Halloween 2014

I'm in total denial that Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away. Because that means there's only 44 days until Christmas. I'm behind already.

Normally I don't think I feel this rushed, but October was jam packed from start to finish with all of our normal activities, and then the Royals just totally took over with the World Series (not that I'm complaining).

Halloween came and went and all that's left is a bunch of candy that I eat while my kids are sleeping. Better me than them right? Gracen's school was collecting candy to send to the troops overseas, and we were totally going to donate it, but we were literally a day late. #itsthethoughtthatcounts

We had quite the list of costumes due to all the festivities. Trunk-or-treat fell on Thursday night and we had gorgeous weather. I talked Hadley in to wearing her doctor scrubs, and Gracen decided to be a chef. G had piano lessons that night and was coming straight after, so she needed an easy costume. Thank goodness for drawers full of dress up clothes.

I love the play stethoscope around her neck, and the crocs complete her look. And girlfriend carried around that kit all.night.long. 

Gracen got there a little late, but totally made up for it. I don't think I've ever seen anyone trick-or-treat so fast. Becuase, free candy! And they thought it was the greatest thing in the world that they got to play on the playground in the dark.

What was Parker you ask? Uh, nothing. At least not this night. #thirdchildproblems

Friday meant school parties and parades. The girls dressed up as Anna & Elsa (appropriate for sisters no?)

It seriously was amazing how many Elsa's there were. Only one or two Anna's though. {Side note: I'm sure Disney is thanking their lucky stars for Frozen. Because that movie has been there biggest hit since I can't remember when, Frozen fever is still going strong}

I just love classroom parties! Candy corn bingo? Yes please. 

Hadley was the only Anna in her class! She had a great time at her parade, and since it was a little cold we headed inside for performance.

Isn't she the cutest?

After school they got to swing by my office to trick-or-treat (because they clearly didn't have enought candy yet, and it's not like they were going to get more that night. Oh wait..)

The Anna & Elsa dresses weren't nearly warm enough for Halloween night, so we changed into our 3rd, yes 3rd costumes. 

Rockstar Gracen. With pink hair and cowgirl boots. Because why not?

Little red riding hood. Even though that's what she was last year.

Before trick-or-treating we headed over to Aunt Nanie's for our annual jack-o-lantern pizza. And looky there Parker's a ladybug! See we do love her. ;) That's the very same costume Gracen wore for her first Halloween. #handmedownsforthewin

This is the best I could get with all 3 of them. In their defense, The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown was on, and 2 of the 3 were hopped up on sugar. Parker got to stay inside and help hand out candy while the Mr. and I took the big girls to trick-or-treat. Hadley and I only lasted one block before we were ready for hot chocolate and to eat some of the goods. Gracen made it another block before calling it a night. They have it so easy. Remember when we had to trick-or-treat for HOURS to fill up our pillowcases? Now people just throw candy at them by the handful because hardly anyone trick-or-treats on actual Halloween anymore. #kidsthesedays

The Mr. kindly took them all home and put them to bed while I got to play Mall Madness and enjoy some Moscow Mules. Halloween you treat me so right. 

Quite possibly the greatest board game ever invented, and the best $2 my brother's ever spent. #attentionmallshoppers #chaching 

Until next year Halloween!

In October We Go To The Pumpkin Patch

I am a HUGE believer in traditions. Part of that is most likely my type A, control freak personality, but whatevs. I've carried on a lot of the traditions I had as a kid, including of course heading to the pumpkin patch (does anyone NOT make this a tradition?).

This year, with a jam packed October, both girls playing soccer, and the Royals madness, it was hard to sneak in an afternoon trip. The day we chose of course ended up being a smidge chilly/windy, so the Mr. stayed home with the babes (which I'm SURE he was super dissapointed about), and Aunt Jaime and I took the big girls to do what they do best. Burn off energy in the great outdoors. Each year we've pretty much gone to a different Pumpkin Patch, so of course we had to keep that tradition going ;) and we chose Kerby Farms.

I'm sure my girls were thrilled with the amount of pictures I forced them to take. But G & H I'm going to let you in on a little secret: 25 or so years from now you will have absolutely NO recollection of the whining, hissy fits, or tantrums of your youth. You will look back fondly on these pictures that I forced you to take, and wonder how on earth it's now time for you to take some of your own children.

So despite the melt downs of the past, we actually had a stress free trip. Both girls listened. And followed directions. And were nice to each other the whole time. It was basically a Christmas miracle come 3 months early. I was pretty impressed with Kerby, it was the perfect place for a 5 and 6 year old. Gracen's favorite part was by far the zip line (the zip line alone was worth the $5 admission), and Hadley's was of course all the dirt. Dirt for days. and sand. {How on earth that girl can be such a priss and love getting dirty at the same time is beyond me} They had a barrel train ride, a haunted house, hay rides, corn maze, tractors the girls could drive {Lord help us in 10 years when Gracen's on the real road...}, and much more. Plus the hot chocolate was $1 and they had a barn with picnic tables to keep you out of the wind. This place was by far the most family friendly (and wallet friendly) we've been to out of all of them.

Baseball may be over, but we're still smack dab in the middle of football season. GO STATE!

oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Pre-School Parade and Trick-or-Treating

Gracen had a Halloween parade at school, and for that day she chose to be Pinkalicious. This would be costume #3 for this year. That's the good thing about having girls and lots of dress up dresses :)

We were incredibly fortunate with the weather, it was probably 60ish that day. You never know with KS weather. I remember Halloween's from when I was little when we need layer upon layer, and then some where we could've worn flipflops.

They paraded around the playground, then sang us some Halloween songs. It was hilarious. I loooove watching them sing, they get so into it and don't care a thing about what they look like!

That night we headed over to Aunt Nanie's and her new(ish) house for some jack-o-lantern pizza and trick-or-treating!

For trick-or-treating Hadley was the cupcake again, and Gracen was workout Barbie. I am super pumped about her costume becuase we totally threw it together last minute. She originally wanted to wear her tutu from her dance recital, but refused to wear a long sleeve shirt underneath. So we started out with her black leo from dance and black tights, and then I put on her fleece 80's-esque sweatshirt for the flashdance look. Then a stroke of genius hit and I took a pair of my warm fuzzy socks and cut the feet part off and voila! leg warmers! She loooved them. She put on the headband and as soon as I told her she was Barbie she got really excited! I love when things just happen to work out like that.

Isn't she just the sweetest thing ever?? I could just eat her up!!

I think trunk-or-treats have kind of slowed down actual trick-or-treating. We went around the neighborhood for probably an hour, and hardly saw anyone. Most houses would give the girls handfuls of candy and we would be like no no that's plenty! We got plenty from Aunt Nanie too, she said she didn't get many trick-or-treaters. We had candy overload for quite a while (mommy wasn't complaining). Overall we had a blast the whole month of October. Seems like it was Halloween all month long!