Now, 42-Year Old Family Snow Leopard Costume!

This adorable Snow Leopard costume was made by my Aunt Snookie for her son, the first grandchild in the family on my mom's side, Cousin Jeremy.  My cousin Jeremy wore it first in 1971!  And it's been handed down in the family and worn by all the cousins AND THEN handed down and worn by the cousin's kids, Jeremy's son and now Stella....WAIT MAKE THAT...And Now TUCKER on October 18, 2013!

The Snow Leopard costume has held up exceptionally well considering it's 40 years old....as you look at the earlier pics you will notice it did have covered feet but through time and all the toddler feet walking around in it Trick or Treating over the years, the feet wore off.

Here are all the pics of us Strick Cousins wearing our family costume, in chronological order - except unfortunately we can't seem to find my sister, Amy's photo :(

Take notice - look at the very first pic here of Jeremy wearing it and then his son Alec - not planned but they are both sitting by one of those classic plastic orange pumpkin trick or treating buckets AND holding onto a sucker.

And now it's off to Jeamma & Ter-Bear's tonight to meet Grampy & JoNana for some Trick or Treating.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Cousin JEREMY, 1971

 JEREMY TODAY(40 yrs. old this Nov!)

Cousin JENNIFER, 1975

JENNIFER TODAY (36 yrs. old)

Cousin JODI,  1984 (with Stella's great grandma, Alice)

JODI TODAY (28 yrs. old)

 
 

 Cousin RYAN, 1988 (with his dad, Uncle Mark)

RYAN TODAY (25 yrs. old)

  Cousin KELSEY, 1991

KELSEY TODAY, holding Stella (21 yrs. old)

Cousin Jeremy's Son, ALEC, 1999

ALEC TODAY (13 yrs. old)

Cousin Jennifer's Daughter,  STELLA, 2010

Little Boo at The Zoo (Toledo Zoo)

 Little Boo at The Zoo (Toledo Zoo)

 Little Boo at The Zoo (Toledo Zoo)

Story Time Sylvania Library

STELLA TODAY (4 yrs. old)

 

Cousin Jennifer's Son, TUCKER, 2013

  Little Boo at The Zoo (Toledo Zoo)

Little Boo at The Zoo (Toledo Zoo)

And as Aunt Janice said to me this year after seeing Tucker in the family costume....WHO WILL WEAR IT NEXT!  Meaning....WHO will have kids next!  

:)

  

3rd Annual PUMPKIN PLAYDATE 2013!!!

Soon enough....the sun came out just in time (oh why oh why, mother nature, must you mess with me on big event days at my house!)....and so did the following over here at The Playdate Playhouse:

*Diva Pumpkins for the girls 

*Monster Pumpkins for the boys

and even...

*MINI Diva & Monster Pumpkins for the babes!

 

*Lots of Glitter
*Lunchables for the kiddos
* Appetizers, Katy
*SpiderWeb'd Butternut Squash by yours truly
*Big Ol' Crusty Bread
*Yummy Salad, Brittany
*My Pumpkin Lattes
*Mini Carmel Apples
*Pumpkin Pie, Kristen
*and the new climbing dome from JoNannie & Peeto, of which the kids loved!  (Thank you Justin for deciding to put that thing together for the playdate, that was awesome!)

Stella & Tucker had such a great time with all of their friends.  Having a 2nd child at the toddler age does make hosting this event a bit on the challenging side....however I happen to be one very lucky girl as my husband could just see how crazy it was getting and he was able to stay home for the day, I thought that was really awesome.  Took the load off for sure and allowed me to enjoy it more and visit with all my friends!

 This year we had the pleasure of having Shelby, Preston & Bella join us :)  So happy they could come.  Next year, mark your calendar, ok Shelby! :)

 Stella helping make the Diva & Monster Pumpkins for her guests to Glitter Up on Playdate day

We put Hot Pink Fuzzy on top for Diva's and Black Monster Fur for the Monsters

and 

Googly Eyes with pretty eyelashes or angry eyebrows

 Stella, Tuck/Jen; Lydia, Hannah/Katy; Brooklynn, Adalynn/Kristen; Sienna, Cora, Brady/Brittany; Preston, Bella/Shelby
Special Thank You to Shelby for all the pics you took - THANK YOU I didn't have the chance to get all the ones I wanted, you saved the day :)

 Getting ready to glitter up Pretty Smiles or Zig Zag Smiles 

(Stella was all about the Zig Zag)

Katy, great idea - "let's bag the paint and do just glitter"  

 The Mini Carmel Apples 

 Tucker glittlered up his Mini Monster Pumpkin later that night

Thanks you guys for another fun year here at The Playdate Playhouse - look forward to our little tradition every fall.  XOXO


JEN'S
SPIDER WEB'd
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Serves:  4

NOTE:  You can buy Organic Cubed Already Butternut Squash in Fall at COSTCO!

• 2 lbs. Cubed Butternut Squash

• 1 Onion, chopped fine (sweet recommended)

• 2 TBSP Butter

• 3 TBSP Sour Cream

• 1 Can Chicken Broth (15 oz)

• 1 Orange (for the juice & zest)

• Garlic Pepper to taste (don't use alot at first, sprinkle, taste, sprinkle taste)

• Onion Powder to taste

• Garlic Salt to taste (not much)

• Fresh Minced Garlic, 1 Clove

Sautee the Butter with the Chopped Onion & Minced Garlic

Pour in Chicken Broth, Juice & Zest from Orange Squash Cubes, Bring To Boil 

Then Simmer till tender  (15/20 Min.)

Once tender, transfer it all into a blender and Puree in batches if necessary, returning the Pureed Soup back on the stove top.

Stir in the Sour Cream now once it's all Pureed & back on the stove

Season to your liking with the following: 

Onion Powder

Garlic Pepper

Garlic Salt

Squirt two rings of Sour Cream in the center once each serving is poured into a bowl

 (1 large ring/1 small ring inside the large ring)

Take a butter knife and drag from the center outward, do this all around the circle of sour cream

Walah!  You have one very festive bowl of Spider Web'd Butternut Squash Soup!

ENJOY

Saute 

Grrrrrrr says Tucker with his Dinosaur. Long Version 09/22/13

Tucker's 1st Walk! Labor Day 2013 Up North!

It's A Big STELLAbration!!! HAPPY 4th BDAY Stella!!!!

OUR LITTLE GIRL IS.....FOUR!!!!

 


  

 HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET SWEET STELLA!

Actual Birthday

Wed. August 21, 2013

– 4 days before her party –

Stella awakes to a Birthday Donut adorned with 4 candles, Mommy sings her Happy Birthday as her Brother Tuck watches....Stella then requests to re-light the candles, be handed her plated donut, and she proceeds to then sing Happy Bday to Mommy :)

HER BIRTHDAY DAY WAS FILLED WITH:

• Afternoon Playground Fun with Mommy & Tucker

• Daddy comes home from work and we head toToys R' Us where Stella is told she gets to pic out her Very First Bike!

• Her Bday Evening is topped off with Dinner & Ice Cream at Steak & Shake with Peeto, Jeamma & Papa, Aunt Amy & Uncle Todd, Mommy & Daddy (it was going to be a late night so Tucker enjoyed some one-on-one fun with Tonya) and JoNannie, we missed you but anxiously awaited your arrival at her party back from Vermont!

Tucker was such a good boy for me....sleeping in till 10:30 the next day

First Bike Ride With A Friend

Lola & Stella

And Now for the BIG 

"Sundae STELLAbration!"

 Party Date:  "Sundae" August 25th 

2:00pm 

Stella & Her Crew

Lola, Evelyn, Lydia, Stella, Sienna, Cora, Cayla & Sophia

 

 4th ANNUAL BIRTHDAY PLATE

 I make one every year - with the heartfelt intent to pass them along to my kids when they are in need of their first set of dishes :)

TIME TO DIG IN!

 

WE CRUSHED, JARRED and TAGGED
12 Sundae Toppings:
Oreos
Sugar Cones (my favorite)
Pecans
M&M's (Stella's favorite)
Roasted Coconut
Mini Marshmellows
Graham Crackers (for a Smores Sundae)
Sprinkles
Mint Fudge Cookies
Mini Reeces Cups
Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Crisps
Famous Amos Choc. Chip Cookies

 I MADE THREE SAUCES

~ Classic Hot Fudge ~

  ~ Sea Salt Carmel ~

 (the best one in my book!)

Michigan Balsamic Strawberry Sauce

 (from the Strawberries Stella & I picked back in June)

 HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
 (as the Patriarch of Duck Dynasty says often - you gotta LOVE Phil!)

M&M's Galore for her choice of Topping

 Lola, Stella, Lydia
Enjoying Cupcakes that were baked in ice cream cones
Green Frosting that was dumped on just like a scoop of ice cream would be
and topped with chocolate chips
to resemble Miss Stella's
FAVORITE ICE CREAM
Mint Chocolate Chip
THANK YOU TONYA, they were perfect!

ICE CREAM CONE PINATA!

BEFORE

AFTER

ALL EYES ARE ON THE PRIZE

Uncle Todd & Aunt Amy bring their new puppy for a visit straight from NC

"Norma Jean"

Stella, Cayla visit from Canton!, Sienna

2nd Cousin, Alec

Daddy, Mommy & The Birthday Girl

Tuck & His Gals

Stella & Lola

My Balloon Weight

The Idea Here:  White Tissue Paper & Real Sprinkles in Jar  (to look like Vanilla Ice Cream)

Thanks Aunt Joyce for my "must have" 2 Dozen Balloons!

 The Gift Table

 Ice Cream Cones with Cheddar Cheese Cubes, Blueberries & Raspberries

 Lola, Evelyn, Sophia, Stella & Lydia

MY ICE CREAM GARLAND!

(because I simply didn't have enough projects on my Bday Party To Do List)

DO YOU SENSE THE SARCASM ;)

Uncle Todd & his mom Molly

I saved this from Stella week at Preschool back in April, knowing I'd want to display it at her ice cream party

 (Letter for the Week "I" for Ice Cream!")

Lola & Stella

 Papa & Tucker

 Uncle Mike & Cousin Kelsey

 Jen & Brittany

 Jen & Emilee

My BFF from Bellbrook, OH of whom 

Made this Adorable Ice Cream Themed Dress

~THANK YOU EMILEE!~
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!

For More Info you can FB Dresses By Lola's Mom!

 Lola, Stella & Lydia

 Molly, JoNannie & Jeamma

 Cousin Karen & Aunt Snookie

 The Huntsberger's travel in from Canton, OH!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake
Later to be adorned with a big fresh scoop of MCC Ice Cream and a #4 Candle!

A special Thank You to Tonya, as always, for all your help in my Party Prep!!!

And all of you that helped us out

It made for a wonderful "Stellabration"

;)