Batman, Robin, and a Cheerleader...Oh My!

I’d say that this year’s ‘Trick or treating’ was a success in the kids’ eyes. Not only did they love their costumes, their candy combined could feed an army. Halloween may be over but the candy eating continues for the next several months(unless Jon gets to it all when the kids are tucked away in bed, searching for us in Dreamland)!

Here’s our cute kiddos…(they’re already planning next year’s costumes!)




What was your favorite costume you've ever dressed up in?

We Need Your Vote!

It’s one of my very favorite “contests” we run in our home, our Halloween tostada making contest. We scheme for weeks on “what our design will be” and keep it a secret from everyone then “hope” our plans come to fruition with cooperating fingertips. Sometimes we “dream too big”, but hey…that’s okay too!

Before leaving for trick or treating we have a smorgasbord of toppings for each hardened canvas and hungry bellies. Our shopping list prior is planned by us all. Artists are particular you know and even the way things are cut makes a BIG difference.

Anything goes when making them! The only rule we have is…whatever you put on your tostada, you have to eat!

Okay spectators, we need your help though. Our Kempiak Party of Five spirit trophy is at stake. Baylee’s possibly held it “too long” and now, one of us may be able to host it in our room. Get your whole family involved, everyone get’s a “vote”. Post your top pick in the comment section here below (or email it to me). Rock the vote…you can make a difference!

Tostada One


Tostada Two
(Look closely; there are eyes and a nose that camouflage into the beans)


Tostada Three



Tostada Four



Tostada Five


Here’s our two guests’ work of art (who cannot take the trophy from our household). Enjoy their work but don’t vote on these.

Papa John’s

Grandma Pat’s

Our Pumpkin Carving Party

We love the many traditions fall brings, one of which is carving pumpkins. This year each kid got their own, including Owen. Instead of handing over a knife of any sort for Owen to use, I found a great solution! At Wal-Mart there was an animal pack where the body parts just get poked into the pumpkin themselves. He absolutely LOVED it. It kept him busy for a good hour! We all laughed at his creations, they were adorable!







Baylee and Nathan were so grown up, determined to make their own…start to finish. I think they turned out super! What do you think?



Nathan's fabulous final product!




Here's Baylee's!




Okay, when all was said and done, Owen wanted his to light up so the three kids carved just one more! Go figure!

I love the smell of pumpkins with burning candles in them!

Family Fun-"Ding Dong Ditch," Boo Style

We love to be anonymously sneaky and bless several families each year at this time with a yummy homemade treat whether we know them at all, a little, or a whole lot. Tonight we went "Booing" (and plan to hit a few more homes later in the week).

For those that have never “boo’d” it’s really simple. You leave a sign taped on the door (with poem/instructions) along with some type of treat. You ring the doorbell then RUN (othewise known as a friendly ding dong ditch). It’s then the task of the new family to do the same in days to come to at least two homes.


Here’s the poem we use:
Since this is the time for goblins and bats,
For Halloween spirits, for ghosts and cats,
For weird happenings and witches’ brew,
These are the things that I wish for you...
~
May the only spirit you chance to meet
Be the spirit of love and friends warm and sweet.
May the only goblin that come your way
Be this cute Neighborhood Phantom Pumpkin you must give away.
~
“Tis much better to give than to receive” goes the old verse
And something this easy won’t empty your purse.
It’s your turn to pass along a treat and a Boo
Because now the cute Neighborhood Phantom is little old YOU!
~
So by this time tomorrow, pick two friends sweet,
And give them each a Halloween treat.
You have only one day- so you’ll need to hurry-
Leave a treat on the doorstep, ring the bell and then scurry!

Signed,
The Cute Phantom Pumpkin

Now these are the things you need to do:
1. Make two copies of this letter and the Phantom Pumpkin for each.
2. Post the cute Phantom Pumpkin on your door or in your window until Halloween. This will ward off that silly phantom from returning to you and yours.
3. Then take a letter, a phantom, and treat and deliver them to two houses that do not have a cute Phantom posted. (At least one should be given within the neighborhood/street; the other can be a nearby friend you are thinking of). You do NOT need to know the person you are Booing!

This is the yummy pumpkin Rice Krispy treat we left behind:

Field Trip Fun

Part of my teaching week included a field trip for our kindergartners to Mother Nature’s Farm in Gilbert. This is a traditional spot our school takes the kindergartners and I can see why. Not only is it walking distance from the school, it’s a real nice, quant place to be. First thing, the kids got to jump on board a hayride pulled by a tractor, pet/feed pigs and cows, as well as go through a hay maze, decorate pumpkins, and enjoy a snack under the shade of some very big trees. I had a super time with the 20 precious kids and the chaperones today and look forward to going again once Owen is in kindergarten (which I hope comes real slow).

(from right...Jonas, Kaydon, Jake, Andrew, and Nathan)
(At least I got one shot of Nathan with a friend...Nathan and Andrew)

Back to the Farm Again

We couldn’t resist, we had to go back to Schnepf farms this weekend, this time with Daddy since he missed out last weekend. It’s tradition! And boy did we get our money’s worth. We spent almost 8 hours there and still, as usual, didn’t get it all “in”.

The kids sported their t-shirts they made during fall break. They took such pride in them and received lots of positive comments in return.

We took Daddy through the corn maze, finding other ways to get through it. Fun!



Baylee was dying to try the roller coaster and loved it. She would have been satisfied if that’s all she did I think. I took her the first time (ugh…my poor neck) and Jon had the “privilege” of taking her two more times, once in the dark! That time, Baylee and Jon had their arms up in the air the whole time no matter the dips or turns they were riding! It was so fun watching (too bad the photo didn't turn out of the two of them).

The five of us loved the bike ride obstacle.

Okay, call us corky if you want, but we got our hands on a “find” this time. We each got pig noses, which are normally given out only to the winning pig calling volunteers. We wore them during the pig races, both times we watched them. Baylee and Owen even got called up to cheer for the pig in the purple bandana the last race of the night. So cool!



Owen and I even found time to dance to the hillbilly band (that was awesome). Jon was too busy to cut in and swing me around the ‘dance floor’ because he was mesmerized with the washbasin bass.



And don't let me forget to mention our train ride!


And the merry-go-round...




We’ll visit the farm next year eagerly.

Finishing Up Our Fall T-shirt Project

The t-shirts soaked in their dye long enough and were washed and dried ready for our three artists to “do their thing”. They loved every minute of it, showing off their creativity and silly personalities. Check out how cute they turned out!

We’re even talking about trying to do these when we go to Disney (whenever that may be)…this time, with Mickey ears! Hmmm, that’ll take some practice and advanced tie dye skills.