Nom Nom Nom

There are certain holiday traditions that a person just can't ignore.  Even though we have been so horribly busy lately, the first round of winter sickies is making it's way into our home, and really, no one would ever even notice that we skipped this one little thing.

Except me. I would notice.

And so, we made our Halloween sugar cookies.

 I don't know about you, but I like my sugar cookies incredibly soft with absolutely no hint of a crunch anywhere.   If these don't get your sweet tooth screaming, watch this video and it will get your tummy grumbling.  Well, unless you're not human- I cannot help you if you are a weird alien  from planet I-Hate-Sugar-Cookies (which, incidentally, is my husband's place of birth).

Side note, here: I learned a new trick (thank you Pinterest) of rolling out the dough in powdered sugar, rather than flour. It doesn't dry out your dough and you don't have to battle the patches of flour on your cookies.

When it was time to frost, I gave the kids each a bowl of frosting, a knife (Wy-Fi received a spoon), a stack of cookies, and all the Halloween sprinkles a kid could ever want. They were told them to have at it.

Wyatt just ate the frosting.

**Another side note:  Adison's addiction to wearing hair elastics around her wrist is apparently contagious.  Notice how all the children are doing it (and yes, Wyatt found those and put them on himself).**

The older kids didn't need to be told twice.

And there was a lot of this going on:

 

Artists with sprinkles, I tell ya!

When the mess was made and the cookies all layered with the fluffy orange frosting and at least a pound of sprinkles each, the kiddos ran outside to work off the sugar.

And I was left to clean up the mess.  Awesome.

This little fella? He ate his weight in frosting that night. And he  didn't go to bed until an hour after his usual bedtime.

 But hey, you're only young once, right?

Pickin' Pumpkins

This year, the Merrills did not visit a pumpkin patch.

I realize that it has been a family tradition for a while now (2011, 2010, 2009), but between Orrin's weird work schedule, dance, sports, and family stuff... we just didn't have time. 

I am kinda sad about that.

But we went to Walmart and turned it into our own pumpkin patch (thank goodness for old iPhones).

These kiddos take their punkin choosing very seriously (we were there for about 20 minutes- think about that.  20 minutes in Walmart produce area).

Porter had an almost-meltdown when he couldn't reach the one that he wanted.

Good thing Daddy has long arms and can reach such things (especially since every single one of ours was one on the bottom).

Wyatt was wondering why we were stupid enough to set this next to him when we could clearly use it to throw at his siblings (he tried, but was unable to lift the heavy thing out).

Piper wins the award for the biggest pumpkin.

And after searching long and hard, Orrin found the ugliest one possible.  He sets his goals high, people.

Wow.   We have a lot of kids.

 When we got home, Orrin lined the pumpkins up on our tall counter, in hopes Wy-Fi will leave it alone.

 I then made everyone pose with their orange treasure, so as to get in some extra practice with my camera.

And I was less than impressed with the results. Curse you, Aperature!

Porter was wondering why I wanted him to hold the heavy pumpkin.

Let's just take a minute to admire that fat bottom lip.

Love this kid's smile.

 Wyatt versus the round-orange-thing...

"Umm, don't you usually tell me to not touch these things?"

 

"I can touch it? Really? But... maybe it's booby-trapped."

 

"Whoa! Mom's even smiling at me when I try to pick it up."

"Yes! I'm not in trouble! I shall now do the official happy dance of my people!"

"Hmmm... does it roll?"

"It rolls!"

Awkward smiles from your kiddo?

I've discovered playing the "Don't you smile" game is awesome. Tell them to frown, and then (in an over-the-top happy voice, tell them not to smile. And you get this:

"Mom, take a serious one of me from above."

And then, last but never least, there's the fabulous Miss Pip.

I tried the frowny face thing on her and she  actually held the frown no matter how long I sweet-talked her.

 

And this is all Orrin and I wanted pictures of...

 Now, on to the next challenge:

Carving them.

Porter has a friend

Adi and Pips have both found their BFFLs (since when did "Best Friends For Life" overshadow "Best Friends Forever"?).  Little girls who are just so amazingly awesome that my little girlies want to spend every waking moment of their lives with them.

Which is great for them.

But is stinks for Porter.

He gets left in the dust.  Sitting at home with his Momma and little brother.

But now, Porter-Pot has discovered a best friend in his carpool.  Finally!  He can escape from the dancing, singing, dress-up, and talk about Taylor Swift.  He can now do manly things like swing from the tree and play in the mud!

 I just purchased an e-book that is supposed to make me an expert on this fancy new camera I have (ha!).  So I dragged the boys outside to let me practice my awesome photography skills on them (again: ha!). 

I think that I'm improving... a bit... maybe.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I'm a total noob at this.  

Don't judge too harshly.

It's that time again...

 

Allow me to introduce the spooky members of our terrifying family.

First, there is the Dancing Dead Ballerina.

Otherwise known as Miss Piper Pauline.

Piper wanted her face to look like this, unfortunatley her mother has the shakiest hands in the southwest.  So here's what she got.

 But, hey, it was enough to make Wyatt growl every time he looked at her painted face.

A very special thank you goes out to Halo Heaven for the costume assistance.

Now, here is the family pet werewolf,

The always smiling Porter-Pot.

It's the strangest thing, to paint your son's fingernails.

Also: if your little boy ever tells you that he wants to be a werewolf for Halloween and you think to yourself, "Now that's an easy costume."

Just slap yourself.

One must fix one's gigantic back paw claws occasionally.

Here is our resident superstar, Taylor Swift.

*cough* Adison Merrill *cough*

I could not convince her to be anything scary (I really pushed a zombie Taylor).  But, it was an easy-peasy costume.  A sparkly dress, tall boots, and a set of red lips is really all you need to be the ever-lovely Miss Swift.

Oh, and the Guitar-Hero-Modge-Podge-Glitter guitar.

"Oh, Mom.  I LOVE this picture of myself!"

And last, but never, ever least.

You have no idea who my youngest nerd is dressed up as? Perhaps this will help:

You now say:  Doctor who?

And I say:  EXACTLY!!! 





The tenth Doctor, to be perfectly exact.

I can see you giving me that the-kids-have-finally-driven-her-completely-bonkers look.  No.  Well, yes they have.  But I am completely in love with the BBC show, and the tenth doctor stole my heart forever.

 NAILED IT!

Wyatt is the ever-nerdy but entirely-addicting Doctor Who.

Seriously, follow the link, people.  And this one too.

Here The Doctor is showcasing his 3-D glasses that he used to study the Void.

Oh dear, I am really showing my Geek-Stripes today, aren't I?

Sadly, I did not get the oh-so-handy Sonic Screwdriver in time for the pictures (mostly because I forgot to order it).  But will you take the Tardis instead?

Yes, I poorly photoshopped that blue phone box into the picture.

And I loved every dorky moment of it.

*sigh*  I feel so fulfilled looking at those pictures.

Moving on...

We tried to get a group shot of all the spooks together.

Not. Gonna.  Happen.

Happy Halloween Month!

And yes, Halloween is a month-long celebration for this family!