Halloween

We went to a Halloween party yesterday with Bothell Mom's Group. It was at pizza restaurant - we had a big room to ourselves. I made a pumpkin cake and Jello jigglers. Lots of cute costumes.

Tonight the boys had their first real taste of candy. C can say candy. He's got the hang of the Halloween thing - he was trying to take from people's bowls after they had already given us treats.

First we went TOTing in downtown Edmonds in the late afternoon before it got dark. They shut down the streets and the businesses handed out candy. A didn't like the scarey music and decorations. We saw 2 other chickens. There was a man wearing black with Barbies stuck to him. I'm sure it was a pun but I didn't get it. Have to look that up.

We also went around our cul-de-sac as a family. Not many people were home. People liked C's horse costume. C liked picking up rocks - his kind of treat!

I dressed up as a farmer. My husband put on a pig nose (at my insistance) when we TOTed on our street.

We only had 2 kids come to our door (as of 7:30 as I write this).Pin It

Things to remember

A asked yesterday for a guitar for Christmas. This is the first time he's ever done that. I think he wants it from seeing Connie at CBS play every week. We saw one at a toy store but it might be a little too deluxe. Hmmm.

C loves happy faces. When we went to WalMart the last time, he kept saying Happy Happy since he was seeing all the WalMart smiley faces on signs. (eye rolling) He just asked me to draw some happy faces.Pin It

Pumpkin spice latte addict

I admit it. I'm addicted. I LOVE the pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. Yummmmmmmmm.
But, they are over $3 a pop. Ouch.

So, I found some recipes for making them at home.

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Gingerbread Syrup
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup fresh espresso
8 ounces milk, steamed (with a little foam)

Garnish
whipped cream
ground nutmeg

Recipe


1. Make the gingerbread syrup by combining water, sugar, ginger, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Be sure the pan is not too small or the mixture could easily bubble over.

2. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer syrup, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat when it's done and slap a lid on it.

3. Make a double shot of espresso (1/2 cup), using an espresso machine. Use the machine to steam 8 ounces of milk, or heat up the milk in themicrowave if your machine does not foam and steam milk.

4. Make your latte by first adding 1/2 cup espresso to a 16-ounce cup. Add 1/4 cup gingerbread syrup, followed by the steamed milk. Stir.
**Note: I read somewhere else from an alleged starbucks barrista that the order the ingredients should be mixed is as follows:
-Syrup
-Espresso
-Steamed milk

5. Top off the drink with a dollop of whipped cream, and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

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I've been making my own pumpkin spice lattes for over a year and my husband says they're as good as SB. I think SB is a tiny bit better because of the syrup, but this saves big time on the bucks. Mine are also a lot less fattening. Here is my recipe:

8 oz 2% milk
2 oz expresso
1 oz Torani pumpkin spice syrup

I use an Italian stovetop espresso maker, very easy.
Nuke the milk in a glass measuring cup 2 minutes, pour into a tall container (I use an SB metal coffee commuter cup $20.00), froth with a hand held mini whipper, add syrup, then coffee. Voila.

You don't need an expensive espresso maker,this is faster and less cleanup. I use the SB 2oz shot glass. The stovetop espresso maker and whipper can be purchased at Sur La Table or most kitchen shops.

I will try the Da Vinci Gourmet Pumpkin Pie Syrup someone mentioned above. I usually get Torani online at Espresso Parts.com
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Favourite photo of pumpkins

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Annual trip to pumpkin patch

We tried a new (to us) patch this year. As recommended by my friend Rebekah we went to Craven Farm in Snohomish.

It was a good choice overall. It was pretty busy and we had a hard time finding a wheelbarrow and figuring out where the wagon ride was. The wagon ride was a bit lame - it just went in a big circle. The tractor was pretty cool, though.

I enjoyed seeing all the interesting gourds.



Here are my little pumpkins.
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No caption required

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Date night - finally

My DH and I had an overdue date night on the weekend. We left the boys at a friend's place and went to a restaurant near her place. That seemed to work out well. A. didn't want to leave when we came to get them! He was really enjoying playing with our friend's daughter. We let the boys stay up later than usual.

It was great to have some adult conversation and drink an adult beverage. My criteria for date night restaurants is that they can't have any highchairs.Pin It

A feast for the eyes

We went to Molbaks this week. I've been searching for lavender to put by our driveway. We're replacing (gradually) some of the plants in the front which we're not crazy about. I want to have lavender right by the front step. I tried my favourite large nursery (Flower World) but they had a surprisingly small selection. Molbaks was somewhere I hadn't visited because I'd been told they were pricey. They were but they did have lavender. Not as much as I had hoped. I guess it isn't the right season.

Anyway, Molbak's is a gorgeous place. Great for letting A run around. Here are some photos.

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Swinging in the backyard.

 

My little guy in the summer.  Pin It

What a cute kid!

 

I was just looking through some photos from summer. I like this one.  Pin It

A non-licensed character costume!

I am so tired of licensed characters. My son loves Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Elmo, etc. He even recognized Blues Clues (we saw BC yogurt at Safeway) even though he's seen the show only once (at a neighbour's house). He recognizes Dora, too, and he's never seen a Dora show.

He said he wanted to be Elmo for Halloween and the last day or so he said he wanted to be Tigger - I think because he watched a Pooh movie.

I wasn't looking forward to him being Elmo. Not much imagination there.

I found a chicken costume today at Old Navy and surprise, surprise my son agreed to wear it - including the head part. I know there are a zillion other kids who will also be a chicken thanks to Old Navy but he looks very cute in it and he can act it out more than the famous red character. He suggested his brother be a horse and that I be a cow (ha ha). I said Daddy should dress up like a farmer.

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Got portraits taken on the weekend. Photo added!

Tried the picture people for A's 3rd birthday (kinda late) photos.

Here is the photo with a disclaimer - I don't have the rights to this photo. It is copyright of the Picture People.Pin It

Tomato

I ate the first tomato from my garden today - kind of a late harvest. It is a brandywine tomato. Delicious. I have more coming.

Satisfying to eat something you grew yourself.

No photo - maybe the next one.Pin It