The countdown to Halloween. Whittaker was definitely the most excited for the holiday this year. As we turned the page of the calendar over to October he excitedly informed us that he was going trick or treating. After being asked almost every morning, "Is it trick or treating this day"??? I made a countdown. On the calendar were stickers and stamps for the days that we had a holiday activity planned.
We had the church chili cook off! Complete with costumes. (I think I like that they have costumes since I can get the costume prep over with before the hecticness of Halloween night!)
Miles -Jack Frost
Duncan - Patrick?/ welder
Nova -Morton salt girl
Sarah - Mime
Whittaker - Super Penguin
Emerson - Carl from the movie Up.
The inevitable dry run costume outing results were.... Emerson hates costumes. Even simple ones that include balloons... He hated his cane, hat and glasses. Whittaker learned that he couldn't walk too well with penguin feet and of course after being a Super Penguin for 2 weeks day and sometimes night, by Halloween he'd moved on. Duncan, realized that it would be difficult to see on Halloween in a welding helmet and a bit chilly for simply a t-shirt (Plus I'm sure people might confuse him with daddy). Miles only request was that his hair be more white. Sarah learned that the white makeup didn't dry if it was put on too thick. I learned that most people don't know that it's the 100th anniversary of the Morton Salt girl.
Sarah tried other options, and thought about this one too long and it was gone when we returned.
Miles tried a red nose on for size but stuck with Jack Frost.
We decorated the house!
We raked the neighbourhood's leaves and jumped in giant leaf piles! We also rode in the wheel barrel a lot. Until the wheel broke, then Miles began tinkering and coming up with ways to make the bucket part into a wicked sled for this winter.
We carved pumpkins!
Emerson took the task of scraping out the pumpkin very seriously.
Once Emerson saw what was to become of the scraped out pumpkins it was even more exciting!!
We (some of us!) even attended a Haunted House! For some it was whatever. For others it was their first, last and only, thank you very much!
Miles claims that he was a human shield used by Sarah for more than half the evening. Patrick was likely as intimidating as any 'monster' they encountered. Kenzie apparently loves the thrills. Channa would not go inside and waited at a coffee shop across the street. I stayed perfectly content, AT HOME!
We had designated Halloween movie nights! Curious George Boo, The Cat from Outer Space, Pooh's Heffalump Halloween and of course, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!.
Most movie nights went as planned but I had the wrong date written down for the Charlie Brown on TV, so we had a bit of angst over having to be flexible. Fortunately I was a day early and not a day late!!!
Emerson may be Linus for Halloween. He certainly acts the part well.
We ate pumpkin!
We made pumpkin pancakes and squash soup (pumpkin family!), and of course some fabulous Oatmeal Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies were devoured!
We went to a Halloween carnival with a corn maze!
Hay rides, a giant corn maze, an enormous rocking chair for 6, an informative, musical, puppet, chicken show, a huge spider web, plenty of photo spots, and fun duck races!
We went to see the new IMAX, Panda's!
Really enjoyed the movie. So sweet, sad and enlightening. I even found myself thinking.... I wonder if we could grow enough bamboo in the backyard to get a panda.... Good thing they mentioned that they can maul a person. Whittaker wore his Panda costume to the theater and has decided to be a Panda for Halloween now. And has been a panda for many other daily activities since.
We listened to Halloween music and read some Halloween stories!
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones...
One eyed, one horned, flying, purple people eater...
The monster mash...
Pumpkin Head Harvey...
We had a Halloween party at scouts!
We played ghostly bowling, match the monsters, make creepy eyeballs out of white donuts and lifesavers, keep the orange balloon in the air, and don't eat pete! A simple fun party with WAY too many snacks and goodies for our small group of scouts.
We made it to Halloween at last!!
Time for ....
OH NO!!!
We need a bucket.... but not for candy.
Trick or Treating was out for the evening for one sad little panda. The illness came on very suddenly just as he was dressed and ready to head out the door.
So, from the beginning of the month to the end of the month a lot can change.
Sarah - stayed home to be a court jester nurse to the sick panda, and to hand out goodies at the door.
Duncan - decided not to be daddy, instead he went as a chicken farmer... or as we teased, himself!
Emerson - who had been sick for 2 days was suddenly excited to dress as a turtle and go door to door saying, "Just a treat" and then extremely loud and persistently loud saying, "Thank you!" until they said you're welcome. He also spent much of the evening saying, "Wait, boys.", and "Help with stairs, boys." and "Just a treat now boys."
Miles - His hair was longer and this time we used acrylic paint, since when we returned home we would be having a much needed haircut!
Whittaker - Suddenly feeling ill, went to sleep, waking only to vomit and return to sleep.
Nova - Well, after the excitement leading up to the evening, I went as myself.
Patrick - arrived home minutes before we completed our trick or treating for the evening. He was dressed as .... a tired out of town welder.
Boo Hoo... Halloween is over for another year.
