Monday, November 4, 2013

Halloween Shenanigans

Every year I am really good about setting up the Halloween decorations on October 1 when the kids are at school because I love to see their surprised faces when they come home. Well this year, it didn't happen. I just didn't feel like doing it and it just didn't seem important. In fact, we didn't even carve pumpkins. *gasp* I know. I dropped the ball, but you know what? I don't even think the kids cared because we did other fun things.


Our friends has a Trunk or Treat party at their home during the week so we decided to go to that since the weather wasn't too cold. They had yummy goodies for the kids along with hot chocolate and cider, a fire pit going and a about 20 cars that had their trunks decorated for the kids to get candy from. Isaac had to leave before the trunk or treating began because of wrestling and he wasn't too thrilled about it.




The Friday of that week, the kids didn't have school and Jim's work was having trick or treating there so I took the kids. They had fun going all around the office getting candy and seeing adults dressed up and their decorated desks. They also enjoyed the cookies for a treat. The kids came home with a major haul of the good candy; you know, the chocolate kind. No junkie dum dums or twizzlers there.


On Halloween, I made a huge pot of my chili and took it to our friends, The Songster's, home for a Halloween dinner party. There were a few families invited and the kids had fun being in their costumes together. We only went trick or treating to a couple houses as a whole group before we took the kids to an assisted living retirement community. I don't think the kids were too thrilled to see a bunch of old people, but the old folks sure loved seeing them. From there we packed up the kids and took them back to Cross Plains to trick or treat at the Walker's home and the Clark's home before we went to the Halloween House. This house is decked out with decorations and it is a huge hit with the whole village. The kids had fun walking around seeing all the scary stuff. Lastly we took the kids to Culver's haunted basement before receiving a free scoop of custard for every kid dressed up. Elizabeth was freaked out and shaking and William didn't like the masked figures. But they walked through it and I think enjoyed their frozen custard that much more. They each ended up with a gallon zip lock bag full to the brim with candy and Jim and I had fun "examining" all the candy after the kids went to bed.






Sports

The past couple of months have been filled with sporting events. We enjoyed going to the Middleton High School home football games to root on our friend, and Elizabeth's boyfriend, Logan during his senior year of football. The kids especially enjoyed homecoming with the fireworks.


This is how I found Ezra in his crib. Apparently his siblings got to him first.


William enjoys going to the Lil Bitty Gymies class at the gym every Friday. They have balls, bowling, trampolines, bubbles, slides, parachutes and a bunch of other things to have the kids be active for a half an hour.



Ezra is always along for the ride.



Elizabeth had a rough go with soccer. She was super excited to play and with every game, she was excited to put on her uniform. However, once the game started, she didn't want anything to do with it. Jim and I bribed her with EVERYTHING and she still didn't want to play. So after numerous games of her sitting on the sidelines with me chasing William and dealing with Ezra, I finally found the bribe that worked: a plush hello kitty blanket at Costco. Once she got on the field, she had a blast and play the last couple of games of the season. She is fun to watch because she has no real interest in the game. All she does is just run around the field with the rest of the kids. She will even get the ball and start dribbling it down the field and then just stop, as if she had enough.


Isaac has improved greatly since last season although the videos don't show it. He has a passion for soccer and really enjoyed playing 2 days a week this year. Isaac also has been involved in wrestling one day a week. Jim enjoys helping coach that. It will be interesting to see what sports Isaac will end up playing. He also was interested in trying football and hockey but I thought 2 sports 3 days a week was enough for him and for me.