Monday, November 2, 2026

Other Holidays Around Halloween

We didn't just celebrate Halloween on those days. Here are some other things we did.
Wednesday, October 28, Stephanie came over to make honey garlic chicken in our Instant Pots again. It's been a while. I forgot to take a picture. Oh well.
That day was Matt Smith's birthday so those of us who didn't eat honey garlic chicken for dinner had fish fingers and custard (fish sticks and vanilla pudding). 
It was also National Chocolate Day which was appropriate for our trunk or treat outing.

Thursday, October 29, was National Oatmeal Day, so I made oatmeal muffins and family members were very happy about that. 

Friday, October 30, was Frankenstein Friday. I encouraged people to get out their spook-ghetti and eyeballs and create their own monster. Jr. was the one who mentioned we were having spook-ghetti. Credit where credit's due, right? 

While we were out trick or treating on Saturday, October 31, the boys were telling each other knock knock jokes for National Knock Knock Joke Day. 
We definitely had some fun the end of October. 

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Halloween Days

Jet was excited for Halloween like he is every year. He kept changing his mind about what costume he wanted to wear, though. Flowey, a robot, a pirate. We thought he'd decided on pirate then he decided his final decision was Flowey from the video game Undertale. That was Lucky's costume a couple years ago.
By the time Jet decided, we didn't think there was time to remake the whole costume. Luckily, Jr. Jr. and Lucky helped me find the petals part of the costume in their closet. Unfortunately a few of the petals had fallen off. I was able to glue them back on so that was the main part. We couldn't find the face but Jeremy was nice enough to sketch an outline for me to color in on a paper plate and I stuck on a bundle of skewers taped together for a handle. Then we dressed Jet in green-ish and he had the costume he wanted. Hooray.
He had four opportunities to wear his costume, too.
We went to a trunk or treat in West Jordan on Wednesday.
The high school football team and cheerleaders put on a trunk or treat on Thursday.
Friday was celebrating Halloween at school.
Saturday was actually Halloween.
Everybody else who dressed up threw together their costumes last minute. I had been thinking about mine for a while since I was ruthless when going through crates at my parents' house this Summer but decided to keep some items. I already had the skirt but I brought back my cape and bonnet from when I was in a musical "A Christmas Carol" with our community theatre when I was in high school. Jeremy recently found a shirt he brought back from Hungary when he was there on his mission (handmade by a Hungarian there) so I was able to wear that to go along with my costume. That was the only last minute part of my costume because I had been planning the rest of it.
Jeremy dressed up as the Jack Black character from the Jumanji movies.
Jr. Jr. went as a birder.
Lucky found his costume from last year and went as Quirrel (from Hollow Knight) again. 
Thursday, I went to help tie quilts for the Humanitarian Center and one of the ladies there game me a trick or treat bag to give to Jet. He was so happy when he saw it and definitely got use out of it.
 
Friday after watching Jet at the Halloween parade at the elementary school, I went to say goodbye to Bridal Veil Falls from the viewpoint. The trail was already closed because of the recent rockslide. I didn't know if I'd get a chance on Saturday so I wanted to make sure I said goodbye before it was closed for the season.
 
It turns out Saturday was busy. I got up early and was productive. I had to take a nap at one point, though, after getting quite a bit done.
The kids and I watched Over the Garden Wall, which I had not actually scene all of before, just parts. I got through the whole thing. Yes, it was weird, and yes, it was enjoyable. It was a good Halloween movie. 
While we were watching, Jeremy made more Rokott Krumpli because people were disappointed with how fast it went when he made it recently. What a sweetheart he is.
After eating some quickly to give me energy, we met up with a couple of Jr. Jr. and Lucky's friends who went trick or treating around the neighborhood with us. That was fun because those boys always have a great time socializing when they're together. Jet knows them well, too, so it was pleasant. 
Traditionally we trick or treat for a while in our neighborhood then go visit my sister to say Hi. This year she had family things going on so we spent longer out in our neighborhood. It was fun. We went to some houses we haven't been to in the past and missed some we sometimes go to, but that's okay. We also went to some houses we try to always go to.
I do like our neighborhood. 
 

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Fort

Jet: Mom, is it morning yet?
Jet has been having fun building forts/tents lately (sometimes with help). He builds them in various places around the house.
I think he was influenced by the Berenstain Bears book, No Girls Allowed, because at first on one of his forts he wanted a sign that said No Girls Allowed/No Boys Allowed then later changed his mind.
He ended up with no socks or shoes signs but yes girls and boys allowed signs.  
He invited Jr. to join him in one of his forts. And of course toys.

Friday, October 30, 2026

More Pumpkin Fun

October 25 was Mother-in-Law Day. There were well wishes that day.
 
October 26 was National Pumpkin Day. I encouraged people to have more pumpkin pie and hot chocolate, although I don't think anyone had pumpkin pie syrup in their hot chocolate. Oh well.
I also used some pumpkin that was in our freezer to make pumpkin cookies. I used the recipe my grandma gave me. All the cousins knew about Grandma's pumpkin cookies so it is a popular recipe in the family. It's family history. 
There was enough pumpkin that I quadrupled the recipe and my kids were very happy.

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Catch of the Day

Roses? Blooming in October?
I'll take them. The last roses we saw on this bush was in May/June? We have several beautiful blooms now.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

It's That Time of Year

It's that time of year. 16 years ago I craved pumpkin spice hot cocoa but didn't get to drink it for a while because the morning after we bought some from the store, I went into labor and didn't get around to drinking it for quite a while. I was busy.
In the last few years, it's been harder to find those mixes at the grocery store. We've had to get creative. 
This year, my husband found some Torani pumpkin pie syrup for me to use for hot chocolate. Mmmm. My husband is a sweetheart.

Jr. Jr. brought home a pumpkin pie from the chili cook-off and I bought some whipped cream from the store so we've been having some fun. 
Thanks, Jr. for letting me take a picture of your... creations. 
 

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Chili Cook-off

Most of us went to our ward's chili (and cornbread) cook-off and had some pretty yummy food and good socializing. Jr. Jr. and Lucky had a couple friends hang out at our table. That made it fun when there was a game played where you passed the pumpkin based on what was said. It's a fun way to interact a little with the people at your table. Jet won the game and got a Reese's Pumpkin.
Toward the end of the event, we had pumpkin pie. This exchange happened between Jeremy and Jet.
Dad: You should eat that with a fork. 
Jet: I don't want to. 

Then he proceeded to do this. 
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. I'm so glad my husband got that picture to show me.