To Tax or Not To Tax???

So, in checking out all my friend's & family's Halloween blogs and chatting w/other parents post trick or treat time, I found that there is a fascinating discussion about "stealing" candy from your children's buckets. SERIOUSLY, are we really having these disgussions? Several parents think that it is wrong, unjust, selfish, childish, irresponsible (and on and on and on--you get the picture). Other's (like myself) think that it is one of the perks of being a parent--especially when your 2 & 3 year olds rack in more candy at the tri-ward trunk or treat than you actually gave out to others that night! I'm talking about 4 lbs worth of tooth decaying goodness--we had to empty their buckets half way through because they were too heavy to carry. But I digress....Essentially it comes back to economics: socialist or capitalist? To tax or not to tax? I bought the costumes, the decorations, the candy to give out, the buckets to put it in, put in all the time, money & effort for the crazy holiday. You better believe I'm taxing you in the form of Baby Ruths! ok, tootsie rolls too (but not the square ones, only the long rolls--the chewy factor is different and I'm strictly a traditionalist!) I distinctly remember forking over some of the best stuff to my parents each Halloween, but those were the rules if I wanted to play the game. Let's go back to the day when parents respect their kids but are still parents--we say no, they listen, they whine--we DON'T give them what they want, they help out around the house and DON'T necessarily need an allowance to do so--they are getting food, room and board etc. Take the stinking candy, don't feel guilty, don't apologize and if your kids are anything like ours (at least for now at this age) sharing w/mom & dad is fun--especially since Jason likes the colored tootsies (AHHHGH) and not the chocolate ones--those all come to me!

A long rant, I know but chocolate makes me do and say crazy things!

Football, Family, Friends, Fall

Like the title shows, life couldn't be better for our little family. We've been busy the last few weeks--here's a run down:
1. Making caramel apples with friends--the missionaries dropped by and joined us for a bit (every little mormon kid's heros!) The boys couldn't stay out of the fridge--constantly checking to make sure the apples were still there. Ryan was the instigator, sticking his fingers in the caramel or picking the mini m&ms and sprinkles off. I caught him (on MORE than one occasion) running through the house with an apple in his hands, caramel and chocolate all over his face--I think he loved it more than me!


2. We headed to Utah for the Tidwell Tailgate 2009 (say that 5 times fast)! Scott's family reunion was hosted by his sister Wendy & her family in P town this year. We played at Rock Canyon Park--I had forgotten how beautiful those fall colors are in Utah. We all carved pumpkins, took family pictures in our matching BYU shirts, had a family "talent" show, decorated sugar cookies (and yes, I made Grandma's recipe so as not to shame myself for generations to come).


We hit up the bookstore and got everyone outfitted with sweatshirts for the game--Jason kept calling the little cougar on his shirt a jaguar. People were looking around like "who's kid is this?" He even managed to steal some flavored chap stick--he got hooked on Aunt Missy's-- but we caught him about 10 yard out of the store and Scott "helped" him take it back. We had a big bbq/tailgate before the game, watched the cougars flop on their own turf, but enjoyed being part of the electric atmosphere in that stadium. Even the boys loved getting bundled up and cheering for the team! After we headed to Aunt Lisa's place w/Summer & Dave & other family for a great visit and hot chocolate. Lisa brought us back some really nice gifts from her trip to China--Scott a tie, me a table runner and silk hand bag. The boys got some really cool chopsticks--Jason calls them his drumsticks and takes them EVERYWHERE--bathtub included! The boys loved getting in a little run around time before heading back to crash at our hotel. Jason's favorite part of all was the hotel breakfast--he thinks there is something special about the cereal that comes out of the plastic dispensers. He wanted to bring them home with us!


3. The Monday after we got home we headed to our great friends for a traditional Halloween dinner. She did dinner in a pumpkin and it was sooo good--just like I remembered mom making when we were kids. I made "bone" bread sticks and we ate jello out of little pumpkins. It was great. The kiddos even dressed up in their costumes for a "trial" run and LOVED it. We can't wait for the real deal--such an easy way for mom and dad to rack in some great treats--all because their kids are cute :)

Scott's pumpkin from the reunion!

YOU BLOCKHEAD!

Today was a milestone. Today I became my parents! Today I bought my children a movie that I grew up with, hoping they would love it as much as me. I felt like a cheap salesman, talking Jason into picking Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin instead of some pixar film he wanted. But, just like my parents, today was a victory. HE LOVES IT! We have been listening to the Peanuts theme song nonstop for almost 24 hours, the kid is obsessed and that makes me so very happy! I want my kids to grow up with the old Disney's and other cartoons that I had. There is something classic and nostalgic about them. And so today, The Great Pumpkin is alive and well. In the words of my favorite little Peanut, Happy Halloween You BlockHead!

Ode To Grandma, Frosting & Halloween!

Some of the greatest recipes I have I owe to my Grandmothers! Every once in a while I get this crazy thought in my head to stray from the tried and true! I did just that when making sugar cookies for the kiddos to decorate while the menfolk were at the priesthood session of General Conference. Actually, I attribute the insane moment of straying to a great coupon and needing to save a little time. I ended up BUYING sugar cookie dough from the store instead of making Grandma Ahlstrom's infamous cream cookies. I know, I know, I can hear generations of Ahlstrom women screaming at me in shame. "Garbage, filth, refuse..." like the crazy bag lady from Princess Bride! Let me tell you, lesson learned--never again will I buy cookie dough. IT WAS AWFUL! Not only did it taste like poo--you know that is the truth when even your "sugar-running-through-his-veins" 3 year old won't eat the cookies right? But they didn't roll out like they should have, got all gummy and stuck to my counters. Ended up having to use waxed paper to bake them on cuz I couldn't transfer them to a cookie sheet without everything falling to a mushy, sticky mess. I pretty much hate you Pil****ury company sugar cookies! Regardless, my friends frosting and our combined candy corn, tons of sprinkles and noninvasive mothering helped the kids have a great time anyway. We topped it off with a little pizza and oreo cookie ice cream. Come on, are you surprised--you know I do dessert first! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE. It is fall and I'm loving it! and ps. grams i'm sooo sorry, i'll never do your recipes injustice again--promise!

Enjoying some halloween pjs from Grammy Jean


Loving sweater weather