Valentine's Day Report

We had a great Valentine's Day this year. I did a little bit of decorating, just enough. The big hit this year was our Valentine's Tree. I wanted to really share this one because we enjoyed it so much. We all got to write on hearts what we loved about each other and then hung them on our tree. What I really like about the tree is that you can adapt it to any holiday. I'm thinking we could do a Secret Leprechaun Tree, filled with acts of service and kindness. hmmm Jonathen got really into this and even drew some pictures on his hearts for our enjoyement (so funny). For dinner we had pizza pies, that's amore! And Jonathen's choice for a movie was The Princess Bride (he really is a romantic, gets it from his Dad).

some Valentine crackers

a gift left by a boy who ate and liked two different vegetable pizzas (wow)!

Spooky Things

So I have to post some of the fun things we did at the party so that you can try them too. We had a scary mad scientist lab with some crazy looking things to look at and eat.

I just can’t get enough of ghoulish things on Halloween and here they are:

Water with food coloring was used for most of these things, the picture takes away the eerie effect of the colored water, it looks so much better in person.

Poly Juice Potion – water, milk and coloring
Bat Wings – Beef Jerky
Gnome Brains – Cauliflower in red water
Troll Toe Nails – Shaved Coconut
Swamp Creature Fingers – Pickles
Your Brain – Cabbage cut to brain shape in grayish water
Bunny Tails – Craft Fuzz Balls
Phoenix Feathers – white feathers
Peeled Mummy Skin – long shredded pieces of paper towel in eerie colored water
Chocolate Covered Ants – chocolate sprinkles
Vampire Heart – Fennel in red dyed water
Werewolf Liver – natural sponge in dyed water
Alien Baby – baked salt dough shaped like an alien fetus looking thing with pieces of paper towel coming out like an umbilical cord in dyed greenish-bluish water
Goblin Boogers – green raisins
Human Blood – red dyed water
Swamp Water Juice – Naked Juice Super Food Green Machine, so tasty, so nasty looking must drink in clear cups

Some other ideas
Toasted Lizard Brains – pecan halves
Fried Dried Worms – chinese chicken salad noodles
Dwarf Ears – Dried Apricots

Are you grossed out yet? Have some fun, you probably have some of this stuff already in your fridge and cupboards. There are so many possibilities. We also displayed some red apples, red poisoned apples of course! Obviously not all of this stuff was for tasting, some was just for looking.

Yes that's a brain shaped Birthday Cake!

Mummy Dogs - Hot Dogs wrapped in canned croissant dough, I tear one triangle of dough into three pieces and then I wrap them around like a mummy suit. Bake in oven until golden brown. Mustard dots for the eyes and ketchup dot for the mouth. These are delicious, make sure you make enough for the adults. If your kids eat like birds, cut the hot dogs in half length wise and then wrap them. Enjoy!

Family Filled Weekend

Last weekend we had a memorial service for Mike's great uncle, Charles Everett Marshall.

He was so loved by many and will be greatly missed.What I really loved about "Unk" was how lovingly he took care of his sister (Mike's Grandma). After she passed he became more active in participating at family gatherings. He came to the dinners and birthday parties, and family trips. He always came. I grew to love him so much. I am so grateful to have been able to spend some time with him right before he passed away. He served his family, neighbors and country. He gave with his whole heart. Love you Unk!