OktoberFest

We've had such a great October! New job, fun times with family and friends, and more adjustment with our new little baby. Here she is, dressed up with us at a Halloween party we went to. (You might not be able to find her; she's incognito. But here's a hint: she's a "Super Baby." I couldn't find our newborn-size bear costume, so I rigged this costume up before we left. Not bad . . . .)

The rest of us are b-o-r-i-n-g because we wore last year's costumes! But hey, they still fit us, and I wasn't about to make six new costumes this year after just giving birth.

Making WITCHES BREW! It had real gross stuff in it, and it smoked!

Raleigh, spreading some witchiness, wearing her new (fake) glasses.

Madeline and Co. with their loot.

North Georgia in the Fall is absolutely THE BEST! It's similar to being in the mountains with all of the hills and trees and changing colors. Our church had a Trunk 'R Treat at a Christmas Tree Farm owned by someone in our Stake. It was the perfect setting, the perfect temperature (with just the right amount of "crisp"-ness in the air), and it smelled like chili!! (Because we had a Chili Cookoff for dinner. And I am happy to report that I am the proud new owner of a golden pumpkin because my chili placed high honors as being the "Most Unique." Ha ha ha! It really was good, actually - a White Chicken Chili with Tomato Garnish.)

Here are some little witches who were haunting the party:

Choo Choo and Madeline

Don't be scared to come to our trunk! These scary ladies give out candy if you knock on the door of the makeshift haunted house! We made this house last year and recycled it again this year, too. We put Christmas tree lights behind the window-cutouts to make the whole thing glow, and the girls take turns sitting behind the door to hand out candy. They like this part more than going around to get candy - I think we have a tradition on our hands!

The hayride.

Madeline takes a turn.

Now notice the difference between the next two pictures . . .

I had to tell two certain witches to stand up like normal and quit posing. Can you guess which ones they were?

C'mon, guess. These are our "theatrical ones."

Now this next picture is really scary, so be careful. This was taken under the ghost in Butch's front yard on Halloween Eve. There are a couple boys missing in this picture (Dallas and Dade.) We always have a fun time with those Purd's!!

And here's my favorite picture of October:

Childhood is just magical, isn't it?

Pictures to come of Dade and Emerson in their Halloween costumes . . . the cutest cousins in Peachtree City!!

Hoot Owl Sugar Cookies

You've just gotta make these. The Cub Scouts at church last night each got to have two a piece - those little luckies! (I would've sent less with Dallas if I had known there were so many extras!)

World's Best Sugar Cookies

("World's Best because the dough is not dense. It has perfect flavor and just the right texture. If you want to roll it, it needs to be chilled for an hour first. If you're making regular drop cookies, just know that these really spread! And cook for 8 minutes to get the best texture.)

2 and 3/4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 c. butter, softened (yes, that's two cubes)

1 and 1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and sugar with other wet ingredients. Add the dry ones. Drop on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool. Frost. Enjoy!

(Don't eat three in one evening. You'll have crazy dreams about going to the lake full of pinto beans with your dad and your boat capsizing in shallow water, and then jumping back in to set sail to the Ukraine. Kind of disturbing.)

S.O.S. Part 2

Really, guys, get me out of here! (See previous post.)

Some Call Me Poppleton, Some Call Me Sushi

I'm almost eight weeks now, and you gotta get me outta this place! I make a fuss, and nobody listens to me . . . . They call me funny names like Poppleton and Sushi and Babycakes and Lil'Bit (that one's from my big sister, Raleigh.) I think these people are crazy - just look at them:

This is Raleigh, my biggest sister. She spends just as much time doing handstands and cartwheels around the house as she does walking on her feet! And look at what she did to the wall while my mom and I were sleeping! It was the backdrop for a seventeen-act play she directed. Everyone in my family got to be in the play except for me, and they performed it while I was sleeping!!

Here is specimen #2, my older sister, Madeline. She is wearing a purse on her head that she "insided-out" and some other crazy clothes. My Grammy helped her make the purse out of her old favorite blankie "Purps" that she's had since she was two months old, and it was ready to be burned! Hey, two months old? I'm almost two months old!

Now look at this girl. This is my older sister, Kensington. They tell me that's her name, but nobody calls her that. Oh no! It'll probably happen to me, too! This girl is dangerous to be around - they can't leave me alone with her because she smooches and loves me way too much. She goes around the house pretending to be a princess and says things like, "Pleased to meet you," and she calls me "Baby Derdaid" (Baby Mermaid). I hope that name doesn't stick!

I'm serious, guys, you've gotta get me out of this place! Just thinking about it wears me right out . . .

Bad to the Bone

Duh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh. Ba Ba Ba Ba Bad to the Bone . . . . (Pretend the song is playing in the background.)

This city never sleeps:

(The view from our hospital room.)

Now that Miss Emery has come to town.

With her hand to the bottle (okay, actually, she's breastfeeding), and her pack-a-day habit (diapers, that is), we're trying to get a little rest around here.

Isn't she sweet?! Don't let the faux-hawk fool you!

The New Arrival

Raleigh, Madeline, and Kensington are thrilled to announce the arrival of their new baby sister!

Emery Rose Matthews

August 23, 2010

1:31 pm

7 lbs 3 oz

20 inches

Cute as a button, and lots of brown hair!

Welcome to the ZOO, Emery! . . .

We are in awe.

What's Happening . . .