Halloween 2016

Happy Halloween!



From left to right, we had an airplane, a Thomas the Train, a dragon, Doc Mcstuffins, and Daniel :).

Actually, we started the day trick-or-treating at Windsor with the elderly.  Betty wasn't there, unfortunately.  I'm told she's "okay" but in the hospital.  Anyways, hopefully she'll be back soon.  I didn't even try to get a picture myself.  My hands were more than full.



But this evening was a different story. When Daniel is with us, I feel no fear.  I can totally get pictures when I have a partner to help with the kids.

We made Elliot's costume over the weekend.  He and Lucy got to paint it white.  It's pretty amazing, I think.  Although it was really bulky, so Elliot didn't wear it whenever he was on his scooter this evening.  Oh well.  He loved it.

I'm pretty sure Lucy has been Doc Mcstuffins three years in a row now.

She just asked me, looking at the picture, if next year [when she's Doc Mcstuffins] she can paint her face dark brown and wear a black wig with pigtail braids.  Oh my.



Charlie absolutely refused to wear his cute little dragon head/hat.



But that's okay.  He was cute anyways.



Oliver loved his Thomas the Train outfit.



Mommy!  POTTY TREATS!!!



I hope y'all had a great Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Wow I have been doing a terrible job of updating the blog.  Sorry about that. 


Happy Halloween!!  We had a full day that included a morning swim in the hotel we stayed at last night, a birthday party for cousin Lizzie, lots of cooking for a freezer meal swap, and finally trick-or-treating with our little friend Evie! 



The kids had such a nice time trick-or-treating.  My favorite part was hearing Lucy say, again and again, "oooh this is going to be SO much fun!!!  I can't WAIT!!"

Oliver was not a fan of his costume. 


 But thankfully once we were outside walking around, he forgot about the hood and just had a good time running down the sidewalk after his siblings.





The kids were in bed and asleep by a little after 8, which is not bad, for Halloween night! 





This might be our last super-hero-free Halloween, which makes me sad.  Because I love how innocent and sweet the boys are in their animal costumes. 


 I love that Elliot wanted to be a giraffe, above all else.  He loves giraffes. 





Hope you had a good, safe, fun Halloween!

Our Busy, Happy Halloween

This Halloween was a Friday.  A busy, busy Friday.  We babysat a sweet little girl Elliot's age this morning. 

 It was a chaotic 4 hours filled with pottying, accidents, pull-ups, new underwear, stories, tea parties, pretending, and cake making.  

I was pretty tired after a few hours and SO grateful to not be pregnant.  Being pregnant is exhausting.  Anyways, it was a busy, good morning.  

All the kids had a nap and/or "rest" time after lunch, and as soon as everyone was up, we ventured over to Hobby Lobby for some last-minute party supplies I need for 2 showers I'm hosting this weekend.  

When we go out, I take the double-stroller.  Elliot sits in the front, and Lucy sits in the back, holding Oliver in her lap.  We attract a lot of attention.  Lucy gets a choice between holding Oliver in her lap or walking beside me, but she always chooses to hold him.  She is tickled at having this special job.  

Hobby Lobby turned out to be a fairly easy, quick trip.  We ate a quick take-out meal for dinner when we got home, and then it was time for COSTUMES!!!

Lucy and Elliot were looking forward to dressing up as Doc McStuffins and a monkey all. day. long.  Actually for several weeks now.  We even did a "dry run" a week ago.  I let them dress up in their costumes and practice ringing our doorbell and saying trick or treat!!! 

Lucy was a little shy the first couple of houses, but she got her feet under her and started becoming excited about ringing the doorbell of our neighbors.  

 

Elliot kept getting distracted with things like, "noooon!!!" (the moon)...

 

...and acorns that simply could not be left behind.

 

The big kids had a blast tonight.  I think they'd like to wear their costumes everyday for the next several months.  

For my part, I'm left with this lingering question... what do we do with this candy?  In an age where we already are eating far more sugar than we need, how can I possibly justify feeding this stuff to my kids? They already get "potty treats" (read: jelly beans) after each trip to the potty.  

The dentist asked me the other day, "They don't eat much candy, right?"  And I was like, Definitely not.  Ummm... except after every time they go to the bathroom.  Oops.  

However, my guilt about how much candy they eat is assuaged by the fact that Elliot is nearly done with potty training.  

With little ones so close together and in cloth diapers, early potty training is necessary -- or at least very helpful.   

So, back to Halloween! We had a blast with our candy-lovin', costume-lovin' munchkins.  I love these years.  

Some day they'll be asking to go to Halloween parties and wearing costumes we don't love.  But today is not that day.  

 

Today was amazing.  And when that scary day comes, when they're wanting costumes we don't like and wanting to go to parties... God's grace will be sufficient for that day.  One day at a time.

Halloween 2013

Happy Halloween!  Did you have a good one? 



We had a good day.  The kids got to play with their Nonni in the morning, had a good nap, and played in the backyard during the afternoon.




When Daniel was done working, we suited up the kids and took them trick-or-treating.  At one house. 




We sort of felt like one house was enough to give Lucy the gist of the experience, and we certainly didn't need more candy than that. 



They'll go trick-or-treating more next year, I'm sure. 



Then we took the kids to Pei Wei for some yummy dinner (in their costumes--they were huge hits at the restaurant).




And then back home to bed!  Thankfully, although Lucy managed to down a whole fun-sized bag of M&Ms when we weren't looking, it didn't keep her up. 



Love this cuddly lion.  And this cupcake.