Almost Thanksgiving!!!!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! The first picture is of the girls wearing paper Thanksgiving costumes. Hanna is missing her Indian headband. I cannot take credit for this though. Ava brought them home from pre-school and they were so cute I had to share! I found a website that gives instructions on how to make these costumes. Lastly every year for the past 12 years I have been making pumpkin rolls for family and friends. I have been told they are pretty tasty so I keep making them and every year it seems like I make more and more but I have gotten a pretty good system down so it is not too bad. Here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Batter:

3 eggs

1 c. sugar

2/3 c. pumpkin

1 tsp. lemon juice

2/3 c. flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp ginger

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

chopped walnuts (optional)

Filling:

1 c. powdered sugar

6 oz cream cheese softened

4 tbsp butter

½ tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread parchment paper over a cookie sheet to fit the length of the cookie sheet. Beat eggs, sugar pumpkin and lemon juice until creamy. In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients and then add to pumpkin mixture. Pour mixture over parchment paper and spread until even leaving an inch on each side. Sprinkle nuts over mixture. Bake for 15 min. Coat a clean dish towel with powdered sugar enough for the roll to fit over. Once the pumpkin roll is done baking flip upside down onto the sugar-coated dishtowel. Carefully tear the wax paper off the pumpkin roll. Roll the towel with the pumpkin roll in it be careful not to roll it too tight. Chill in refrigerator until cool. To make filling mix all ingredients until creamy. Once pumpkin roll is chilled spread cream cheese filling over the entire surface. Spread evenly and then roll back up to refrigerate.

I first wrap in foil and then wrap them in some muslin fabric and found these free cute little tags here. It is kinda hard to read but it says, "From The Kitchen Of" and then at the top it says "Please pass the stretchy pants." Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!!!

Sweet Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin carving is in the air. Here is a great recipe to make a perfectly healthy snack unhealthy :) That is the great thing about the holidays !!!

Sweet Pumpkin Seeds

2 c dried pumpkin seeds
2 T melted butter
3 T brown sugar
1/2 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon


Dry pumpkin seeds 300 degrees for 30 min. Mix all ingredients together. Spread over parchment paper lined cookie sheet and roast at 350 for 15 min.

The Giving Tree

I saw this idea in a Pottery Barn catalog and had to replicate it. The idea of it is to have the family write down one thing they are thankful for each day in the month of November in the spirit of Thanksgiving. I thought this would be a great family tradition and would be fun to look back as the kids get older the things they said they were thankful for. Also it would be a daily reminder to count our blessings.

Materials needed:
1 yd of brown felt
1/2 yd of green felt
1/2 yd of yellow felt ( I found a mustard yellow to go along with the fall colors)
1/4 yd of 4 different fall looking fabrics
Fabric glue or glue gun


I have to say it was a little time consuming cutting out all the leaves and numbers. I am sure there is an easier way of doing it. Just make sure that you make pockets out of the leaves so that way the notes can be placed in each leaf. Please feel free to leave a comment or email me for the template.

Halloween Ghosts

I thought these were fun little friendly ghosts to add to our Halloween decorations. Supplies you will need: Cheese Cloth sold at Walmart or Joanne's,liquid starch,black felt for the eyes, hot glue glue gun, 2 cups and a small balloon. Tape 2 cups together and place a small blown up balloon in the top cup. Soak a piece of cheese cloth big enough to drape your balloon in the liquid starch. Drape over and let dry. We let ours dry overnight. Once dry pop the balloon with a needle and remove from cup. Add eyes with a hot glue gun. This was very kid friendly and a fun project. For step by step instructions visit:http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/ghost-craft-1010

Bite Size Caramel Apples

I love fall and everything about it, I have been trying to finds some fun things to do with the girls for when the weather gets colder. I found these on another blog and thought they were so cute. I love caramel apples but they are so big. These are perfect for kids! You need a melon baller to scoop out the apple balls. Dip into melted caramel and use pretzel sticks for the stick. Perfect for Fall!