Playing together

I love when my children are getting along and playing together.  Recently we got out the big legos for Peter to play with and somehow Ben and Chris could not stay away.  Thankfully all got a long and played well together.  Peter loved sitting on Ben's castle and throwing the ball.  I only wish I knew how to make the peace last.

Family Pictures 2011

It's been some time since we had someone take our family pictures.  For the last couple of years its been the kids posing in the house while I practice my skills and if I'm feeling adventurous there might be a family group shot.  I figured it was about time to call in a professional and because of Groupon, JcPenney's answered.  Not a bad job if I do say so myself.

Halloween

We live out in the country.  Really that should explain our difficulty come trick or treating time, but maybe it doesn't.  When I was young and living in this area is seemed to me that we went to tons of places and loaded up on the candy.  Maybe my excitement colored how I saw things.  Now, however, there is no place to go.  When we first moved to the area Doug and I tried to take Ben and Chris out to all my old haunts plus some I thought would be good to try.  No one was home.  Okay maybe a couple of places had life but really we struck out more than we hit.  It was a disappointment to me.  Oh, the boys were fine and had a great time, but I was bummed.  I guess a lot of families moved away and now it is the "thing" to go to town and hit the good neighborhoods.  Really I don't want to go to town, so between the church party and the few homes out here there is little trick or treating going on.

This year was no different, however, because there are so few kids that come a knockin' my kids got loaded up on the sweet stuff.  We went to maybe a dozen places and their pumpkins were full to the top and then some.  I wish I had taken a picture of all the candy, but I forgot.

I did not forget, however, to get a few pre-candy shots.

Cowboy Peter

Cowgirl Lex

Dr. Evan

Vampire Chris

The gang before we headed out.  Thankfully Peter was so a condition for the rest of the night. As soon as daddy got home he brightened up and I got his alone picture.

Ben went as a pirate, but again no picture.  He had voice lessons and as soon as he got home we loaded up to leave.  Thus he quickly changed and the camera was forgotten.

I'm still flabbergasted by the amount of candy they each received.

Halloween Mobius

We decided to make use of our membership and go to Mobius again.  The kids loved it.  I think love might even be an understatement.  For Halloween everything was changed up to a magic theme.  I love that my kids get to play but also learn.  I missed most of the action because I took a little me time and walked around the mall while Doug watched the kids.  However, the camera catches so much.

Ben and his face print

I love how Chris is "screaming" in his face print.

There was a booth for the kids to practice magic.  I believe Ben is trying to pull something out of the hat.

Not so sure why the gloomy faces but they loved showing off their "skill" and the capes helped.

Peter loves balls so this blowing ball machine was right up his alley.

For some reason Lex decided to be a little homemaker.  Wish she worked this hard at home.

Nose picker

Need I say more? 

Maybe I should ask, "What has Doug been teaching him?"  I know I never tought him this.

Halloween Party

A week before Halloween, our church hosted a party for the members and their friends.  Of course there was food, games, and lots of costumes everywhere.  The menu was potluck with members bringing their spooky foods to be judged.  There were many great entries and good eats to boot. 

I took Swamp Monster Fingers with Nail Clippings on the side

I made these Mallow Monsters too, but the kids and Doug ate them instead.  It's ok though because I did give permission.  I just didn't fully like how they turned out.  Instead I took mini-mummy's with blood red dipping sauce and owl cookies (sorry no pic).  My fingers and nail clippings won me second place though.  But really, how can you go wrong with chocolate?

In addition to games for the kids to play while the judging took place there was a picture area set up with hay bales and a scary picture partner.  I got pictures of all the kids and wanted one with me and Doug but that didn't happen.  Bummer!

Ben went as a Jedi

Chris with his friend Anthony

Dr. Evan checking his patient's pulse

Cowgirl Lex

Cowboy Peter

There was a spot for a doughnut eating contest.  Peter would have none of it.

However, his pirate daddy has no such qualms.

Rose Hips

One good thing about our current location is the abundance of wild roses.  I love the smell of wild rose and they are pretty to look at.  I've thought over the years about using the rose hips in something.  I knew you could or least thought I did because while shopping in the asian stores I would see rose water and such things.  They use roses to make those, don't they? 

This year was the year of trying.  After hours on the internet (to which my children with complain about) I found a jelly recipe I thought I would try and also a candy one.  The candy is delicious, but in my book a pain to make.  It was just awkward to scoop out the seeds and hairy things out of the rose hips.  Maybe you have bigger rose hips than me and it would be easy, but for me it was too time consuming to make.  After the scooping though the rest is a breeze.

The jelly I used on my breakfast this morning and yummm!  This was very easy to make and will be made again so long as I have access to roses.  Surprisingly the taste is not that of roses as one might think.  I've read that it is like hibiscus, but that is a taste I'm unfamiliar with.  The jelly and candy does of a familiar taste, but one I am unable to name at the moment.  Anyway, who really cares?  It's good and that's all you need to know.

2 quarts rose hips

1 1/2 quarts water

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 package SureJell pectin

1/4 teaspoon butter

3 1/2 cups sugar

6 (8-ounce) canning jars and fresh lids

1.  Rinse the rose hips thoroughly. Cut off the scraggly ends and discard.

2.  Place rose hips in a large pot. Add 1 1/2 quarts of water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook until rose hips are soft and mashable.

3.  Use a potato masher to mash up the rose hips into a rough purée. Set up a jelly bag, or a large very fine mesh strainer, or 4 layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or large pot. Transfer the rose hip mixture into the jelly bag/strainer/cheesecloth. Let strain into the bowl for at least an hour. Squeeze the jelly bag or cheesecloth to get more remaining juice out.

4.  Measure the juice. You will need 3 cups of juice for this recipe, so if you have less than 3 cups, add more water to the mixture (you can also add some boiling water to the jelly bag if you still have it set up, allowing more liquid to drain out).

5.  Place 3 cups of the rose hip juice in a large, wide pot. Add the lemon juice and pectin. Bring to a boil, dissolving all of the pectin. Add the sugar. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the butter. Bring to a hard boil (one that you can not reduce by stirring). The mixture will bubble up considerably. Boil for exactly one minute. Then remove from heat and pour off into prepared canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace from the rim.

6.  If any jelly falls on the rim as your pour it into the jars, wipe the rim with a damp paper towel. Place sterilized lids on jars and rings to secure.  To process, place the jars on a rack in a large, tall stock pot. Cover with an inch of water and bring to a rolling boil for 10 minutes. Then turn off the heat, remove the jars from the water, and let cool. As the jars cool you should hear a popping sound as the lids seal. The lids should seal; if not, store in the refrigerator.