75% off Halloween Costumes

If you had to guess the size of these costumes would you guess a children's medium (for 7-8 year olds)?   That's exactly what these are.  And because they were 75% off (only about $4 each) I said, "let's give them a try."   Luckily, the costumes were one piece, so after rolling up the sleeves and the pants legs, you couldn't tell they were made for kids at least one foot taller!

Seriously, both of these kids think Buzz Lightyear (and Jessie, and Woody and the rest of the gang) is/are the bee's knees.

to infinity ...

... and beyond

Halloween Part 4: actual Halloween

Remember when Halloween was just 1 day?  on, ya know, October 31?  Well, after a Saturday and a Sunday of Halloween fun, I was Halloweened out by October 31.   I negotiated with Husband that I would make chili and stay home and hand out candy, if he took the kids around the neighborhood trick-or-treating.  

Husband almost got to stay home.  Daughter decided she'd rather help make pizza and watch Charlie Brown all night.  But then at the 11th hour, she said, "I would like to go trick-or-treating one last time as Peppa Pig." Great.  I got them dressed and was glad I could stay at home in shorts and a tank top.

This is what Husband tried to wear.   I have no idea what he wanted to be, but that's the $13 ebay wedding dress I wore our first Halloween when I was a dead bride and his Bill Clinton mask.

The back.  Insane-o man was excited about going backless ...  I couldn't really zip him up very much.

Luckily, the kids are both terrified of the mask so he changed in to more normal clothes for trick-or-treating.

Peppa in more sensible shoes for walking the neighborhood.
My last attempt for a group shot was unsuccessful.  The friendly tiger was a blubbering mess of snot and tears who was pretty mad he got woken up from his nap early.  

Daughter showing off her glow stick and Son with his crazy flashlight from Nanny.

Husband had big plans of walking up this street, down that street, around this corner, to this house, and that house.  I was pretty shocked when 20 minutes later the doorbell rang and it was my family.  Apparently, after 4 houses Daughter decided it was getting too dark and it was time to go home and eat pizza.

showing off her treats

excited about his blue dumdum

I might have been burned out after 3 days of Halloween, but the kids loved it.  Lots of fun memories.

Halloween Part 3: McWane and Whole Foods

Sunday McWane had a trick-or-treating day.  Come in a costume, make some crafts, touch some "eyeballs," pet a snake, get some candy.  It was a fun time.  A lot like the pirate day except, well, Halloween-y instead of pirate-y.  The kids had a fantastic time and Son actually wore his costume the whole time.  I figured he'd get tired of the hood and it'd be off and he'd turn into a half boy half tiger thing.

doing regular McWane activities as a tiger

making a shark hat.

Both kids love the moray eel tank. 

making a bat hat.  She discarded the nose and ears for awhile

Next we went to Whole Foods. How did we know we could trick-or-treat at Whole Foods on Sunday?  Easy.  Friday night Husband and I went on a hot date and decided on truffles from their bakery for dessert.  And there was a sign.  You go to all the department counters, yell, "TRICK-OR-TREAT" and got a prize.  The kids loved it and I liked that they got stickers and fruit snacks and other less bad for them treats. BUT, BUT, oh my the best treat of all, was FLOWERS.  We were in the checkout line and behind us was a florist who just got off work and she complimented the kids on their costumes and told us to make sure we went to the florist before we left because they were giving out flowers.  We did and the kids were in HEAVEN. Son got a little bouquet of yellow teacup roses and Daughter got a little bouquet of pale pink gerber daisies.  That was seriously the highlight of their day.

Daughter standing in front of Whole Foods with a $50 SUPER pumpkin on the way in (it was on sale. originally $79!!!)

Son standing by the pumpkin with his flowers on the way out

Halloween Part 2: downtown fun

Saturday our town had a (poorly organized and poorly advertised) downtown trick-or-treat thing.  Goodness, I don't even know what you would call it, but Husband went last year with Daughter and he said this year and 95% horribly compared.  

BUT

The kids loved seeing lots of kids in costumes and getting about 8 (yes, 8) pieces of candy.

The Friendly Tiger and Peppa Pig

Both kids were SO proud of their costumes. Son loved saying, "Trick-or-Treat GRRRRRR." and "Thank you, GRRRRRR."   And Daughter was just beaming with excitement that SHE was Peppa Pig.  And when kids would say, "hey, there's a pig, " SHE WAS IN HEAVEN.

walking.  You can't really see Son's tiger tail, but Peppa's is sticking out of her red dress.

Her nose was a little too big and also the bane of my existence for the 4 hours it took me to  finish the darn thing.  But, WOW, she loved it.

Peppa eating her candy.  The cat was checking for tuna or milk.

Son digging into his candy.

MANY MANY THANKS for the borrowed Tiger costume.  I only hope that next year I get to see a little Aubie in it!

Halloween Part 1: carving

Thursday was our pumpkin carving night.  The kids had a lot of fun.  At 4 and 2.5 they are definitely enjoying it more and more every year.  The original plan had been to just carve the 2 big pumpkins and leave the kids' two pumpkins whole and keep using their Mr. Potato like pieces to change their faces.  But once the carving began, ALL the pumpkins were offered up to be gutted.

Daughter taking a break from scooping goo

taking all 4 outside and checking them out from the front yard

Husband and Son's jack-o-lanterns

the next morning the kids wanted me to turn the pumpkins around so they could see the faces from the front door and windows.

mine
I skirted around my long standing hatred for stencils and used a metal cooking cutter to  put 3 bats on mine.  The kids thought that was pretty cool.  And it looks good lit up too.

Daughter said for hers she was going to draw a face on paper and then Husband was going to put it on the pumpkin ... homemade stencil much?   WOW, doesn't he closely resemble Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas?  yes. yes, he does.

Son said he wanted his to look spooky.  And then gave him opinion on eyes and nose shape.

Husband's.  Looks goofy now but looks spooky lit up.

Fun times.  And I enjoyed the roasted seeds!

A Columbus Day Adventure to The GREAT Pumpkin Patch

Husband started a new job at the beginning of the month with a lot less coming-and-going flexibility, so when he was off for Columbus Day we knew it might be our only weekday chance to go to the pumpkin patch together (it's cheaper on a weekday and MUCH less crowded).  And wow, it was fabulous.  Much like last year. (man, looking at those pictures and seeing how much the kids have grown ... crazy.)

Anyway, we did pretty much the exact same things as last year.  But this year Son was big enough to climb the huge inflatable slide AND the worker let Husband help him up the ladder until he got the hang of it.  Also, both kids got to ride ponies (TWICE.  heck, the rides were only $1 and THEY LOVED IT.)  Both kids picked ridiculously small pumpkins that they love.  

Daughter ... we spent 30 minutes watching the kids climb up and slide down.  They loved it.

Son, it may be hard to see but he has a HUGE grin on his face

He also has a huge grin on his face.  

the pot belly pigs were the only petting zoo animal the kids were very interested in.  There was a llama and you all know how we feel about llamas!

Son riding

Daughter riding

measuring tractor tire size

on the ride to the pumpkin patch

I love it when she makes this face.  Husband makes this face too.

zeroing in on the pumpkins

Son's pick

Daughter's choice

jumping in the hay is a favorite

MAN. she's fun.

waiting on the covered wagon 

Daddy/Son

"Hey guys, go sit with those pumpkins so I can take your picture."

Fun trip.  Lots of great memories made.

HALLOWEEN - dress up fun, Sunday

OK, Son's costume: We already had the socks and shoes and black acrylic paint that I used to make the zigzag on his shirt. I just needed a yellow shirt and black shorts. Thank you, Garanimals. I found both for $3.50 each. Actually, his shorts were sweatpants that I cut off because I couldn't find solid shorts this time of year.

The zigzag was a lot easier than I thought. I used a ruler and a washable marker to make the zigzags and then painted them in. After the paint dried, I washed the shirt. presto. total cost for Son's Charlie Brown costume: under $8.

This was the closest I could get the kids to stand for a picture.

We went to a Trunk-or-Treat at church.

First thing the kids wanted to do was grab helium balloons attached to a bale of hay. sheesh.

Charlie Brown wasn't so sure about all the attention.

But notice the peppermint in his hand. He loves them and wanted to open it as soon as it was given to him.

Daughter in a bouncy house.

After the bouncy house, I was putting her shoes back on and realized she was NOT wearing panties. WHAT!?! yes. commando. WHAT. I thought I remembered her wearing panties when I got her dressed!! I was mortified that someone might have seen her. I told Husband that we had her "just in case" change of clothes in the car and there was definitely extra panties in there (this isn't the first time I've been glad I always keep extra clothes in the car!) So he marches her back to the car and when the get there, he finds her panties beside her carseat. She admits she took her panties off in the car because she wanted to. seriously.

Son watching.

and still holding his peppermint

his turn in a bouncy house (back in my day they were called Moon Walks)

by now his peppermint has been replaced by a candy bracelet.

Daughter going down the slide. I agreed with Husband when he said, "Aren't you glad we realized she wasn't wearing panties BEFORE this slide?"

Son and a grownup Charlie Brown. His wife was Snoopy and his daughter was Lucy.

Daughter with her new friend, Little Tony. He stuck to her like glue for almost half an hour.

the hayride.

the hay eater.

Sally Brown requested a quick trip to the park on the way home.

And then fell asleep in the car.

When we got home, they each got to pick one treat.

suckers all around.

Son was fever free when he went to bed Saturday night and woke up Sunday, like a new man, er little boy. I'm glad he wasn't sick and got to join in on the fun!