Two Ladybugs, One Dalmation and Cruella Deville

My handsome hubby loves to dress up. Give him any occasion, especially Halloween and the man is all on board. There was a time in our lives that we owned two huge afro wigs (from a 70s Halloween costume quite a few years ago) and the man loved to wear these things on random occasions.

He even wore them in a golf tournament...for church...and convinced our church administrative assistant to do the same. I heard the rumors that they were cruising on their golf carts in these wigs and the rumors were true. I should have known. Those wigs bit the dust when he wore one in the Warrior Dash one year and he convinced another friend to do the same.

So Halloween? It would be considered taboo to not dress up. You will never find the Welchs not participating in Halloween. So this year there was more of a reason to celebrate...we had a baby to dress up! Since she is our baby bug, she of course was a ladybug. And then "sissy" dressed up too, as a matching ladybug, of course.

We spent too much money on costumes that were worn for about 3 hours (maybe 10 minutes for Garcia:) but it was worth it. As far as daddy is concerned, you can never spend too much on dressing up.

We dressed up our babies and took pictures in the front yard and jumped around like fools to get the two of them to look and smile. We succeeded a few times.And what do you do on Halloween night with a baby? Well, you join forces with best friends and their baby since we can't exactly have a night on the town.

We took about a thousand pictures of Matthew (the precious little lion) and the Ladybug and I am pretty sure they were babbling about how crazy we were with the camera.

Sot what else do you do when they are too little to go trick or treating? Well we rolled them around in the wagon and then stripped them down to diapers for dinner. Our wild Halloween with babies babies included peas and chicken all over floor and messy babies to bathe! But that is why you join forces and do it together...and with delicious food and spirited beverages. Mary Rachel cooked the most amazing chili that apparently is her dad's secret award winning chili so there is no recipe to share there:) But I did  make Peanut Butter and Cocoa Crispy Rice Krispies because chocolate and peanut butter are my husband's love language language and  pumpkin pie martinis to wash it down with:)

I feel like babies are the hardest job and the best joy. I feel like nothing can prepare you for how things change when they come along but special events and weekends REALLYYYY change. In the sweetest way, but also not in the most exciting way if you can understand. I mean, whining and messy babies doesn't equal a thrilling time but I still wouldn't change it. It is our new season of life so we are rolling with it and we are so blessed by our baby girl. So you just  pack the wine, good food and do it with good friends!

But then there are times that you get a babysitter, dress up and get to be your pre-baby selves...all while never forgetting the precious lady bug that you left at home.

Our sweet friends and wonderful hostesses, Jacob and Maria hosted our Sunday School Halloween Party and there wasn't a detail spared. Maria is one of the most creative people I know and another dear friend of ours, Jenn, is always right there with her. The two of them could rival Martha Stewart and her party planning any day. We had a mexican buffet contributed by everyone and I brought dessert of course, another version of rice crispy treats and this time with Reese's Pieces (another love language of Jason's) Jason and I dressed up as Cruella and the Dalmatian and while we were pretty darn cute (at least we were told;), we didn't quite take home the costume contest prize. There was lots of stiff competition! Especially when you compete against Duck Dynasty!

Halloween Crispy Treats

1/4 cup butter

1 (10 oz) package marshmallows

6 cups rice cereal

1 (1 lb) package Reece's Pieces

Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add cereal stirring until well coated. Stir in Reece's. Using buttered hands, evenly press mixture into prepared pan. Cool completely. Cut into squares. 

Peanut Butter and Cocoa Crispy Treats

Halloween sprinkles

1/4 cup butter

1 (10 oz) package marshmallows

2/3 cup peanut butter

6 cups cocoa-flavored rice cereal

Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle Halloween sprinkles to cover bottom of prepared pan. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows, and stir until completely melted. Add peanut butter, stirring well to combine. Remove from heat. Add cereal, stirring until well coated. Using butter hands, evenly press mixture into prepared pan. Cool completely. Cut into squares. Flip over when preparing on serving plate.

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Ice

3/4 cup spiced rum

1/4 cup pumpkin spice creamer

2 tablespoons canned pumpkin

1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add rum, pumpkin spice cream and pumpkin. Shake with ice until well blended and strain into 2 martini glasses. Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice.

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