Halloween 2014

I'm finally getting around to posting about Halloween.

Halloween. It was a kind of a crazy rushed day. I worked. B had a half day. A went to Ranger Day at Jesuit and then helped with intramuals decorations. J had a full day of school. When I got home, A was already over at the cousins' house to hang out with her friends. She took her pumpkin with her. The boys had already carved their pumpkins but I didn't get pictures with them lit. I took pictures of  the boys before DH & B headed over to a halloween party & I dropped J off at a friend's house. When I finally made it to the party, it was crazy busy with kids everywhere. It was Halloween on a Friday night so everyone came. Last year B played too much and was upset at the end of the night because of he lack of candy. I walked with him and his friends trick or treating so we didn't have that issue this year. A & her friends came trick or treating at the party. J was dropped off at the end of the night. He had fun with his friends and 3 lbs of candy. Luckily, by then, the boys were tired and I could go home.

Halloween 2013

I don't like working when days like Halloween roll around. I missed out on pumpkin carving,which I actually hate but somehow become quite nostalgic about when I'm not there to participate. I missed out on the kids getting ready. I got home just after 5pm and all three were gone. A went with her cousin to a friend's house. We were heading to a neighborhood street where they close off the block for a no car trick or treating zone. The boys couldn't wait any longer and ran over to hang out with their friends.

At least DH was there to document it for me.

Pumpkins









A's pumpkin


J's pumpkin


B's pumpkin

I decided to skip handing out candy this year and stayed at the block party, so after all that effort, we didn't even put the pumpkins out.

Costumes

Minion


Generic Bad Guy


Skeleton

Trick or treating.




The car-free trick or treating was nice. I left the block party to pick up A. (And take B trick or treating again. He either ate all of his candy or ran around with his friends & never trick or treated because he ended a very small pile of candy. He was lucky that I had to get A and he got a second chance at candy.) That street was just as busy as our block but with the added chaos of cars driving 1 mile an hour following the trick or treaters. So glad our friend are already planning for next year.

All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day

It was a busy week. Halloween on Wednesday and since the kids go to Catholic School, we also had All Saints Day on Thursday. I had three halloween costumes, two saint costumes, and the first grade Halloween party to help plan (or execute because I did very little planning.)

Halloween party went well. I made marshmallow eyeballs for the mummy milk. The craft went over well.





We've been super busy. We barely had time to carve pumpkins. Wednesday after school, the kids came home to pumpkins with the tops already cut out and seeds and goop mostly cleaned out. Thanks Dad! That was easy. I only cut about half the faces this year. A did her whole pumpkin. I helped J with his eyes. B did his eyes and some of his mouth and then got bored.






Pretty good looking pumpkins.




Costumes weren't too bad. A and I went shopping with friends at the Joann's 70% clearance sale. She got fairy wings and cobbled together a "Rainbow Fairy" costume.


J tried to be a Muggle. I told him kids who don't wear costumes get the yucky candy, even if he has an explanation for the non-costume. He quickly came up with a "Hobo" costume.


We found a Captain America mask and shield on sale at Target. I painted a $3.00 t-shirt also from Target. B had issues with this costume. He wanted matching blue pants. He wanted the painted stripes to go all the way around the torso. He wanted stripes on the sleeves and red gloves. I told him it was a costume and it wasn't a perfect match and it would be fine. Luckily, he is getting older and slightly more reasonable and he accepted the costume without and fight.


Don't they look cute?


DH & kids played with his new i-phone panoramic photo options.


Once Halloween costumes were done, I had to handle saint costumes. I tried to talk them into being the same saint and letting me make one costume, J wouldn't budge. He picked St. Peter Claver, a Jesuit priest. Not bad for pinning, guessing and sewing.


B was St. Peter the Apostle.  I went super easy, an old pillowcase with head and arm holes and a brown felt cloak. I had to talk B out of the green cloak that was on the Holy Card he had. I had brown felt, I didn't have green felt. He made do. I did fashion a key out of cardboard and duct tape.

Pictures didn't go so well. I took the shot too early in the parade. I got stuck in conversation after mass and missed the picture taking opportunity in the classroom. I tried to get him to stand still for a second to let me take the picture, it didn't happen.




It was a good holiday, now I have to start planning for Thanksgiving.

Halloween 2011

This is my fourth Halloween post on this blog.  I can't believe I've been doing this for this long.

Last night we carved pumpkins for Halloween.  A was at a friend's house so I drew the face.  She got home in time to finish carving.



B drew his face all by himself and I carved.



J, after lot of coaxing and telling him he could do it by himself, finally came up with a face design.  He carved about half and his hand got tired so I finished it up for him.





The kids and their pumpkins



Here's pretty much the same picture from two years ago. My how they have grown.



Here are my trick or treaters, Purple Cow, Scary Frankenstein/Black Hood Guy and Desert Commando



Here is J scaring the neighbors



They closed off a couple of blocks to cars for trick or treating.  We went to friend's house for pizza & bbq dinner.  After an hour or so of kids running around like crazy, I headed back home to hand out candy.  DH stayed with the kids.

Handing out candy was interesting.  I had just as many adults not in costume begging for treats as children.  I really wanted to say something but I was nice and handed them one piece instead of two!

The Big Haul!

A's bag, 2 lbs 10 oz



J's bag, 5 lbs 7 oz



And B won the prize, 5 lbs 11 oz!



I took these pictures 2 days after halloween, I wonder home much they've eaten so far? A went trick or treating with a friend. I think she might stay home next year seeing after how much candy her brothers got. I told them we should mail the candy to their cousins in Iowa. They only got 11 pieces of candy! Poor boys should come to Dallas next year.

Saturday

We had typical saturday, very busy. First soccer game at 9am, Two soccer games at 1pm, dance rehearsal at 1:30, preschool fall fling at 4:00, World Series game #3 at 5:30, Halloween party at 6:00 and one halloween costume to make. With a little help from FIL who took B to his game, we got everything done.

DH took A to ballet and they headed straight to the baseball game. Lucky ducks got to see a fabulous win.

I took the boys to Fall Fling and the Atiles/Mendez Halloween party. I didn't remember to take photos but I was lucky to have friends with cameras. J spent his whole time at Fall Fling at the petting zoo. He is now dying for a snake. (Sorry Kristin!)



B got his face painted at Fall Fling & took his werewolf hat off quickly at the party so his costume confused a few people. He wasn't too happy when they couldn't figure out what he was. Spiderman? Wolfman?

Halloween costumes 2010

A repeated last year's Felicity costume. That was easy.




J wanted to be a police officer and was happy with the cheap costume from the temporary Halloween store. I talked my way into a 20% discount too! Made me feel better about spending $20 on such a cheaply made costume.



B told me weeks ago that he wanted to be a werewolf. I didn't do anything about it because I thought for sure he would change his mind and want to be a football player again. Yesterday he still had not changed his mind so I quickly made a werewolf costume.



with fangs & nose


He wore the costume to the party last night & to the Halloween parade this afternoon but by the time he went trick or treating, he was in a football costume. I should have told him no and saved myself the trouble. At least I have cute pictures.