Halloween Preperation!

What a fun night! Arick got a brand new video game (Fable II for the Xbox 360) and he wanted a few hours to play without the interruption of the boys, so he “kicked us out” of the house for the day. Not that I was sad to go! We spent the day at Kristin’s. When we first got there, we carved pumpkins. I’ve never carved a pumpkin before! The most I’d ever done was draw a face on it with permanent marker. Kristin had a pumpkin carving kit, but she couldn’t find it anywhere, so we had to use the “medieval” tools of knives and spoons. LOL I actually think they turned out quite well, considering I’d never before done it and had to use, what I hear is, such “primitive” pumpkin carving tools. I picked up two pumpkins from the commissary the night prior, so that there would be one for each of the boys. Aidyn really got excited about it and got into scooping all the insides out with his spoons and dumping it into a bag. It didn’t quite smell like what I expected…I guess I just thought it’d smell like pumpkin pie. LOL It most definitely did not! On Aidyn’s pumpkin, I did two spiders, and on Calen’s, I did a ghost. Kristin carved a cat and stars on hers. J

One of Kristin’s other friends, Liz, came over as well with her 2 month old baby girl. We all ended up going over to the base to try and take the kids to the Trunk-or-Treat and the non-scary hours for the Haunted House. Unfortunately for me, neither of the boys would wear their costumes. L I went through all the trouble of getting Aidyn a Halloween costume (Spiderman!), and he refused to wear it. I didn’t think of costumes ahead of time enough to order any online or ask my in-laws to send us some, and the options at the BX were little to none. They had infant and adult costumes and pretty mush nothing in between. So I was going to let Calen decide between his and Aidyn’s costumes from last year, James or Thomas, but he didn’t want either. Collin looked really cute in his skeleton jumper, though! If we get to make it to the Halloween carnival on base on Halloween day, maybe I can convince them to dress up then. Or maybe Arick can. He seems to have that touch.

When we got to base and around to where the line was for the trunk-or-treat, it really ended up not being worth the wait. The line was waaaaaaaaaay too long to stand in with 4 kids aged 2 months through 3 years. It was a little nippy as well, and not good for Hannah and Collin to be out in. So instead, we went to the food court inside and the boys got pizza. That made them happy. J The food vendors also had some candy set out for the kids, so we got a little (and I mean very little) bit anyhow. While I was there, I had to run and grab some diapers (I ran out in the diaper bag before we even got to base!) and picked up a little thing of Snickers bars as well, just so that Aidyn could say “trick or treat!” and get some candy in his bucket. I let him hold on to the bucket for the trip back to Kristin’s. That turned out to be a mistake.

Kristin and I were talking in the front, when all of the sudden, an aroma caught my olfactory attention. And we’re not talking about stinky diaper aroma, either. I could smell chocolate. I asked Kristin if Aidyn had gotten into the candy, and sure enough, he already had half of the bar gone! (They weren’t the mini-sized…probably about the size of the ones you see at the check-out counter.) I didn’t even know he could open packages like that! Needless to say, he didn’t get to hold the bucket for the rest of the trip. I guess the chocolate-y mess could have been significantly worse than it was, but I was just too miffed (and amused, really) that he’d even gotten it open to fully appreciate that. He got some on his socks and some on his shirt. (He was pant-less due to a wetting accident, just before getting in the car.) No chocolate, seemingly, on his car seat or anywhere on the car’s upholstery, thank goodness! We went back to Kristin’s and baked some cookies. Yum! Aidyn was very excited about using the cookie cutter to help make Halloween sugar cookies! In fact, when I turned my back (I know, I know, foolish me!) to put one on the cookie sheet, Aidyn helped himself to using another cookie cutter, smack dab in the middle of the rolled out dough! He even had pulled it up and set it aside, with the dough caught inside the cutter! He’s getting awfully sneaky and very independent. He makes his own choices on what he wants to do and acts on it.

After the cookies were all in the oven, the boys played their little hearts out while Krsitin and I chatted and crocheted. (I’m teaching her how to make the round ripple afghan!) J She and I got to decorate the cookies, too. At first we thought about letting the boys try to do it, but then this mental image of Aidyn squeezing the icing tube as hard as he could and making a huge mess just wouldn’t get out of my head! So we had fun with it instead. J I looked at the clock at about 10p, and thought that I should start to get the boys ready to go. I really try to not keep them out too late. When they started getting inexplicably cranky, though, was when I finally got around to getting us out the door. Guess why they were so cranky….it was because it was two in the morning!!! I can’t believe we stayed that late! I have no idea how 10-30 minutes turned into four more hours! I still can’t believe that was four hours!

I got home and the boys in bed, and went downstairs to apologize to Arick for us getting home so late, and I asked him if he enjoyed his 13 kid-free, gaming hours, and you know what he said? “It wasn’t long enough.” *eye roll* Gamers. ;) LOL So today I was going to return Kristin’s cell phone to her (she accidentally left it in the car last night), and he suggested that I take the boys and a movie and that the boys and I stay over there for an hour or two…or five. LOL We ended up getting to have some yummy pumpkin pasta dish that Kristin had never made before. It was quite tasty! Much to Arick’s dismay, though, the boys and I didn’t stay nearly as late this time around. LOL All in all, I had a fantastic weekend!

Ahh, that's better...

Whew! Some of the pressure has been let off! I finished the round ripple tree skirt last night.

You can't tell from the pictures, very well, but the middle red, green and white section is done with the Red Heart Holiday Yarn...it's got silver sparkles in it...never again will I buy that yarn! It's too painful!!! The overall effect once it's done is nice, but in my opinion, not really worth it. My finger felt like steel wool was being rubbed across it. Ouch!

But as of this morning, it went off to join the other donations for the deployed troops on the front range. I didn't make it very large, but that's because their tree is only 4.5' tall...I hope they like it!

In other news, I finished another hat!

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I've still not heard anything about S.P.E.W. through HSKS for this term, I've decided to do my own little chapter of S.P.E.W. I'm making hats free for cancer patients undergoing chemo, and I am also going to sell some on eBay, with the proceeds going to cancer research. Here are all the hats I've finished so far:

I also got my Trick or Treat package sent off to my Ravenclaw "spoilee" yesterday morning. My owl, Sylus, took off dutifully and purposefully. I hope they get it quickly!!! :) I can't wait to hear the reaction to my trick...it's absolutely priceless!

So now I'm just down to working on the Special Olympics scarves and finishing up on Draco's package! Yay! ::scampers off to work on said projects::

Ravenclaw House Quiz

1. What security question does Mr. Weasley ask Mrs. Weasley before he enters the Burrow? What is the answer?
What is Arthur's nickname for Molly when they're alone? Mollywobbles

2. What two names does Mrs. Cole call Dumbledore when she takes him to see Tom Riddle at the orphanage?
Mr. Dumberton and Dunderbore

3. What is the name of Ginny's Pygmy Puff?
Arnold

3. What three D's are needed for apparating? Destination, Determination, and Deliberation

4. What spell did Harry perform when he was attacked by Dementors? Patronus Charm

5. Who did an arrow salute at Dumbledore's funeral? the centaurs

6. What did Dumbledore set on fire to prove to Tom Riddle that he was a wizard? Tom's wardrobe

7. What Christmas present did Kreacher give Harry? a large number of maggots

8. What is on top of the Weasleys' Christmas tree? a garden gnome that had bitten Fred, stupified, painted gold, and stuffed into a mini-tutu with small wings glued to it's back

9. What was the most popular item at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? Nosebleed Nougat

10. Why did Harry threaten to kick Ron off the Griffindor Quidditch team? His attitude toward his teammates

11. What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow? the person that breaks the vow dies

12. Who did Hermoine go to Slughorn's party with? Cormac McLaggen

13. Who is Mrs. Weasley's favorite singer? Celestina Warbeck

14. Who are the only two people who know the full contents of the prophecy made about Harry and Lord Voldemort? Harry and Dumbledore

Up to my ears in it!

Wow!!! So much homework needing completed in this Ravenclaw dorm room! The hats for cancer patients is going to be an ongoing thing, likely through the whole winter, which is well past the end of this term. The same goes for the Special Olympics scarves. I'm trying new forms of Transfiguration for those, stitches I've never tried before. And the first one is coming out quite well, if I do say so myself! On top of all that, I'm attempting a modified version of a Transfiguration spell I am very adept at: the round ripple! I'm making a Christmas tree skirt in a round ripple variation! Donations are being taken at our local military base to go with the tree that they sent down to our deployed troops on the front range.

On top of all that, I've still got some Potions to finish up! I've been collecting the ingredients for a little while, and I still have a couple more to get, but I can't wait to put it all together and mail it off to Draco! Plus I need to get the final ingredient for the Trick or Treat potion to send to...my fellow Ravenclaw! :) The identity of my housemate I'm sending to is a secret until they get their package. :) I bought the Ravenclaw item when I was in Venice, so I really hope they like it!!! I know I do! LOLOn top of all that, I have requests from a family member to do some research for the Italian-themed Christmas they're having this year (in honor of us being here) and to find a sock monkey pattern to make them for my nieces. :) And I found a free crochet pattern that I'm going to use. I'm definitely going to have to tweak it a bit...it definitely needs longer arms and legs, and I may have to adjust the rest accordingly...in the meantime, I smell a surprise from one of my two poltergeists. I'd better go and locate the source and get it taken care of, and then I'm off to work more on my Transfiguration and S.P.E.W. awareness. I swear that campaign never rests...::sigh::

Quidditch Round 2

1. What animal does the portrait in the Muggle Prime Minster’s office resemble?

a. Rat
b. Frog
c. Cat
d. Lion


2. What drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?

a. Gillywater
b. Butterbeer
c. Pumpkin Juice
d. Elf-Made Wine


3. What is the name of the person who heads the Holyhead Harpies?

a. Gwenog Smith
b. Gwenog Jones
c. Glen Jones
d. Glen Smith


4. How many ‘Exceeds Expectation’ grades does Harry receive in his O.W.L’s?

a. 6
b. 3
c. 5
d. 4


5. What is Professor Sughorn’s favorite candy?

a. Cockroach Clusters
b. Sherbet Lemon
c. Acid Pops
d. Crystallized Pineapple


6. What tattoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?

a. Mermaid
b. Blast Ended Skrewt
c. Hippogriff
d. Unicorn


7. What color robes do the staff at the Weasley’s shop wear?

a. Buttercup
b. Magenta
c. Royal Blue
d. Aqua


8. What is the man outside Flourish and Blotts selling?

a. Amulets
b. Cloaks
c. Wands
d. Hats


9. How much is the skull, which Hermione enquires about at Borgin and Burkes, worth?

a. 9 Galleons
b. 18 Galleons
c. 16 Galleons
d. 12 Galleons


10. What are Professor Slughorn’s initials?

a. H.F.G.
b. H.E.F.
c. H.A.L.
d. H.K.D.

My favorite Harry Potter character should really be no surprise....

I mean, really, when you come across a character in any book that is so thoroughly channeling yourself, how can they not be your favorite? Though the following also come in a close second...

and

As to my favorite magical creature...that one is a toughy...in all honesty, even though I empathize with their enslavement and, at times, awful working conditions, I really wouldn't mind having my own....

Though I guess if we're simply talking about a favorite, and not necessarily one you'd like to own, there's always these...

After all, I have always wanted to experience flying like a bird does...