Halloweekends

The Halloween season this year was so much fun! I was very happy there were so many things to do. Our first Halloween activity was an impromptu pumpkin-carving night at our church.

Then the Saturday before Halloween we had a fun-filled Halloween day.

We first went to a party at the Great Swamp Conservancy. It was small in size but big in decor and activities. The boys' favorite was playing in the dried-corn box with the trucks.

There were different stuffed animal habitat set-ups--a sea, swamp, farm, jungle, and cave--and some real, small animals outside.

There was also a pinata, reading time, carnival games, crafts, food, facepainting, coloring contest, and more. The boys had lots of fun and didn't want to leave.

Gabe LOVES raisins! It's his "candy."

After nap time we went to a party at the rec center. We were early and there was already a line!

There were carnival games and a haunted house that Caden kept wanting to go through. Upstairs was a talking pumpkin.

Downstairs was pumpkin carving (which we skipped) and a disappointingly small trunk-or-treating. But the participating vehicles were amazingly decked out.

The following Thursday the library had a special reading time that included a scavenger hunt and free fall-themed books. Only one other parent (and the only dad too) dressed up besides me.

I originally wore a red sweater, but changed it to a shirt for Halloween night.

Friday was finally Halloween. Justin was hemming and hawing about taking the boys out, complaining about the cold (it was hardly chilly) and saying they wouldn't be out for more than 20 minutes. This was the first time he was able to go so I wasn't happy with his attitude.

After 45 minutes, they came back to unload so they could get more candy! They left Gabe with me and trick-or-treated for another 45 minutes. Meanwhile, I passed out goodies with my friend. She gave out candy while I handed out bubbles and toys. We gave each kid an option and I was very surprised at how many kids, including some older ones, chose the bubbles and toys over candy! Success! And a couple weeks ago I found tiny containers of Play-Doh on clearance for next year!

Justin's mom sent us his old Ghostbuster's costume, which Caden can't wait to wear next year even though he has no idea who Ghostbusters are. He just wants to use the ghost catcher thingy. I'm thinking of making it into a family themed costume, something we haven't done before!

Halloween Fun

Saturday we went to the same neighborhood Halloween festival we went to last year. Caden played a few tossing games (bones and spiders), trunk-or-treated, and did the cupcake walk until he won a cupcake, which he didn't even like. Had I known, I would have picked out one for me instead! Caden went into the police car and hugged McGruff the crime-fighting dog. There was no firetruck as advertised, much to Caden's disappointment.

There was a spooky alley that Caden didn't want to go through. But after the first time, he loved it and wanted to do it again!

His favorite was going through the dark tunnel by himself with just a flashlight.

We went on a tractor ride with some friends. It was just a trailer with hand rails hitched to a tractor, which the driver drove around the parking lot over bumps and dips and made sharp turns that almost made you fall. It was fun.

Halloween night we walked to a friend's house to go trick-or-treating with her daughters and some other friends. This time I wore only my witch hat and put a bear hat on Gabe since you couldn't have seen my or his costume with him wrapped up in the K'tan. (In fact, I don't think anyone even noticed the hat either.) Caden had the time of his life! When we got back (Gabe was starting to fuss; he had been asleep the whole time), my friend took her daughters out to hit more streets while Caden passed out candy (I was nursing Gabe). He was so cute! It worked out really well. I just wished Justin could have been there since this was Caden's first time trick-or-treating the traditional way. Hopefully next year! Maybe we'll even do themed costumes.

Halloween Party for Little Kids

Last night I threw a Halloween party just for kids 5 and under (though there were a few older kids) and on a budget. It was a hit! The only thing I would have done differently is had more games. The party was at my friend's house, since my apartment is too small. We decorated using Halloween items I had collected over the years on clearance, a few handmade items, and a couple things my friend got at the dollar store.

I set up two crafts: making hand spiders (modified from Tutus and Tea Parties) and decorating treat bags.

There were two games: a handmade fishing game and a ball toss I got from the thrift store. The kids won prizes, which I had gotten on clearance and from Freecycle. I also painted the kids' faces and made them balloon animals before they left, the most popular activity.

All the kids dressed up, and some of the parents did too.

Justin's a golfer--basically, himself.

The friend who lent me her home.

For the food, we made carrot fingers, ants on a log, black licorice 7-Up, goblin sloppy joes, mummy hot dogs (from Creative Juice), and worms and dirt in a cup.

 

We had a great turnout and lots of fun! Little kids are so easy to please and entertain, so it made throwing this Halloween party easy, cheap, and enjoyable!

Halloween

I wasn't sure what was going to happen this Halloween: I didn't know whether or not we were going to get trick-or-treaters at our apartments, whether or not Justin would be able to leave work to take Caden trick-or-treating, and whether or not I would take Caden by myself (and where, if so). The answer to all was no.

Fortunately, a church friend invited us to a church party where they used to live. All the kids rode on a trailor hitched to a John Deere tractor and went up and down the long, semi-rural street while the homeowners came out and delivered the candy. They do it every year. Caden loved it! He went twice because he loved the ride so much. Everyone thought he was so cute, too. My favorite was a boy in a homemade Rubik's cube costume. I didn't dress up.

We ended the night walking around Tempe's college town looking at all the weird costumes, my friend's family tradition. I saw another Rubik's cube and two people dressed up as the creatures from Avatar. It was a fun night, but also a very long one. I am never driving with that family again! Oh, and here are better photos of Justin as Psy, the "Gangnam Style" guy.

Old MacDonald Had a Ranch

Yesterday afternoon we went to MacDonald Ranch in North Scottsdale for some harvest fun. First we went to the petting zoo, which Caden loved. There were goats, bunnies, miniature horses, chickens, peacocks, pigs, and a ram. Caden approached one sitting goat and got gently butted away. It was so funny to see his startled face!

The goat to the right is the one that butted him.

Next were the Western games. Caden enjoyed the bean bag toss.

Then it was off the to the gold mines. Caden didn't want to leave! He loves playing in the dirt.

We went through the hay maze then took a hay ride to and from the pumpkin patch. We didn't get a pumpkin though because they were all rotting.

Caden trying to get to Daddy.

After the hay ride, Caden was ready to ride the horses. When we first entered he refused, but now he was excited. He did so well! He wasn't scared at all. He sat up tall, waved and yelled "Bye, Mama!" over and over, and kissed the horse's nose afterward.

We walked around the fake old town and ended the trip with some ice cream. We had a great time!