halloween sprinkles
  • Duncan Hines chocolate frosting*

*You can use a different brand if you don't need them to be dairy free. Duncan Hines just happens to be dairy free. (Yay!)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a bowl, mix cake mix, eggs, oil, and baking powder with a wooden spoon until combined. Add sprinkles and mix. Drop a teaspoon of dough onto the prepared sheets, leaving an inch between each cookie. Bake for 7-8 minutes until cookie has set but has not yet browned, rotating the pans halfway through the baking. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Frost bottom cookie, place 2nd cookie on top. Roll in assorted sprinkles.

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They turned out very yummy, and if I hadn't made them I wouldn't have guessed they were dairy-free. And the recipe would be super easy to adapt for a variety of holidays. I'm still looking forward to making the original Funfetti cookies, but these are a nice alternative until I can have the real thing.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, Emma was a duck for Halloween... and if I do say so myself, she's pretty much the cutest little duck I've ever seen.