Oh! Hi! Oh!

~Hi all! 

This is just going to be a short one, sorry. We hope everyone had a great Halloween. The kids had a good time here. We live in a perfect neighborhood for Trick-or-Treating. The kids got way too much candy, were able to walk around with their friends, walk through a few spook alleys in peoples garages, and be done before 8:00. Todd was assigned the task of giving out candy and hot cocoa while I went with Tyler & Emily (Michael was too “old” to stick with us).

The kids have been working hard at school to get those A’s (not a small feat in this school district). They are busy with homework, scouts, dance, gymnastics and piano. They are working on their Christmas recital pieces and they are sounding great.

Hailey just started walking 2 days after she turned 11 months, but still prefers crawling as a faster way to get around.

We are gearing up for the trip to Howard & Melanie’s for Thanksgiving. We’re all getting excited to see them and spend time with them. 

We hope you all have a great holiday. We miss you all. 

Again, sorry so short. We’ll have more to write next month.

Todd, Amy, Michael, Tyler, Emily & Hailey

Halloween Jokes for Kids

Why are angry witches afraid to ride their brooms? They’re afraid of flying off the handle.

Who won the skeleton beauty contest? No body.

What kind of mistakes do spooks make? Boo boos

What's the ratio of a pumpkin's circumference to its diameter? Pumpkin Pi.

What do you call a goblin who gets too close to a bonfire? A toasty ghosty.

Boston Baked Boltons

Siovhan has applied and been accepted to BYU’s Broadcast Journalism program, as I emailed to you all. She is so excited. She has had this dream for several years and didn’t have a back up plan for what she would do if she didn’t get in. Siovhan is enjoying her job at Trade Select (there has been a name change, but I don’t remember what it is). She is involved in some marketing aspects, which also surprises her mom. I often wonder if this the same girl who wouldn’t ask the neighbors for money for school functions?

Braden has been the Troop’s Senior Patrol leader for the past five months. His scoutmaster has put a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He has had to arrange transportation, send out permission slips, organize meals, arrange sleeping arrangements, get the list for the quartermaster and arrange for the service projects. I often wonder what the scoutmaster is actually doing. The scoutmaster emails Braden constantly and then calls if Braden doesn’t respond the same day. It has been very good for Braden. I keep reminding him that there are several scout masters and ex-scout masters in our family and that he is carrying on the legacy. He is ready for a release though, it can be very daunting, but he is reminded about enduring to the end.

Ben loves the social aspects of being a teenager. He has arranged to do something every weekend during the past several months. I am afraid what it will be like when he turns sixteen. We usually drive a half an hour to his friend’s houses and they play for hours and hours. He is still practicing his guitar and I was surprised this week to actually be able to understand one of the songs.

Mikaela has decided to play the violin. I was a bit skeptical, as the last two violin players in the Bolton house ended up playing different instruments. Mikaela is in love with the violin though. Her violin teacher hurt her neck and hasn’t been able to hold a violin for the past few

weeks, so some of the excitement for playing has turned into frustration from not being able to play. Mikaela is the only Bolton child in the LDS Franklin Ward Primary Program. She has a small speaking part and is part of a double quartet. She has taken after two of her siblings who love to sing in public.

I have been temporarily relieved of my Young Women President calling. I have been called to serve a three-month minimission as a Ward Missionary. The Bishop received approval from the Stake Presidency to call all the Presidents from the Auxiliaries as Missionaries. My companion is the Primary President. It has been a very interesting and nervewracking experience. Our job is to visit all the members, active and less active and give them the lesson of the Restoration. We are then to ask the lessactive families what their standing in the church is. We are to use the Preach My Gospel book and Elder Bednar’s talk from the latest General Conference. It is a scary thought to realize how important this calling is and how it can change someone’s life.

Howard has been traveling a lot lately. He has been in Australia and Japan for the past two weeks. He will be home for two days (long enough to pay the Dentist for an emergency visit—go Dentists!) and then it is off to Puerto Rico for a week. He is really looking forward to his trip to Shanghi, China in December. He can’t wait to go! He went snorkeling two weeks ago at the Great Barrier Reef, but

became a little seasick on the ride. It made the trip a little unpleasant.

November is going to be an exciting month for us. Mikaela is having a birthday party, Howard’s twin brother Andrew may come for a visit. Siovhan is traveling to Georgia to help with the Republican Campaign. Braden and Ben are doing wonderful things with school and scouting. Todd and family are planning to spend time with us. November has always been such a fun and exciting month!

Take care. We love you!

Melanie

Joke of the Month

Photographer works

There was this haunted house on the outskirts of the town which was strictly avoided because the ghost who lived' there was feared by all. However, a journalist decided to get the scoop of the day by photographing the fearsome phantom. When he entered the house, armed with only his camera, the ghost descended upon him, clanking chains et al. He told the ghost "I mean no harm. I just want your photograph." The ghost was quite happy at this chance to make the headlines. He posed for a number of ghostly shots. The happy journalist rushed back to his dark room, and began developing the photos. Unfortunately, they turned out to be black and underexposed. So what's the moral of the story? The spirit was willing but the flash was weak.

Halloween Eyeball Cookies

(Looks creepy tastes good.)

1/2-cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1-tablespoon vanilla

12 ounces white dipping chocolate

1/2-cup mini chocolate chips

Blue food coloring

Cream the butter and peanut butter together. Beat in the vanilla and sugar. Chill for 1/2 hour. Roll into small balls, chill on wax paper for another 1/2 hour. In a microwave, melt the white dipping chocolate. Using two spoons dip the eyeballs into the white chocolate. Let cool on waxed paper until firm. Chilling will speed up the process. Pour a drop or two of blue food coloring into the remaining melted chocolate. Make a round iris on the eyeball, and immediately press a miniature chocolate chip in the center for a pupil, doing 5 at a time. For the bloodshot effect, dip the tiny end of a toothpick in red food coloring and squiggle the lines from the pupil outward, but not quite to the edges of the ball. Note: White-dipping chocolate is also known as white bark. Makes 40 cookies in 20 minutes.

October's Party

By George Cooper

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came-

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,

The Oaks in crimson dressed;

The lovely Misses Maple

In scarlet looked their best;

All balanced to their partners,

And gaily fluttered by;

The sight was like a rainbow

New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,

At hide-and-seek they played,

The party closed at sundown,

And everybody stayed.

Professor Wind played louder;

They flew along the ground;

And then the party ended

In jolly "hands around."

Witch Finger Cookies

(One of my temple friends made these for us. She called them ghoul fingers for her “ghoul” friends.)

1-cup butter, softened

1 cup icing sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. almond extract

1 tsp. vanilla

3 drops green food coloring (or as desired)

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup whole blanched almonds

Powdered sugar to sprinkle 

In bowl beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, vanilla and green food coloring; beat in flour; baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Working with one-quarter of the dough at a time and keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoons full of dough into finger shape for each cookie. Press an almond firmly into one end for nail. Squeeze in center to create knuckle shape. Use a paring knife to make slashes in several places to form knuckle. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet in 325-degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Remove from cookie sheet and cool. Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 5-dozen.

The Buzzn’ Joneses

Julie and Jim have been working and working and working. Julie has turned into a canner of food and, if it grows, Julie will can it. Jim is always working. They are thinking of trying to find a place to live that will be closer to the warehouse so that Jim will not have to travel so much.

Mary and Julie are making a costume for Halloween, which has not been Mary’s favorite holiday. She doesn’t like any of the Halloween displays and worries about whether they are real or not. She asked Grandma if she would dare touch them. I guess if she would that makes them better. She wants to be a princess for Halloween. Julie thinks that she is sewing challenged but she is trying. If it has to do with Disney or Barbie or Princesses, it must be wonderful.

Christene has learned to turn over. She is no longer safe just lying on the bed and kicking. She isn’t really safe on the floor either because Mary likes to play with her and forgets to watch where she is stepping. She likes to sing and also laughs a lot. When Jim came in after work the other day, she was so excited to see him that she was ecstatic. Then he bent to kiss her and she smelled the bee go. You should have seen her little face.

Jim and his Elders have been helping our new neighbor build a big bedroom in the basement for our neighbor’s daughter and her finance so they can live with the folks for a while.

Julie does cub scouts and wonders why she was called to be cub master. Both of her assistants have problem pregnancies and cannot help right now. Grandma has become helper and says she likes it.

Make a Pull String Piñata

The pull string piñata is a particularly good game idea for small kids indoor celebrations. It is a fun yet safe party game for the youngest kids who can get hurt trying to break open the piñata with a bat. Here are instructions on how to convert a normal piñata into its gentler pull string version:

1) First of all, the piñata must have a flat bottom. Cut a 3"x3"x3" flap on the bottom of piñata as close to center as possible. Perforate a small hole near the extreme of flap where it opens.

2) Pass a ribbon through flap and tie a knot from the side that will remain inside the piñata.

3) Close flap. Do not secure flap with any tape or adhesive.

4) Using scotch or masking tape attach ribbons around base of piñata. Pull the ribbon that is hanging out of trap and bring it to same level as other ribbons.

5) Spread glue over the bottom of the piñata and apply the tissue paper making sure that all ribbons are completely covered. Let dry. Your pull string piñata is ready!

Pinatas.com offers a complete kit with clear instructions to convert a normal piñata into a pull string piñata. Take a look as well at our large array of piñatas and choose your favorite!

Monster Toes (Pigs in Blankets)

Biscuit dough

Green food coloring

Hot dogs

Black olives

Make your own biscuit dough, add 5 drops of green food coloring to the batter before you knead it and roll it out. Roll out your dough. Cut pieces big enough to cover one hotdog. Roll it and seal shut. Cut a black olive in half. Push one half into the dough on the edge of the hotdog for the toenail. Place all of the toes on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for twenty minutes.