Pirates and Princesses Halloween

We went to a local community theatre's, Pirates & Princesses show.  It was for Halloween.  Every one got chips, a hot dog, and apple cider.  then we saw a 30-minute show (Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the Lost Boys and then a Princess Dance Along.  Afterwards the kids got to go around the each character and go trick or treating.  It was a great evening for the little ones!

Halloween treats at home

I saw these pudding mix & cake mix cookied on pinterest at The Mother Huddle
I used Pumpkin spice pudding mix and a yellow cake mix.  They came out wonderful!
frosted them with cream cheese frosting!  YUMMY!

Makes 2 dozen cookies.
Ingredients:
1 Duncan Hines 16.5oz cake mix (I used classic white, but you can use any flavor)
1 small 3.4oz box of instant pudding (I used vanilla, but again whatever suits your fancy)
Two extra large eggs, one stick of softened butter
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°
In a large bowl stir together the cake and pudding mixes
Add eggs and butter and mix until a dough is formed – you may have to get your hands involved ;)
Roll into 1 inch balls and place on an ungreased nonstick cookie sheet or baking stone
Bake for 6-7 minutes
Place on a baking rack to cool
You do not want to over cook these Store in an air-tight container, or ziplock bag.
It may seem like they aren’t quite finished but once
they won’t be soft and chewy if you do.they cool they are perfect.
store in air tight container
Recipe from the motherhuddle.com

Halloween play-doh treats for the Kids

decided to give the kids some glittery, scented play-doh in with their candy, tattoos, and stickers.  we made 24 bags for her Kindergarten class, 14 bags for her dance class, 6 bags for the kids at the bus stop, and four for the neighbor girls behind us!  I went through more than a bag of flour!!  That is a lot of play-doh making!

these are just the bags for her class.

Halloween decorations

I found a great way to glitter just about anything.  mix in glitter with mod podge and paint on.  I will warn you, it takes a lot of glitter and a few coats, but the glitter stays put and its so sparkly!  I used martha stewart's fine glitters and was so very happy with how they came out. 

pumpkin carving ...

didn't go so well.  she was gagging and crying even after she went to other side of the table.

fun at the pumpkin farm

after we got them set up, we drew faces on them with a sharpie marker.

Halloween book shelf 2012

These are the Halloween books that are out on the special interest shelf for the month.  Her favorites are Where's My Mummy?,Ten Timid Ghosts, Scaredy Cat Splat, and There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!

Operation Christmas Child

This is my tenth year as donation coordinator for a Christmas Basket Program in my local town.  We raise about $25,00 to $28,00 each year and we help out 27 local families and three area food banks.  I work year-round hosting functions and soliciting companies for donation.  In addition to my local work, my family has also chosen to do shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child also.  We are going to do four boxes (one from each member of our family).  I was very moved this year watching come you tube videos about Operation Christmas Child.  Take a few moments and watch some of the heart-touching videos and then get shopping!!!

homeschool or public school??

To say we have been on the fence about schooling choice is an understatement.  Originally I was NOT going to homeschool Natalie because she is an only child.  Then we started to look at our options and I was totally sold on the Classical Conversations! and picked out All about Reading for Phonics and Math U Can See for Math.  Registered for Classical Conversations and purchased our matierals.  My husband started pushing for public school. My husband is much older and retired from the steel mills.  I am an RN, I work night shift and he is Natalie's care giver while I sleep & work.  They are both very good about letting me get sleep!  He was looking forward to having a break with her going to school.  Public School had their open house so we went to Natalie's elementary school, met her teacher.  Classical conversations wasnt going to start for 2.5 weeks after public school.  He asked me to start her in Kindergarten.  Our district is mandatory full day, five days a week kindergarten.  Natalie has never been away from us that much in any given day.  So we trialed Kindergarten at our public school.  Natalie got off the bus the very first day and said what a great day she had at school.  She hasn't once complained about getting up, the hours at school, or being away from us.  (Insert Mommy's sadness here).  I guess I should be joyful that this hasnt been an emotional or physical hurdle for us to overcome.  She has transitioned right into school, riding the bus, just growing up I guess.  So I have agreed with my husband to have her attend public school.   I will admit already that I'm sure she isn't learning as much as she could with homeschooling, but she says she enjoying it.  So we are going to continue with some learning at home while she remains in public school.  If there is a time where we or her teacher is alarmed with her learning or behavior,  I will then look to homeschooling her.

I do hope you'll stay tuned in here to see what activities we do in addition to her school work!
Thanks for looking!
becky

we are reading The Jesus Storybook Bible

We have books, books and more books!  WE HAVE A LOT!  I wanted a bible that would hold Natalie's attention.  This is the one that I picked up.  I told her that we will TRY to read it every day but if not we will at least see how long it takes us to get through it.  I'm writing the date on the last page.  (Saw this on  Courtney's blog).  Im glad that she has been attentive while we are reading.  To help her, I turn off tv or radio and she's not allowed to have any toys with her when we read.  She's even asking questions!!