Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Separate seeds from stringy core and rinse clean. In a sauce pan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to each 1/2 cup of seeds. Add 1/2 tablespoon of salt for each cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

Spread a tablespoon of olive oil on the bottom of a roasting pan or baking sheet. Spread the seeds across the bottom of the pan in an even layer. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste. Bake on the top rack until seeds begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and use spatula to stir seeds. Return to oven for another 10 minutes or until browned to your satisfaction. Remove from oven and cool on rack. Let the seeds cool completely before eating.

Delicious!

Cucurbiticide!

She's all smiles prior to cutting in to her beloved pumpkin.

Don't mess with her ... she has a knife.

Maddie wanted an owl this year. Of course, the pattern I found was too detailed for her to carve so Mom got to do most of the work on this one! I'm anxious to see it lit up tonight.

Harrison wanted a scary pumpkin face

Olivia chose the alien, completed with skewers for antennae.Olivia made this at school. They collected milk cartons and created skeletons, complete with the milk caps for the eyes. Olivia created one of the 5 chosen to be displayed in the main office at school. She brought it home yesterday so we get to use it on the porch.

Halloween Parade 2009

Pokemon Trainer "Ash" ... you'll never know how happy this little guy was when his costume arrived in the mail.

Our biker mama ... who left her helmet with flames sitting on the bench at home.

Livi with her friends

Keira Recites her Halloween Poems

Keira has learned some Halloween poems at school that she recited for us last night.

Denice and Eisley are Here!

Family dinner tonight to celebrate the arrival of Denice and Eisley. I was so happy to get my hands on that baby girl again! She is such a beautiful baby.

Maddie and little man Asher

Uncle Trent teaches Eisley about football

Gorgeous girls - Eisley, Keira and Natalie

Eisley warmed right up to Uncle Ed

Sleepy girl had rosey cheeks and wanted her tights off so she could play with her toes!

Home Cooking

Ed took Thursday and Friday off from work so we could both be home for a couple of days. Only problem with that is we weren't ever really home so meals consisted of grabbing something on the run or eating out. We were finally home last night so we went grocery shopping together and prepared a big batch of fajitas. Ed thought I was crazy and preparing enough to feed an army - I told him to hush and keep slicing the chicken. When all was said and done, there was just enough left for one of us to take for lunch on Monday! A home cooked meal was just what we both needed. This morning, Ed went for a run and I fixed french toast and sausage. He arrived home to a hot breakfast waiting for him ... just in time for the first football game of the day. As much as I enjoy a break from the daily stress of preparing meals after working all day, it's nice to be back in my own kitchen now that the activities of the past few days have wrapped up.

Pumpkin Patch

Saturday was a little rainy but we had promised the kids a visit to a pumpkin patch so we braved the mud and each of the kids picked their pumpkin! Carving will commence this Friday.

Layton Park

Friday afternoon, we drove to Layton to meet up with Brit Barker to have family photos taken. The park was beautiful with autumn colors and a lot of natural elements to keep the kids busy. Maddie found her nemesis in a black swan that would not leave her alone. Charlie dog didn't know what to make of the feeding frenzy going on with the ducks and birds! It was a great park - I can't wait to see how the photos turn out! Maddie met her match! She resorted to jumping on the table and yelling to get the swan away from her.

Harrison found the antics of his sisters and the fowl to be quite amusing!

Me and Charlie dog, relaxing on a rock and taking in the spectacle.

Our sweet Livi Bug

The girl has yet to see a tree that she doesn't want to climb.

Maddie refused to surf the tree like Tarzan. She ruins all my fun!

Witchapalooza at Gardner Village

We made our annual visit to Gardner Village to see the witches this afternoon. The kids picked a treat from the candy store and we browsed through the different shops. Harrison was darling, posing without complaint and always ready with his camera smile.

Maddie keeps reminding me that she isn't very far from driving age ... although seeing this student driver gave her pause. Harrison has always loved Witchy Poo in the outhouse!

Monday Night Dinner and Football

It was dinner and Monday Night Football (for the grown-up guys) at the Nelson house last night. Ed and Ryan hid away in the basement media room and the older kids hid away in the bonus room upstairs while Tami and I visited and hung out with little Munchie boy. It was a perfectly relaxing evening.