Halloween

In preparation for Halloween, we of course carved pumpkins. The boys all designed theirs and Cruise both designed and carved his own: R2-D2. I was actually pretty impressed that he had the patience and attention to actually complete it and that it looked pretty good! 

Jett's on the left and Miles' on the right.

Cruise's R2D2

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Not because of the super scary stuff, because I really don't enjoy that part, but I LOVE the dressing up, the silly, creative costumes, the jack-o-lanterns, the candy...it's great. However, as a parent, it is now one of the busiest days of the year. 

Halloween morning, we got the boys ready: Cruise in his Harry Potter costume, Jett in his S.W.A.T. costume, and Miles in his Gekko PJMasks costume. Dave took Cruise and Jett to school and stayed to watch their parade. I took Miles to school and then came home and got ready in my Louise from Bob's Burgers costume.

Then Dave and I went to his preschool to watch his parade and program. They each came out individually to show their costumes, they sang a bunch of songs, Miles hit Superman in the face with his mask for being in his space, you know, the usual. They also did a little trick-or-treating to all the parents, so I brought bubbles to hand out. 4 year-olds love bubbles. 

After that, the three of us ate lunch and then I had to get everything together to do the boys' parties. First was Jett's class party. I provided a snack (Halloween trail mix) & bottled water, and read Halloween stories. I had to leave early because I then had to run to my car, swap the trail mix and books with a big bowl full of prizes and treats, and then run to Cruise's class for that party. I did a scavenger hunt which turned out to be WAY easy because a classroom full of kids with autism means a classroom full of kids who see details and notice even the slightest differences better than anyone else. So yeah, not much of a challenge. After that party, I gathered the boys' pumpkins that they had brought for Pumpkins on Parade, grabbed the boys, and we headed home. 

Once we got home, I put in an order for our usual jack-o-lantern pizzas, drove to pick them up, came home, we ate, and then the kids were ready to go! 

Dave was less than enthusiastic having to take the boys trick-or-treating again. Unlike me, he is not a huge fan of Halloween. My feet hurt too bad from running around all day, so there was no way I was going trick-or-treating. So he was a trooper and took them. He was sure to bring the big wagon, some water, and a pillowcase for the boys to dump their candy into when their own buckets got full. Every year I get a phone call after a bit telling me to come pick up Miles or all of them, but they were out much longer this year, and I guess Miles was really into it. I drove to pick them all up and the amount of candy they had was insane! I quickly took them to the neighborhood haunted house and then back home. They showered and I started on the candy distribution. This is what happens when you have a socialist for a mother. I organized everything divided things up evenly, unless they didn't like a specific candy (Miles hates chocolate), and then Dave and I get the leftovers. Everyone has an equal amount, everyone has the candy they like, and everyone is happy. 

And that is how we do Halloween. 

Fall Festival @ Church

Yesterday we had the annual Fall Festival at church. One of the Bear Scouts requirements is to do games for a carnival-type activity, so they always team up with the Primary Presidency and they plan a Fall Festival. My scouts did a better job than I had expected at planning and executing their games, which was kind of a relief. My boys had fun doing all the games and getting prizes. For the dinner, they had a chili cook-off and had more desserts than should be legal. I was experiencing anxiety overload that I didn't even get to eat, so I ended up eating my leftover chili at home. They had a costume contest but I was so busy helping the scouts set up that I didn't get to help Cruise with his costume, so he was a little upset that he didn't win any of the prizes for any of the categories. Miles and Jett's costumes were easy because I didn't have to do anything (my favorite kind of costume). Cruise was Harry Potter, Jett was a S.W.A.T guy, and Miles was Gecko from PJMasks. It was super fun seeing all the creative costumes and the adorable little babies and toddlers running around in their costumes. That's probably the best thing about Halloween.

The Rest of October...

Last Boat Ride of the Season
On the 14th, we took our last boating trip before Dave had to winterize the boat. Cruise & Jett hadn't been on it yet and they really loved how fast it went. We had brought the GoPro, but a certain child who was in charge of it left it in the car. It mostly was because he was deathly afraid of this goose that was terrorizing the boat launch area. And it's true, the goose wanted to be fed and was using intimidation tactics.

We drove around the lake a little and then stopped at the little island for the kids to walk around. I sat around and broke rocks in half to see what was inside. It was more exciting than it sounds.

Halloween Cookies
Every year we make Halloween cookies. It's tradition. I found an amazing recipe this year and they are by far my most favorite. They turned out really soft and they kept their shape as well. Definitely one I will keep using. The boys had fun decorating as well as delivering a bunch to some of our neighbors. That may sound like I'm super nice, but really it's selfish because I know I'll just eat all of them and either get diabetes or gain 10 more pounds...probably both.

Flu Shots
Last year we let the boys get the flu mist but apparently the flu mist isn't effective according to the CDC, so we had to make them all get shots. Which was terrifying for Cruise. He's had sever anxiety about it for the past year or so. Dave and I didn't know how to tell them we were going to get shots one Friday, so we told them we had to grab dinner and run some errands before we went to the arcade. All true things. We got some dinner and then headed to the health department. Immediately Cruise and Jett recognized the building. Cruise went into full-blown meltdown mode with crying, and screaming, and shaking. Jett took another approach and remained calm but had the look of complete and utter betrayal on his face paired with quiet tears. It was heartbreaking. And then there was Miles who had no idea what was going on but was enjoying the emotional show laid out before him. We waited 45 minutes to get shots. 45 minutes of talking Cruise down from his anxiety ridden rant, as he paced back and forth, scaring small children everywhere. And of course after the shot, Cruise looked surprised and said he didn't feel a thing. Hopefully he will remember that next year.

My Birthday: #31
Ah, birthdays. Less and less significant the older you get. I honestly didn't really care this year about doing anything, and I don't like it when people make a big deal about it. I just want my cake and maybe a date.

My birthday landed on a Thursday. I got to get my hair done, but the rest of the day happened to be super busy, so we celebrated on Friday. We were actually going to go eat at Tucanos, but as we pulled up to the Riverwoods, I was reminded that every year, right before Halloween, they do a trick-or-treating event. Which meant 1: no parking and 2: our kids didn't have any costumes. So before the boys could see kids in their costumes getting candy, we quickly turned out of the parking lot and headed to Noodles & Company. Because, who doesn't like noodles? Afterwards, we headed home and had cake! Every year Dave makes me a cake and I always ask for German Chocolate because it's really the best kind of cake there is.

Dave got me some nice sterling silver, CZ post earrings that I had wanted. Jett made this adorable note for me. He is so sweet and thoughtful. And the fact that he gave me one of his dollars is kind of a big deal. That kid really likes having money in his wallet.

Halloween!
Halloween landed on a Monday this year. I woke up Halloween morning sick. Like, "I think I have strep" kind of sick. Before I had to take the kids to school, I called and made a dr. appointment for the afternoon. We took the kids to school and parked the car so we could find our seats for the big Halloween parade the school does every year. We were a little early, so Jett hung out with us until the bell rang. Jett was Luke Skywalker, Cruise was General Grievous, and Miles started out as Yoda, but refused to wear the ears, so he ended up being a Jedi. He learned how to use the force, so it was pretty adorable when he used it against Jett and Jett would throw himself backwards.

 It's always fun to see the costumes every year. Cruise always manages to wear a costume no one else has.

After the parade, I had to stay to help with Jett's class party despite feeling completely awful. Two hours later I was able to make it to the doctor only to be told it was just a bad virus. Yay. After picking the kids up from school, I took them home and then grabbed some jack-o-lantern pizzas that we get every year. Our neighbors across the street also invited us to a hot dog dinner at their place with the rest of the street, so we ate more food over there before the kids took off trick-or-treating.

Dave took them again and I stayed home to hand out candy. They actually didn't stay out very long and Miles had completely removed his costume after only a few minutes. But they still got a lot of candy!

And that wraps up October!

What We Did In October...

October Happenings!
I love October. I happen to believe that it is the best month of the entire year. However, because it was unusually warm this year, the leaves didn't change as much. But it didn't keep us from enjoying some canyon air. 

We made Halloween cookies! Cruise was done after two, Jett stayed and didn't stop until all the cookies had been decorated, and Miles was in charge of covering all my cookies in sprinkles.

This year we chose Hee Haw Farms over Cornbelly's since it was less expensive and just as much, if not more, fun. The kids LOVED the slide the most, even with Miles sliding down in a headlock.

 

 

They had a fun farm area where they let you mingle with the sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and chickens.

Cruise saying "Hi" to a sheep.

 

Cruise thinking about how he can catch a duck without getting his feet muddy.

What was surprisingly fun, even for Dave & I, was the corn box. We must have spent almost an hour in that thing.

 

 

The boys really liked the tractor train. Miles cried when the ride was over. So they went on it again. And then again.

 

There was a giant pumpkin they had to lift with this beast. 

And a few more fun things for the kids to do.

It was a really hot day, but luckily it cooled off the last half of the time we spent there. Whew!

It being so hot, the grass still needed to be cut. Cruise really wanted to learn how to mow the lawn. But I think he might have to wait a couple more years.

Jett gave it a shot too. Definitely a few more years for that kid.

The Big 3-0!
I had to fill in a form the other day with my age...I had to erase the 2. Yep, I'm 30! I feel old. I know 30 isn't old, but once you start turning the age of people you used to look at and say, "Wow, they're old," then I think it's safe to say, "I'm old".

My birthday landed on a Wednesday, so Dave took me out the Friday before to celebrate. Joe and Linsey watched the kids and we headed to the Riverwoods to get pedicures. Yep! Dave got a pedicure! It actually was pretty funny because we had no idea the Trick-or-Treating in the Riverwoods was that evening, so we sat there by the front door as all the kids and their parents came through and watched us getting our pedicures. Dave was pleasantly surprised at how awesome a pedicure is! The massage chair, the foot soak, the paraffin wax, the hot stone massage, ohhhh yeeeaahhhh. It was awesome. I don't think I've seen Dave's feet that clean in...ever.

Then we went to Red Lobster where I ate a ton of crab and a lobster tail. Dave got the Ultimate Feast with some scallops. It was all delicious!

On my actual birthday, Dave and the kids made me breakfast in bed and gifted me some paintings the kids had done. Dave fixed my necklace I had gotten for Christmas and put it on a new chain for me. Dave made me a cake earlier in the day, and when he got home from work, they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me and we all enjoyed some delicious German Chocolate cake! My favorite!

Miles kept trying to blow out the candles.

 

Halloween
Halloween seemed to drag on a lot longer than I remember. Probably because I had to do 2 class parties in one week and then there was Halloween.

The night before Halloween, we all carved our pumpkins! Jett did a Creeper face from Minecraft, Cruise did his own design, a robot I think, and Dave & I did a Storm Trooper face. 

I said "No", Dad said "Yes". Luckily everyone still has all their fingers.

For Halloween this year, Cruise was Ash Ketchum from Pokemon, Jett was a Samuri Knight, and Miles was a Minion (thanks to Ruth for the amazing beanie).

Even though Miles doesn't like candy, we still made him trick-or-treat. Mom & Dad gotta get their candy somehow!

After about 5 or 6 blocks, I picked Miles up and brought him home. Dave, Cruise & Jett kept going for a little while longer. They brought home quite the haul.

 

And that was October!