HALLOWEEN
Halloween is so much fun! We had a great Halloween this year! Started off with the school parade! It was so nice that Nate got to come, even if he was tired from working all night- he sat there and made the parade so exciting for Molly- commenting on pretty much every costume- it was super cute! Molly had been expecting candy to be thrown, so when she found out we weren't going to be gathering up candy the whole time, she had to have some from the bag we were taking to Noah's class party and was throwing them onto the floor and then jumping down (we were in our usual spot on the steps) and picking them up. It was adorable. It was fun to see Noah, Erika and Jack in the parade. It's just so much fun! I'm glad they do the parade.
After the parade it was time for Noah's class party. I was in charge of this and even though I specifically told everyone in our group email what I was doing- we still ended up with two stations with the same game- reverse charades. Kind of annoying. But we made do. We actually ended up doing a describe the Halloween words at our station instead of charades, so it was all good. I got a kick out of some of their choice of gestures. Funny kids. Then Nate ran the station with the pumpkin guts/candy. This was a big hit at Kelly's 5th grade party, so we had to do it at Noah's. Cut open the pumpkin, mix in a lot of gross random stuff and candy and the kids have to reach in to get the candy out. Nate made it very fun I'm sure :). Noah was pleased with the party, so we call it a success :).
Nate, Molly and I came home, since there was no playgroup, Molly and I relaxed while Nate slept. It was pretty nice.
At 2:00 we headed back over to the school for Jack's class party! This one we just brought the trusty ol' Eyeball Toss game with some prizes. This is a good safe game :). The kids usually like it. Jack seemed happy with it and loved having us there. Charity and Kelly showed up halfway through too- that was fun. I always wonder what people think of us having half of our family there (probably LOOKS like MORE than half, but anyway). It's fun for me :). Mrs. Burns seemed a little stressy that day. But it was fun to see Jack in his element and to see all his friends in their cute costumes and stuff. Lots of fun!!
So after school everyone just kind of paces around waiting for Trick-or-Treating. No matter how hard I try to get them to work or be productive, they just can't function! It's hilarious. We had some Zuppa Toscana... my favorite... for dinner. Then everyone got their costumes on and we headed outside for the pictures. Tradition.
Molly actually chose her costume this year! She wanted to be a purple unicorn. It was a stretch, calling this outfit purple, but for a three year old, it worked! I tried to go all out on the hair and tail, but she never really did like it. And the headband/horn thing only got worn for a total of about a minute and a half. So that was slightly disappointing, but whatever. She's three. She seemed happy with herself all evening, that's all that matters. She was adorable all night. She started out not wanting to get out of the wagon that she had decked out with her pillow and Kelly's blanket. But then with some urging from Erika, she was off! She was so good at trick-or-treating this year! It was fun to watch her! She did get tired a few times and ride in the wagon during parts of it. The last lap was my favorite though- she was doing this funny little thing where she put her hands in her pockets and then she was basically moseying on up to the doorstep, kicking leaves, or air as she stepped. She would weave a little, not walking in a straight line, and take her sweet time getting up to the doorstep even when people were standing there letting all the warm air out of their homes, waiting for that last little kid to get up to the candy bowl! It was hilarious really. She cracked us up! Cathie Nybo and I couldn't get enough of it :). She was so happy with her bucket when she got home, but seemed more interested in seeing what everyone else got until Erika helped her with hers. Funny girl.
Jack chose his costume very decisively this year! No qualms whatsoever, he knew what he wanted back at the beginning of the month when I first asked the kids to start thinking. He chose the Red Power Ranger. We were so happy when we found the Dinocharge one at Walmart only a couple weeks later- I LOVE the easy costumes that don't take any work! He was pleased with his costume and wore it with pride :). He LOVED Halloween this year! My favorite part was his reaction when he found out that "this is Halloween DAY?" and "we're going trick-or-treating right now?" Somehow he had misunderstood that the trick-or-treating was the next day! So this came as a very pleasant surprise after dinner :). He's so funny. He was thrilled to get his costume back on, with warm clothes underneath. He ran around with the big kids like such a trooper this year! He had such a good time! He did run out of gas before the big kids and spent the last lap in the wagon, but I was pretty proud of him. I loved when he was having a pain in his elbow from holding his heavy pillow case! How cute is that! I had to carry it for him for a while- but then we put it in the wagon. He was so cute after when everyone was sorting and trading candy- he was right there with all the big kids, sorting his stuff "by shape"! I love it! He's growing up!
Erika struggled with this life-altering decision of what to be for Halloween, this year. It was tough. She went through several other ideas, most of which were team costumes with Noah. But the one we all settled on, that was a team costume, but also went well on their own was Peter Pan for Erika and his shadow for Noah. This was a lot of fun for me! We got to work getting all the parts together for it. I think we did pretty good too! Erika looked perfect! I only wish I'd done the shoe covers, but oh well. Erika was a super sister all through Trick-or-Treating-- she was Molly's side kick. She even sacrificed getting as much candy for her! She thought it was hilarious that Molly kept taking handfuls even when people would say "take one" or "take three", but then whoever it was, would always just allow Molly to do whatever she wanted, so Molly would say, "Don't tell me 'duh take one, Ewika!!' (don't tell me just take one, Erika!) Kinda spoiled by everyone basically! Funny stuff. Erika was so sweet to hang back with her and make it a special night together. Made me happy. I think she had a good time and it was so much fun watching her trade with the boys!
Noah was, as I said, Peter Pan's shadow! He really got into this costume, copying Erika's every move whenever he would first put it on. He really played the part! His costume was fun to make as well- obviously. I only wish his morph suit hadn't ended up being so breakable. The zipper barely made it through the night! He had fun trick-or-treating with his friends and sibs, I hardly saw him all night, luckily he didn't get hit by any cars- he did have a glow stick, but seriously! It was so funny at the Thaxton's (scones in the driveway for everyone) when he rudely awakened by the fact that his mouth was blocked by his morph suit! HAHAHA! He went to lick his fingers after pouring honey all over his scone in hand and they couldn't penetrate the shadow costume! So funny! He came over with his scone held out to me and explained his dilemma! So funny. I unzipped his suit, but that ended up being the last straw for his zipper. Hopefully the scone was yummy and worth it :). He had fun trading with everyone as well, making us all laugh the entire time.
Luke had trouble deciding what to be as well- he hung on to "Number 2 pencil" for a long time, even though I wanted to do a family theme. But in the end, he went with the idea we stole from Taylor's, the cardboard box. He chose the toilet paper box to be extra funny about it :). It was a VERY EASY costume, I will give it that. I think he loved the looks and comments he got, "are you really just a cardboard box?" He had fun trick-or-treating with his good friend Clint, thankfully Clint was okay come with us and we didn't have to sacrifice Luke. They all came home with quite the haul. He did my favorite rainbow organizing of his candy- probably one of my favorite traditions is Luke's rainbow. Makes the day all worth it :). He seemed to enjoy the day.
Bradley had wanted to do one of the inflatable costumes last year, but we didn't get one soon enough so this year I had my eye out for them. Unfortunately, I never had Brad's eyes out with me so I never got one. We ended up going on Monday, to Sam's Club where I had seem lots, and got one of the last ones they had. It wasn't his first choice, I'm sure, but he got the gorilla one. It was actually kind of funny. And made him look smaller :). He seemed happy with it once he had it on right and wasn't letting out all the air through the feet holes :). He struggled with the decision of whether to go trick-or-treating or just go to Cassidy's party. This was a tough one. I was more than happy to support him either way. I don't care if teenagers go trick-or-treating. I say it's free candy, who cares who's getting it? So he, Molly and Rachel decided they would go trick-or-treating first, and then go over to the party a little late. I was glad they had found a happy medium. Sad that they had to leave halfway through. They ended up getting a LOT of candy and having a lot of fun at the party as well! He was SO TIRED when he got home! Couldn't even watch the whole Jazz game!
Kelly found some cute black cat ears at Smith's earlier in the season and let that be her costume this year. I found her a little boa tail and realized it felt like de ja vus a little bit! She had been a pink cat with this same idea almost a decade ago :). So that was cute- we had to re-inact the picture we took back then. She dropped out of trick-or-treating this year. Sad. But I was glad she had plans with Charity and Rylee so I knew she would be able to have a good time. Still shocked though. She was happy to pass out candy to kids- wishing the Holm boys would come- and just hang out at home. We missed her.
Charity never did come up with a costume idea and I think just realized she didn't need one this year. She had fun with Kelly and Rylee and passed out candy. It's hard to see the let down as the kids get older and they're anticipating holidays that they've always loved, just as they always have, and then realize that it's just not the same when you're older. I remember when that day came, as a teenager, and you just have to find new ways to make it cool. Til you have your own kids anyway- then it goes back to being just as fun. Til then. She did have fun though! I was happy for her. She got to watch the Jazz game after it all as well. So that was good. They all went over to Whitney Thaxton's house later that evening as well. We missed Charity too.
I wore the rooster costume and had a blast watching the kids. I couldn't help but wonder if we really need to do all the Shadowbrook houses still? But it is fun to see everyone. I got to give Keri and Stacey hugs. I miss them!
Nate didn't dress up, just brought his scary mask that he bought last year. I think he meant to wear it. It was so nice to have him with us the WHOLE NIGHT this year! It's been a while I think. Felt different. I loved having his company! I'm so grateful for a dad/husband who likes to do things with his kids and family! Means so much to me. I know that's not the case for everyone, so I recognize what a huge blessing and privilege it is. We had such a fun day! Fun night too!
Nate and I splurged a little and had some candy. Weird that it just doesn't taste that good anymore! We even had Nate's Swedish chocolate and it wasn't all that spectacular! Kind of a let down. But now we know. Fortunately, there weren't too many negative side effects for either of us! Kind of nice. 10-31-18
