Halloween 2014

It FINALLY came! Costume-wise it was more of the same: Roo's request was easy and ready by September and Isaac's was complicated and we were working on it up until the last second. That being said, I think we super nailed it. I'm proud of the teamwork that produced that amazing, one of a kind costume. Go team! I dressed up, of course. Mike bought all the fabric and even hair dye to be the Kristoff to my Anna, but work got crazy so he never even started working on it. I was 100% fine with that. It was a nice thought, but I told him many times the kids costumes were highest priority. We had to hand make Isaac's enormous hat so it would be accurate and fit on a giant squid head. I also made all the barnacles out of paper mache. I even printed an image of carvings that look like tentacles surrounding a heart to put on Isaac's treasure chest. If you haven't seen the movie Davy Jones is so heartbroken he tears his heart from his chest and locks it away in a chest to keep it safe. It all came together so well!

I stocked up on way to much candy. I enlisted the kids for help with some last minute huge spiderwebs and a few other decorations, but costumes (mostly Isaac's) were the first priority. I didn't feel up to trick-or-treating with the kids this time. It's weird because Mike and I usually fight over who is going to go around with kids and this year we both felt less than enthusiastic about it. Even with my wheelchair it's a serious workout. My neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks so it's up and down driveways and rolling along the gutters. A workout that I have never minded paying for the next couple days, but I opted to pass out candy with my mom. After pictures, they were off! We didn't get even half the trick-or-treaters we got last year, but I had fun looking at the costumes and making stupid jokes ("Oh you better eat some candy, you're bones are showing, etc). Mike and the kids were back after a couple hours and there were so few trick-or treaters it was safe to go inside and wait for the doorbell.

This year, as is tradition, everyone potty-ed and shed unwanted costume pieces and then we took pictures of their haul. I turned on Monster House and since it was a Friday and they're older I gave them a time limit for candy eating instead telling them how many pieces they could pick out. It worked out great and no one got sick. In a perfect world Mike would have finished his costume enough to at least take a picture with me and his beautiful (lit with animated lightening) Ursula pumpkin wouldn't have been to rotten to lift off the table, but it was a fun Halloween. I am totally ready to get back out into the neighborhood with the kids next year! It figures the year I stayed home to hand our candy was slow trick-or-treat-wise and no family of friends dropped by. I hope both kids still come out next year. I've already told Isaac he's old enough to be taking a much more active role in his costume next year!

Pumpkins!!

We'd never missed our annual pumpkin patch picnic until last year when schedules were just too crazy so we were super excited to have the gang together this year. It's such a nice thing to eat and play among the pumpkins. We had ghost shaped nutella sandwiches, fruit, cheese, chips and juice. We even had fancy Halloween cookies for desert! They kid ran in the hay maze, made silly faces for pictures and even pulled each other in the wagon. I love these kids so much! Happy Fall! Happy 5-years-olds! Hurray!!

Speaking of growing up and fun traditions, the kids each carved a pumpkin this year. I thought they did an awesome job! Riley insisted on a scary skull and Isaac wanted to do a ship wreck, but ended up with a zombie face.

Return to the Haunted Hike

This year (2014) & Last Year (2013)

The funny thing about traditions is that they're never the same as the year before (kind of like kids). The earth rotates, things change, and traditions become benchmarks to measure growth. Last year, we discovered this cute neighborhood event, it's a tour through a decked out neighborhood to hear festive (but family appropriate) tales. We had an extended family event arise and my first impulse was to check the date of the event. Unfortunately, same day and approximately same time. I fretted quite bit about the conflict. Then in a surprising move Mike explained the situation in detail to his family. It's always a delicate balance balance between our little family's traditions and extended family events. I am always under tremendous (internal) pressure to do it all. I was totally surprised when Mike broached the subject in a timely manner and ever more surprised that us arriving late was acceptable. Just like that we were golden to hit the hike. Yay, for doing it all!

Last year I was about a month post-op from major back surgery, the kids were younger and the whole thing was new to us so clearly we had some things in our favor this time. This year had bestowed a whole new set of physical issues to overcome. With some unfortunate timing, I had blown a tire, not gotten a hole or found a slow leak, but blown it. KaBam! Like a gunshot. It exploded, totally split apart. In all my years of using a wheelchair I have never seen or heard anything like that. Unfortunately, the size tire I need is hard to find these days, no two day shipping. We hadn't calculated our one mile hike into the equation, sigh.

Mike offered to bring the wheelchair flat tire and all, but I declined. I'd figure something out (sprout wings, build robot appendages, etc?!?). I of course and no idea how I'd manage when we arrived. I used my cane and kept up the best I could, but it was super hard. Every time the group got to far ahead Mike would grab me under the arms, run forward, and set me down (go team!). Where there's a will, I suppose. Looking at the pictures side by side I can't believe how much they've grown (or how much better my camera is)! I feel blessed for the years they both want to be part of things like these because I know with a seven year age difference it won't be long before big brother is to cool or busy with other things. I'm glad we made to both events as tiring as that can be. It's worth what is costs me physically to make these memories. Who know where we'll be in a year...bigger and better things.

Pumpkin Picking! 2014

It's always an event to pick the family pumpkin. We'd done our prerequisite viewings of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and decided on the subject for the big pumpkin. I was determined to get to the pumpkin patch on the first try, unlike last year. We decided to go on a weeknight after dinner. I gave the kids a pep talk about how the pumpkin patch is not a playground. I needed them to follow the rules this time. They were amazing! I was so proud. It's so nice not to be the mom with the wild, screaming, running kids getting dirty looks, phew. We got a big beautiful pumpkin and each kid picked a smaller one. Riley also found this small unusually shaped pumpkin that looks like a large acorn. She plans to paint it. Miss Roo conquered the tiny hay maze after a few tries this year! Both kids were rewarded with lollipops by the sweet people at the pumpkin patch.

I was rewarded by myself with a pumpkin spice latte on the way home. Riley had a terrible time with the idea that we were not going to carve the pumpkins immediately. Good thing she had skeleton pajamas and Halloween books to comfort her. Here's a hint: the plan for our pumpkin was inspired by Riley's birthday trip. It's going to be amazing! I can't wait.

Decking the Hall-O-Ween

Quoth the raven! I made this wreath two years ago, Here's how: Tutorial. It needed some minimal repairs after a year in the closet, but it's still going strong.

I bought this on on Etsy, it stays up through Christmas. We love Jack!

Halloween Riley style!

Festive Treats!

Even the dog is ready for Halloween

My new decoration this year, Pumpkins and pixie dust!

She does a fair Winifred Sanderson impression, doesn't she? Boooooook!

Halloween 2013

Ghost Pancakes!

Isaac as a winged baboon, Riley as G'linda, Me as China Girl and Mike as Oz the Great and Powerful

Boo!Seum Event

Here are some pictures from the Halloween event we attended this weekend where Riley debuted her G'linda costume.

G'linda (Oz the Great and Powerful) & The Doctor

Wasn't it nice of the museum to have an Oz exhibit to coordinate with Miss Roo's costume? We did crafts, ate treats, petted a snake, danced and played. Happy (almost) Halloween!

Family Fun Night!

Over the weekend we had our first family Halloween event, but tonight we had our first in costume Halloween event. It was "Fall Family Fun Night" at Isaac's school. We've never attended before because it's ALWAYS a weeknight at 5:30pm. This year however we decided since it was Isaac's last chance to attend we'd make it happen. Since their "real costumes" were either still being assembled or white (and this was an outdoor event) we went with their back-ups. Riley was Ladybug Girl (if you haven't read that book series you should it's very empowering to little girls) and Isaac was Dr. Who (a la David Tennant). Behold, the awesomeness!

Ladybug Girl Quick note: I bought ladybug tights on the cheap and stretched them over her existing second hand rain boats Ta-da! I had Mike apply a coat of something for anti-slip on the bottom, but walking on the sidewalk tore up the tights on the bottom of her boots. When we came home we cut the damaged parts off and just stapled the edges so she could walk on the tread of the boot next time (And the tights can still be removed).

Dr. Who Proud Mom Note: He won Honorable mention in the costume contest!

Here is my favorite pictures of the night, before we left the kids posed in front of our Halloween Decorations: (One More Proud Mom/Former Actress Note: This was all acting, aren't they great?)

AAAAAAHHHHH!!!

The Spider (it lights up purple at night)

"Oh no! What will we do Doctor?!?"

"Not to worry Ladybug Girl I'll save you"

"Take that!!"

"Ha, Ha! Nice work, Doctor"