~ Carving Pumpkins ~

Yesterday we decided to carve pumpkins. I was envisioning it as a FAMILY event...you know, kind of like a Hallmark movie. I was excited for Sophie being her first Halloween and her love of "punks". Things did not go exactly as planned. Greg stayed downstairs to watch football. As I was prepping our pumpkin work area I realized that Sophie REALLY, really needed a nap. I figured that carving 4 pumpkins was going to take awhile anyway, so there was time for a 45 minute nap with out her missing much. Emma was happy to help me....for about 10 minutes. She did a GREAT job and gutted a big pumpkin by herself. She loved pulling out the "goo" as she called it. Then I found myself ALONE carving all four pumpkins...UH, how did THAT happen?! Emma and Sophie WERE excited about the finished product though and I took a few cute pictures.....




The girls posing with our Halloween pumpkins: A family picture carving pumpkins. Oh wait, I forgot that I was the only one there at that point!

Sophie woke up refreshed from her nap and did an obligatory pose for me.

Did I mention that Emma did a GREAT job gutting the pumpkin?! Really, she did.

Friday Craft Time

The girls and I went to The Dollar Store on Friday morning to stock up on some craft supplies. They both have an emerging interest in drawing and participating in (quick) little projects which makes me SO happy. Sophie is drawing lovely circles and Emma is writing a variety of letters now. We decided to make pumpkins with Halloween around the corner.....


*They were SO proud of their finished work!!!*

*Emma's pumpkin HAD to have hands and feet. Why? I am not sure...that is JUST EMMA! :)*
*I told Sophie where to draw her eyes-nose-mouth!*

Cooking With Daddy

Emma stirring eggs for Daddy's Saturday Morning omelet. She & Sophie hate eggs and wanted pancakes. ; ) Ground Pepper...
Sophie did not want to cook. She just wanted to EAT. :D
Adding Cheese...

Emma's Self Help Skills have been emerging a lot lately. : ) She has been asking to do more things by herself and often shoos me away if I try to step in. It can get a bit messy, but it so neat to see her maturing.

A Halloween Greeting from The Montieths!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

"Better Than Take Out Noodles" (NOT).

I have been wanting to cook Asian food more often. Partly for Emma and Sophie, & partly because we just like good Asian food! (Which is not easy to come by where we live). I ran across a recipe for "Better Than Take Out Noodles" in the Sunday paper last week, we had 90% of the ingredients needed in the pantry already so I decided to give it a try. I made them for dinner for Greg and I last night. They were DISGUSTING. REALLY BAD. The peanut butter was SO HEAVY and thick, we were gagging. We had A TON left over so I served some to Emma and Sophie for lunch today.............


(1) "Oh Mommy, I am not so sure about this. I want Mac & Cheese". (2). "I'll give you a fake smile. When you are not looking the dogs will get this".

(3). "Wait! These are not bad at all. I like peanutbutter and I like noodles, what a good combo".

(4). "Want MORE"!

Emma and Sophie BOTH liked the receipe. They *did* drink a lot of water with lunch though. ;)

"Halloween Doo" & "Poochie"

I gave Emma a creative little hairstyle for school today. ;) She IS opionated about how she wants her hair done, but she still lets me have my way...... sometimes.


Emma has become very interested in all of MY old toys. In the first picture she is holding "Lady" from Lady & the Tramp. I got this toy when I was 7 so that makes it 28 years old...*yikes*....but Emma LOVES it as much as if it were brand new.


In the 2ND picture Emma is holding "Poochie" that I received sometime around the age of 7-10, I think? DO NOT be fooled though; Emma is VERY MUCH looking forward to Christmas this year. She has figured out that this Santa guy brings toys and that you can make a list. :)

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Sophie enjoyed some one to one time with Daddy before bed last night. :-) It lasted for about 5 minutes and she was out!