Halloween funtivities!

Our Halloween started with the WISE's Pumpkin walk. This is always a fun event! The kids picked out some costumes from the bin and away we went. This year we had a lion, princess and a dog join the walk. There was a nice little story and a bonfire and a concession full of sweet treats, savoury soup, and hot apple cider.


A couple days before Halloween, I found these awesome costumes at Winners on clearance. It took some time but I eventually convinced the girls to wear these on Halloween night. I also wanted Theodore to join in the party so I proceeded to make him a simple felt bread/toast costume.

Trick-or-treating was a lot of fun. We went to my parents neighbourhood and received lots of yummy treats!

TRICK OR TREAT!

Harry Potter Festival

Today we took the kids to a local event in Edmonton called the Festival of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was the second year the Festival took place. Justin and I went last year by ourselves but we had such a good time and I was really impressed by how family friendly the event was so I wanted to bring the whole fam this year!

Despite the chilly weather, we had a lot of fun. There was free crafts to make, we had some Harry Potter themed beverages and there was a lot a wizard-y shopping. I even dressed the kids up and we took part in a  family photo shoot.

I made a Pygmy Puff for Lily's costume

Pumpkin harvest

Our humble garden provided us with a few goodies this summer. We didn’t plant as much as last year but we did grow peas, carrots, green onions, tomatoes and some herbs.

 But the most challenging one has been the pumpkin. We had started four pumpkin plants from seed before we left for Disney and when we got back we planted all of them in the garden bed. But none were taking so we figured they must be overcrowded so we took two plants out. The third one died but the fourth was flourishing- blossoming many flowers and bulbs but the bulbs would die as well. It was a very frustrating experience! 

But one day I went out, and one bulb had flourished and so for the whole summer I focused on this one bulb. I cut away any shoots and leaves that would grow so to help the plant retain its energy on the flourishing bulb. And it worked. Because of the early snowfall, I was contemplating whether I should harvest it early then usually or try to continue to grow. It felt like a big decision! I didn’t want the cold to kill it because I had already put a lot of work and it was so close to harvest time it just needed a few more weeks. So I took a chance. I kept it warm with bark chips and covered it every night with this makeshift greenhouse thing I made out of a garbage bag. I would uncover it during the day hoping that it could soak in any sunny rays that would hit it.  I continued to water it and sure enough the snow did melt and we got a few more weeks of warmer weather. Like with all plants, and with lots of water, sunshine and love we had grown a pumpkin! It’s not a very big pumpkin but it is ours and I’m  excited to make a pie out of it! I finally harvested it and now we wait for it ripen before we roast a purée it :)