A Little Halloween Post

A little Halloween post before posting my sister's visit. 

First we had to draw the carving.

I carved.

I bought this pumpkin a week or so ago and it already was a bit mushy on the bottom so I made the opening on the back rather than bottom or top.  It was the only small one I had :(

Then it was time for the fun stuff...

and pose for the paparazzi

Then added the head to the rest of the pumpkin snowman.  Pretty cute I must say.

He joins the traditional elmo vampire pumpkin.

Not sure how long these will last...hopefully til Halloween or til a big moose comes by and decapitates our snowman :) vvvv

Might even have time to carve another that we have that is decorating the landscape.  Speaking of decorating...

I didn't do much of a post on our Halloween decorating ... which we did in September :),  as I said last year I would only post new additions, etc.  You can read about the years prior here, here and here.  I am pretty old school and love tradition which means it is pretty much the same.  Yet!  I added this Fall wreath to our door that will only be replaced after Thanksgiving with a Christmas one. 

I love it...and love it even more as it was 50% off at Target...Smith and Hawken outdoor decor line.

We also decorated our blackboard in the dining room.

Amelia drew the ghosts (seriously) and I did the rest ... inspired by a pinterest chalkboard design I found.

Lastly, it wouldn't be Halloween without some hauntingly delicious trail mix.  Yep, do this every year HOWEVER, this year I added popcorn so it qualifies as new!

Next...my sister's 5 day visit and all that was accomplished.

Fall and Super Sparkle Barbie

I finally got around to some Fall photos and most importantly her Halloween costume...

Presenting...

Super Sparkle Barbie!

I really had to see if some warmer clothes would fit under the costume.  I am sure it will be freezing and a good chance of snow on the ground.

We decided to use face paint for the mask on Halloween night as the mask was bothersome and I am guessing we could put her pink snow pants over the leggings if we had to.

Never fear... Barbie is here.

The Tooth Fairy Strikes Again

This is what she looked like hours before she lost her second tooth.

And after :)  They are falling out like leaves in the Fall.  Her two top ones are now all wiggly. 

She left her tooth in her tooth fairy doll's bag and this is what she woke up to. 

She is saving the glittery $5 of course.

We also celebrated Dad's birthday this weekend with a chocolate cake :)

She is holding the Minion Fart Gun she got him.  What a clown.

Next:  Halloween and Fall photo session and my sister is coming tomorrow!

A Bookcase...refinished

I purchased this Ethan Allen bookcase on Craigslist for $25.  Rob needed something for his office and at that time I needed a project.  Win...win. 

It had initials carved on the top (kids are rascals aren't they).

And serious problems along the sides and bottom.

However, I saw potential in the otherwise beautiful piece.  Nothing that some sanding, cherry stain and oil wouldn't take out right?  Two sanders later...

I am sure my first sander was just getting old...it was nearing the end of a sander's lifespan, but it quit mid project and after hours and hours and hours of sanding...it was just another delay in getting it done.  After a cherry stain and  a few coats of tung oil ... viola.  Beauty.

I didn't get a picture of the back, but I left it with the dark stain as the Ethan Allen mark was on it.  



Loved how it turned out.  Now it is filled with books and Rob's Lego creations :) 

Next:  Gone is tooth number 2.

The First Snowfall ... and Snowstorm.

I was going to post about the bookcase I refinished...then this happened: 

Day 1:

Got home from school to find about 3 inches at our house. Down below there was just rain and snow mix.  Amelia was thrilled...lets shovel and throw snowballs.

The next morning ...

Dad had not put on his studded tires so he took Amelia to school.  I joined them and figured I would still get my walk in by walking home from there...up the mountain.  Amelia and I got to play in the white stuff a bit before school started as Rob left to go to work.

It was pretty.

Until I started up the hill and heard SNAP CRASH of falling limbs due to the trees not losing their leaves yet.

Lots more snow on the mountain and I just walked down the middle of the road as I could hear cars coming and going and could get out of the way of the sliding ones. 

Probably not the best idea I have ever had :)

Later on the skies began to clear.

Day 3:  The Aftermath

Amelia had to show me the work they did during recess.

We made our first snowman...and her baby that evening.

So..the winter begins.