Halloween 2010

Halloween was so fun this year. I was determined to do more things with Hannah so we started by learning the Five Little Pumpkin poem and then we made a five little construction paper pumpkins for our window. She cut out the eyes and noses for all the pumpkins all by herself. She is so proud or our little window (I'm not sure she's going to let me take it down).


We made lots of Halloween treats. Hannah loves to roll and cut out cookies.


We also made these yummy cupcakes (there's an orange filling inside, hehe).


Pumpkin carving is Brian's favorite part of Halloween (he usually grumbles a little at first but he really likes doing it). Hannah really had fun with it this year. She cleaned out most of her pumpkin all by herself and was very specific about how she wanted it carved. Here's how it looked.


After the girls went to bed, Brian and I had fun sipping apple cider and watching the original Frankenstein and Dracula while we carved our pumpkins.

After a year of talking about it, Hannah finally got to be a giraffe (thank you Old Navy). Grace was super cute as a BYU Cheerleader. Saturday night we went to our ward's Trunk-or-Treat. We decided not to go Trick or Treating on Sunday but Hannah wore her costume and really enjoyed handing out candy and yelling, "Happy Halloween" to everyone that came to the door.

Easter 2010

Brian and I are blessed to live close to our families and love that Hannah can spend holidays with her grandparents and cousins (at least on my side, but with Brian's parents coming home from the mission soon we'll be spending a lot more time with the Simmons side). Easter weekend at my parent's house this year was so much fun. Don't you love my mom's Easter Egg tree?

The Easter bunny came to visit both Saturday and Sunday so Hannah enjoyed lots of treats and got plenty of Easter egg hunting with her cousins.

Every year we make chocolate Easter Eggs (it's our family's favorite Easter tradition). Here's the recipes courtesy of my mom.

*Warning: These are super yummy and definitely diet busters. It's impossible to eat just one.

Chocolate Easter Eggs (3 fillings)
Fudge Filling:
2 1/2 C sugar
3/4 C evaporated milk
16 large marshmallows
1/4 C butter
1/4 t salt
1 C semisweet chocolate chips
1 t vanilla (the real thing, not the fake stuff)
1 C chopped nuts
*Mix sugar, evap. milk, butter and salt in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat to an all-over boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips and marshmallows until completely melted. Add vanilla and nuts. Spread into pan to cool. Roll into egg shapes ready for coating. Best to chill over night.

Butter Cream/Coconut:
1 stick butter (1/4 lb.)
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 1/2 C coconut
4 C powdered sugar
*Soften butter and mix. Roll into egg shapes and chill until ready to coat.

The Ever Famous Peanut Butter Filling:
1 C powdered sugar
1 C crunchy or regular peanut butter
2 C Rice Krispies
1/4 t vanilla
2 T oil
*Mix, roll into shapes, and chill.

Chocolate Coating:
Melt 5 or more Hershey bars in a large pan over simmering water (double boiler if you have one). Add a few semi sweet chocolate chips to thin it out a bit. Using forks of chop sticks, roll chilled balls in melted chocolate. Place on wax paper or a greased pan and chill. Wrap in cellophane of foil, or decorate with royal icing.

Happy St Patrick's Day

The leprechauns came to visit today. They left Hannah these cute hair clips and some treats and played some funny tricks on us. They turned most of our food green including all of our milk. Hannah was disappointed because she didn't catch or see any leprechauns (though she says she saw a leprechaun's hat).

Halloween Fun

Halloween this year was so fun. Hannah really got it this year and has decided that Halloween is the best day ever. She has already decided that she going to be a giraffe next year.

We started with carving pumpkins. Hannah didn't like the cleaning the guts out because it was "too gross" but she did like helping Brian pick out a face for the pumpkin.

Hannah and I made some crafty decorations. The spider and ghosts are made from Hannah's hand print.

Hannah was a witch this year. I have to admit that I was proud of the costume this year. I saw the spider skirt on Martha Stewart and think my version turned out pretty good.

We had lots of Halloween activities. Hannah's play group had a Halloween party. Here's Hannah with her best friend Sarina all dressed up.

We decorated Halloween cupcakes with our neighbor.

We had a great time at our annual ward carnival and trunk or treat.

And Hannah really, really loved trick or treating. We practiced saying trick or treat and Happy Halloween all month and so when it came to trick or treating, she was a pro. Hannah wasn't shy at all and just ran right up to the doors and knocked and said "trick or treat" followed by "thank you" and multiple "Happy Halloweens". She even learned to say "I put a spell on you" which occasionally came out "I put a smell on you."

Sunday morning Hannah went downstairs while Brian and I were getting ready for church. This is how I found her.