Halloween Loot

Looks like the kids are going to be eating candy until the cows come home this year. They had so much loot that after filling 4 gallon Ziploc bags with the good stuff, I threw away the rest. Shhhh - don't tell them!

Berlin (She-rah - the modest version) at her school party.

Her teachers are so cute. Here they are making a potion and then drinking it. It was pretty tasty!

Finley (Link from Zelda) at his school parade.

 

We missed the neighborhood Trunk or Treat last year so I promised to take them this year. I don't think we'll do it again - way TOO much candy. I'd rather just go door-to-door.

And just after getting all sorts of loot. They are SOOO happy :)  Isn't Finley such a hoot!

 

  

 

Here's the inspiration. I sewed both costumes in 1 1/2 days. Crazy ... and never again! I was so exhausted that I bagged the wings for Berlin's headband and the brown leather armbands on Fin's. Guess I should have done it all BEFORE our vacation like I had originally planned. Oh well. They turned out great and I can add those pieces later for when they dress-up. 

Our pumpkins this year. The kids drew faces on paper and then we cut them out and use that as the pattern. Finley was having a tough night (aka meltdown) and instead he found his Lego jack-o-lantern face and asked for that. So, Berlin's is the skeleton and Fin's is the scary jack-o-lantern face. 

Here they are with all their candy, right before choosing the 50 pieces they were allowed to keep. The rest was put away to use on our Gingerbread Houses next month (I borrowed this idea from a friend).

 

VOTE NOW - DIY Halloween Costume

So, I just might have heard about 2 DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Halloween Costume contests a few weeks ago, and I just might have entered Finley & Berlin's costumes. Both end in a couple weeks so help us out and vote by clicking the links below.

http://www.thecutekid.com/ckgallery/votemyfavorite/41

And guess what? This morning I got an email stating that on one of the contests we were selected and in the final judging stage! How freakin' cool is that?!  The prize is $100 and voting starts today. To vote for us click this link:


http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/569940


You can vote once a day and voting ends Nov 14th. Seriously, so excited! We've never won anything before. This would be awesome, and who couldn't use a $100?

Happy Halloween

Despite the cold & rainy weather we were able to have ourselves a very fun-filled Halloween. First, we got up early and hit the Zoo for some Boo at the Zoo trick-or-treating. 

Berlin in her Wonder Woman costume made by me.

Finley in his Lego Darth Vader costume made by Ryan

(except the cape, that was sewn by me).

Then we took a short lunch-break before heading out to Finley's last soccer game for the season. Next we stopped at Canyon Rim park for Millfreaks in the Park. 

We were there about 45 minutes when it started to rain downpour. So we headed home to dry off, take a quick breather, before heading up to Ryan's step-mom's house for dinner.

Lego Darth Vader and Wonder Woman in all their glory.

After some yummy food and visiting with family we met up with some friends to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Luck was on our side as the rain stopped long enough for us hit up a couple blocks with the kids. They had such a great time.

Halloween Parties Galore

Between Preschool, Kindergarten, Dance, and Tumbling classes, we've had LOTS of Halloween parties this week. Seriously, we have enough candy in our house that we could forget about trick-or-treating all together this year (seriously tempting since it's supposed to be freezing & rainy Sat night). Though I doubt that the kids would go for that.


Berlin's preschool party (she's wonder-woman):

Trick or Treating thru the High School Classrooms. 

Getting ready to sing. 

Chattin' up her friend Lulu. 

For a silent, but cute video off Berlin in all her super-shy singing glory ... click below

(note: my camera for whatever reasons unbeknownst to me, had some random speedy time lapse setting going on so it's play in fast-forward. I guess it's good for consolidating an 8 minute movie into a 23 second clip with no sound - arg ARG! If only I had remembered to charge the Flip mino beforehand.)

Berlin's Dance class party:

Finley's Kindergarten parade/party (he's Lego Darth Vader):

 

the start of the parade ...

 

Finn's friend Mason (iron mask - on)

Finn coming out of the auditorium. 

 

Finn's cute friend Kate.

Heading back to class.

Decorating treat bags.

  

I didn't get any pics of the games they played (musical pumpkins and Don't eat Pete) as I was in charge of the story station (There was an old lady who swallowed a bat), but it was fun. They got to trick-or-treat at each station and have some witches brew.


Finley was very disappointed that he couldn't wear his darth vader helmut. I told him no because I was told no masks. But now I am thinking that he could probably have worn it anyway since 1/2 the kids had masks on in the parade. Oh well. He's excited to get to wear it on Saturday when we go trick-or-treating.

Holy Torpedo, Batman!

This blog is so behind in it's posts!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Here's to playing catch-up all this week:

The biggest event missed ... Finley turned five last week! To celebrate we partied like superheroes (see the end of this post for pics and full details). He was very dismayed when he woke up on his actual bday and realized that we don't have friend parties on Sundays, but he survived. Below are pics of the quiet night with us and then the party with all his caped crusader buddies.

Seriously, I can't believe that I am the mother of a 5 year old. Where has the time gone? These past 5 years I've learned that he's very sensitive. His feelings are tender and fragile. Finley is independent yet cautious and he internalizes everything. Hmmm.... he sounds a lot like me? He loves to be silly and he says the wittiest things at times. I wish I could remember to write them down. The faces & expressions he makes are very theatrical and he loves to pose for the camera. His friends mean the world to him and play-dates are his idea of heaven. He's very good at figuring out new things all by himself - like building complex lego sets just by looking at the instruction booklet - the same one that confuses me. He loves to play his leapster, do mazes, connect the dots, and has an imagination that amazes me. He's a great big brother to Berlin, and for the most part is generous, kind, and very protective of her. He trains her in the ways of the Jedi, helps her fight like a superhero, and teaches her new words, songs, and stories. He loves to read books and our new thing is to sit at the table and make up stories together while we eat. He's still a picky eater, but we are getting better. Atleast he'll eat chicken & steak & ham whereas a year ago he wouldn't eat any meat. He is so brave - especially when he had to get all his Kindergarten shots last week. He's our resident photographer and LOVES to snap pictures with my camera and honestly, some of them are pretty dang good. Today, after church, he told me that Robin (of Batman and Robin) had a black mask, not a red one, and I said, well, we didn't have another black one left over from his party, but I could make him one if he wanted. He turned to Ryan and said, "Mom's the best." It melted my heart and reminded me that this is what being a mom is all about. Knowing that he loved the masks & capes I did for the party made staying up the night before until 3:30am totally worth it. Finley keeps me on my toes, and though we have our ups & downs here and there, I can honestly say he is a joy in my life and I love him so very much. There are times where I miss the cute chubby baby that loved to be held by me and me alone, but I am really enjoying this new stage of independence, self discovery, and learning.

PICS FROM THE FRIEND PARTY: We had a superhero theme this year. I made each kid a superhero cape & mask and set up an obstacle course in the backyard where they had flying practice, played musical villains, had target practice with air dart guns & arrows, displayed their super-hero strength, and defeated villains with silly string. We also had a lab that was taken over by the Joker. He spilled toxic liquid (soda) and the kids had to identify (guess the flavor) in order to clean it up and defeat him. They were all rewarded with molten chocolate bat-cave cake. It was a super-fun day for some super-great heroes!

Our little Boo-Bird slideshow

turned 3 this weekend. and I've been thinking a lot lately about her birth (how freakin' easy it was) as well as the blessing Ryan gave her. I've read over it a couple times this past week and so many of the things he said are so very true.

"That you may have a wonderful friendship with all of us especially with your brother Finley. That both of you may always watch out for one another. We also bless you with a relationship of trust and love with your parents. And that you will always bring peace and joy to them...."

Warning to the reader, this is a LONG post. So bear with me. But Boo is all of the things above and more. She truly is a good sister and friend to Finley. She loves him and watches out for him in every way. She always makes sure that if I buy her a treat at the store while Fin is at preschool, that I get him one too. She is so good at sharing her toys with him and giving him loves when his feelings are hurt. She takes after me and loves to just have me hold her an rub her back, her arms, her legs (she most definitely takes after me in this regard.) I love when she showers me with kisses for no reason, snuggles with me on the couch, and makes goofy faces at the dinner table. She is so fun to talk to, sings the silliest songs of her own making, loves to dance, and be chased around the house. I'm not saying she's easy & perfect. There are days when she overwhelms me; especially when she demands a lot of personal attention - it can be wearing at times. But she makes it worth our while by doling out smiles, giggles, and lots of laughter. I wouldn't trade her for anything. I am so grateful for her spunky personality, the sassy crusty looks she gives people, and her sense of humor. I love my little Boo-bird.

Here she is at her bday party today. We had little sunbeams over to celebrate Ballerina Style. After getting the girls all dolled up with ballerina crowns, new tutus, nail polish, and lip gloss, we sat down and read Angelina Ballerina. They acted out all the twirly whirly actions in the story. Then we had a mini ballet class where we learned 1st, 2nd and 3rd position, plies, curtsies, arabesques etc. Then they got to dance their little hearts to Disney princess music. After cupcakes, oranges, grapes, and M & M's the girls got their bounce on downstairs in the basement. It was a riot. And a big thanks to my sister Val for helping glam up the girls.

After her party we met up with some of my family at the Spaghetti Factory (our kids' favorite place to eat). I asked them to sing to Berlin for her birthday and boy, do I wish I had remembered our video camera. As the 4 waiters and our whole table sang to her, she stared straight ahead, stone cold sober, with the biggest crusty look on her face. She was SO. NOT. HAPPY. For a second there I really thought she would cry, but she didn't. She just glared down all of us (as we chuckled at her) and the folks at the table across from us. It was hilarious - though I'm sure she'll make me pay for it later. This picture, though taken at her party, shows exactly how her face was at dinner when we sang to her. I love this picture.

Then we came home and had a nice quiet evening opening a few presents from Finley, Ryan, and I. Here she is opening those. I would say that her favorite is the Snow White dress-up. She threw a ROYAL fit (see, I told you she would make me pay for that little singing stint at dinner) when I told her she couldn't sleep in it. An hour later after tears, crying, swearing she wasn't tired, and saying mean things to me, she finally relented and put on a nightgown and went to bed. Good to know she loves it. And despite the fit, I still love her.