Jumping Apes Birthday Party

My youngest cousin, Lenzi had a birthday this month. I can not believe she turned 4. She had her birthday at Jumping Apes. Man if only i was a kid again, that place is so fun. All the kids had so much fun. She kind of had a monkey theme going since the name of the place, her cake, and they also had bananas and other fruit on a stick. Too cute. I sometimes think of Lenzi and her sister, Lexi, as my niece. Monica their mother is my first cousin. She is an only child so all my life we have always been together. She is more like a older sister than a cousin. Not sure if my parents planned this or not but Monica and my siblings are all 4 years apart. Kind of crazy. Monica is the oldest and my brother, Jason, is 4 years younger than her. Ashley my sister is 4 yrs younger than him and then i am 4 years younger than Ash. But we have all been pretty close. Over the years Monica and I have become closer since we have 12 years between us i was always a lot younger than her.

Here is Lenzi's wonderful cake. As a kid i really liked monkeys so i loved the theme of the party.

Me and the Sweet Birthday Girl. Love that white hair!

Lenzi and her friend, I think her name was Morgan.

Weeee!

Big sister, Lexi, and me. I think she thought she was a monkey.. note sure if you can tell but she inside the game that you shoot basket balls into the goal! Crazy child!

Love this time of year

As I walked out of work this morning (remember I work nights, so when you normal people are going to work. I'm going home to get in bed) anyway... I noticed the beautiful color of the trees outside the hospital.



I love when the trees turn colors. My most favorite is that dark red color. But all the colors are beautiful. The other day I was at the house I grew up in, which my sister now lives in, and I took a picture of one of my most favorite trees there.



I do hate that the house the sweet man and I live in is surrounded by pine trees. So all we get is awful pine needles in our yard that make green grass look orangish brown. Thankfully the sweet man gets the yard taken care of pretty quick!

Well this time of year is also always very busy. Not sure what happens but between football games, trips, family birthday parties holiday planning/shopping it's just very busy for me. Will have a recap of the past couple of weeks soon. One of my little cousin's birthday party and trip to the cabin will be posted soon! Have a good Tuesday! Off to bed!


Jenni's iPhone

Halloween Treat Recipes

Many people made comments on the food, left message on fb and asked at the party what everything was. So to make it easy and so i will be able to find it for next year I decided to share how i made everything. A little tip. Do everything you can the day before. I always wait until the last min and then i am soo stressed to get it finished and get ready in time for the guests to come.
1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup of butter softened
2 1/2 cups of confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
12 oz of white choc, chopped
2 tablespoons of shortening
2 drops of blue food coloring
1/2 cup of miniature semi sweet choc chips

Beat peanut butter and butter until smooth. Beat in sugar and vanilla. Cover and chill for 30 min. Roll chilled dough into eyeball size balls and place on baking sheet covered in wax paper. Chill for another 30 min.

Melt white choc. Dip each ball into white choc. Stir in small amt of remaining choc. Put 2 drops of food coloring in choc. Make round iris on top of cooled eyeball. Pt mini choc chips in center for pupil.

I also used the same recipe for the mice. You just add a 1 cup or 1 1/2 cup of rice crispies for a crunch. You then roll dough into oval and make a tip at one end for the face of the mouse. You use sliced almonds for the ears. Let chill. Then put in dark choc. Use black licorice for tail and mini m&Ms for nose. Couldn't find these so just didn't have a nose.

This was a hit and soo easy!

I tube refrigerated breadsticks

10 hot dogs

separate dough; roll 10 pieces into 24 in ropes. Wrap one dough rope around each hot dog. Leaving two inch of the hot dog uncovered at the top for the mummy head. Bake 350 for 18-20 min. Add dots of mustard for eyes.

2 (8 oz) block of extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cream cheese, softened

1 container of chive and onion cream cheese

2 teaspoons of paprika

1/2 teaspoon of ground red pepper

1 broccoli stalk, for top of pumpkin

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Cover and chill for 4 hours or until mixture if firm enough to be shaped. Put broccoli stalk on top.

Your choose of lunch meat. I didn't salami. You fill with cream cheese and wrap up lunch meat. Put tomatoes halved lengthwise in the end for nails.

Also we had a punch made for people to enjoy. It was actually very good.

1 bottle peach mango V8 juice blend

1 envelope unsweetened orange soft drink mix (i used kool aid)

2 drops orange food coloring (i didn't do this)

46 oz lemon lime soda, chilled (i didn't ginger ale)

also a splash of vodka

Very good and had many compliments. The punch was a good one too if you need a orange colored punch of a party, shower or any other event.