My Magical Hands

March 17th, St. Patricks Day is my birthday and last year Sammy did the funniest thing. He came down in the morning and he was wearing only his "tighty-whities" and I said ooooo I am going to pinch you, you have no green on. Well he ran out of the room (more like he fled the room). I thought he was going to grab some clothes. But no. He soon came running back in still wearing his tighty-whities but now he had on bright green sandles on too. I highly recommend laughing first thing in the morning of your birthday! Here's a wee photo minus the whities.

This year 2011, I thought is would be fun to give Sam and Dylan some chocolate gold coins in the middle of the night before St. Patrick's Day. I wanted it to look like leprechauns had left them. When I went into their room to leave the coins, I thought I had better not put these on the floor, in case our dog Harley ate them, so I decided to put them on their beds. On Dylan's bed I stacked the coins next to him. On Sam's bed he actually had his hands in a cupping shape and I filled them with the coins.

In the morning Sam came into my bathroom and I was in the shower. All I could hear him saying was, "This was NOT supposed to happen" over and over. I peeked my head out and said what? Then I got a look at him, he had melted chocolate all over him! He repeated "This was NOT supposed to happen!" all I could think to say was, "Those darn leprechauns!" I wish I had a photo, though I will never forget his shocked expression changing to a smile when he thought the darn leprechauns really got him this time. Dylan came in later and told us he woke up at 4 a.m. and had some stuff all over him so he got in the shower and slept on the floor the rest of the night! "Those darn leprechauns!" Sammy said. I had the giggles for days!

We had a blast at our Halloween Party! This was the 17th year of our annual haunt. The best thing about the party is our family really gets into it and everyone goes all out for their costume. My favorite time of the party is when everyone arrives. I love to get surprised and giggle as I see each costume. (The truth is that I usually squeal with delight like a little girl getting a pony!) We take photos of each person and in family groups. It's so amazing to look back on the 17 years and see how much the kids have grown. Wow do I love these people! How blessed am I that I get to share my life with them. (fangs, wigs, tights and all!)

The party really goes all month and starts with the decorations...

My favorite Halloween book is "Frank is a Monster who wanted to Dance". It is really great if you read it with your best Frankenstein voice. After Frank gets some ants in his pants he is ready for the theater...

After one of my little boys friends saw the above he came and asked me "Do you like eyeballs and spiders?" I just smiled and said "I guess so." He said "Cool!"

This book has a lot of memories...when my girls were little they would love to watch Hocus Pocus and pretend to be witches and call out "BOOoooK!" just like on the movie. Hours of fun with their cousin.

Candy jars are filled and each child who visits our home during October, leaves with a wee sweetie.

Three little ghosts haunt us from inside jars on the table. Any ghosts we find and catch are quickly used for decoration.

This was one of the best crafts we made a few years ago. Way fun and easy.

Lanterns Glow

This is Slim he plays on our player piano. For an extra spooky feeling we turn on Phanton of the Opera and you can hear his boney fingers scrape the piano keys! Just thinking about the sound makes a chill go up my spine!

Pumpkin Head greets all who dare come close to our home.

Haunted Home Sweet Haunted Home.

I love this little sign because it reminds of being a little on Halloween night. It was so fun to dress up as someone new and walk around the neighborhood, greeting neighbors and filling a plastic pumpkin with goodies. I also remember my princess mask getting really steamy, moist and cold.

HeebieJeebies is my favorite word this time of the year!

My sweet sister (in-law) and I have a ball making carmel apples each October in time for the party. It feels like we are playing as we try different sprinkles and candy. It also gives us time to chat. We come up with so many combinations and then we package them in celophane bags with ribbon on top. I store them outside on a table to keep them perfectly cool until they are devoured.

Carmel Apples

2 cubes butter

2 lbs. Brown Sugar

2 cups corn syrup

2 cans sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter on low heat, then add sugar and syrup. Raise heat to medium, stirring constantly until it boils. Add sweetened milk and bring to boil again. Boil to just past soft ball stage, stir constantly until 230 degrees on candy thermometer. Then, enjoy dipping your luscious apples and place them on a greased cookie sheet or greased waxed paper. When cooled dip in chocolate and all kinds of fun candies. Lastly, drizzle chocolate over the top for a beautiful finished look! (Covers about 25 apples)

Fun topping ideas:

Gummy worms

Raw sugar & cinnamon

Nuts (pecans, almonds, pistachios)

Mint mini chips

Candy canes

Toffee

Mini M&M’s

Chopped candy bar

Rocky Road

Coconut

Candy corn

Candy eyeballs

Gumdrops

Oreos

Skittles

Wrap in cellophane bags with ribbon tied on

top and share with your favorite someone!

We have trophies as the awards for the best costumes. There's a voting area in the den. Everyone at the party votes for their favorites. I add a new trophie each year.