Happy Halloween

this year was Owen’s 2nd halloween. I can’t believe we’re already on his 2nds! Last year he didn’t wear a costume (at only 6 weeks old) but we walked around the neighborhood with his cousins, Owen in the bjorn and fast asleep. This year he had two costumes. Both of which he hated, but both of which looked ADORABLE! One I borrowed from my sister Kristen (aforementioned cookie maven) the other was a gift from a friend. We loved them both and had fun snapping pictures of him! 

Halloween Sugar Cookies

This is my favorite halloween treat. A thick sugar cookie, with a great icing and candy corn. It is enough sugar to make one dizzy, so I make it only once a year and try to give away as many as possible.
My sister, Kristen, first introduced me to this intoxicating cookie. She is my cookie mentor. I can make one or two great kinds of cookies, but she makes dozens of kinds of fun, creative and delicious cookies.
I know it’s late for this year (maybe) but I thought I’d share the recipe anyhow. These are a little messy, but fun.

Sugar Cookies
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
3 eggs
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons vanilla

cream sugar and butter. add eggs, vanilla and dry ingredients. mix thoroughly. chill for 30 minutes. roll out to 1/4 inch and cut out a pumpkin shape (i use a glass and then reshape it a bit). Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Icing
1/2 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
dash of salt
milk

cream butter. add sugar, then vanilla, salt and food coloring. add milk and powdered sugar until you have your desired consistency. decorate.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a pumpkin “patch” at a church with the Puzeys to take some fall photos of Owen. He was more interested in playing with the pumpkins than looking at the camera, but we got a few good shots. The church was trying to be a bit creepy for the holiday by putting on their front sign “This house is possessed by the Holy Ghost.” So I think they succeeded. It was a crisp, beautiful fall day. I love fall.

Fits

Owen has a typically happy disposition and is for the most part an easy-going kid. He is also, however, known around here to throw a good fit now and again. It’s pretty funny. He gently throws himself onto his back, kicks out his little legs, showing his disproval and then rolls around. This may play out in ones arms with an arched back maneuver. Typically this happens when he has hurt himself or when I’ve taken something out of his hands... Luckily, it is still fairly easy to distract him back into a good mood.

Spaghetti

One of Owen’s favorite foods is shells with spaghetti sauce. Which he thoroughly enjoyed the other day. It is so funny to watch him eat, and to see what he likes and what ends up on the floor (which I interpret as a “dislike”). He is just such a happy and fun boy and I love to watch him learn and grow.
Some of his new puppy tricks include: pointing at things he finds interesting, blowing kisses, repeating intonations and some words we say, walking up and down the hallway with his push-along hippo, wanting to be pushed up and down the hallway on his new bike, playing with the water in the sinks (in the photo you can see his face in the faucet), throwing fits when we take something (like scissors, cell phones, ipods, etc) out of his hands, waving hello and good-bye, laughing and shaking his head when we shake OUR heads and say “no” to something, pulling open the oven (it is now taped shut) and climbing on the door to play with the buttons, getting into every drawer to empty it.... It’s pretty funny. He has his “spots” all through the house that he systematically disorganizes. I am sure every time I reorganize it, he thinks I’ve just set it up for him to play again. What a great mom.

29

Yet another birthday celebration in the Anderson family: Nate turned 29! The last year in his twenty-somethings... To celebrate Nate took the afternoon off work on Friday. That night we went to dinner and a movie with our friends, the Hansens. Saturday we went to the Greek Festival in Atlanta (Atlantacropolis). We ate delicious Greek food and enjoyed the atmosphere. Sunday we partied with the Puzeys. It was a great weekend for us to celebrate our favorite Nate!