Halloween 2014

This was an odd year for our family regarding Halloween. Typically, the kids know EXACTLY what they want to be months ahead of time. Then I end up making the costumes myself. This year they  had a hard time deciding and I didn't end up making any of the costumes. I won't lie, the latter part was kinda nice!  

Berlin ultimately decided upon being a Lady Ute Gymnast. I think the main reason she wanted this was so that she could get a legit performance leotard to add to her blank and pink cheap $5 cotton ones from Walmart. I about choked when I saw the prices of competition leotards. Thank heavens for amazon. She loves it and wears it each week to tumbling now. Thankfully, the weather was very warm and she didn't need to wear pants.

Finley never decided what he wanted to be. His backup plan was to just wear his Germany soccer uniform, but the morning of the school parade on the 30th he decided to go as Samurai Jack again - his costume from 2 years ago. It fit, but barely. He wore the same costume the next night when we went trick-or-treating and he wore the wooden sandals for almost 2 hours. I finally made him switch to regular flip-flops so we could speed things up a bit. 

Our neighbors have the coolest yard decor!

Love all the kids in our neighborhood. This isn't even HALF of them!!!

As always, they scored more loot than any person (child or adult) should consume. After they got to choose their 35 pieces of candy, we still ended up with 3 gallon bags full of treats to use on our gingerbread houses next month. Finley finished his within the week. Berlin is more of a rationing person and has most of it left.

The kids actually had Friday off from school so I decided to take off work that day. Ryan met up with us for a matinee movie of How to Train Your Dragon 2. Fun way to spend halloween before all the parties and trick-or-treating began.

Halloween Happenings

This past Halloween was hard for me. I usually make the kids costumes, but with working full time I just didn't have the energy or desire to do it all. Luckily, Berlin wanted to be Little Red Riding Hood and was able to squeeze into her German Dirndl, so all I had to do was come up with a cape. Which I decided to make using some fabric from my stash. It turned out so beautiful and even though I was up late the night before, it was worth it. I am glad I did it. Here she is with her fearsome wolf. She was mad that I gave her the ghost treat bag because it didn't match her outfit theme. So she went back in and got this basket that we found in the barn last Summer. It used to be her Oma's. She lugged that basket around all night long. 

 

Finley wanted to be Finn the Human from Adventure Time. My kids LOVE this cartoon. Me, not so much. So I wasn't super thrilled about his choice. But, I knew it would be easy since I wouldn't have to make much. It was just a matter of piecing things together. We found a shirt and leggings (which I cut into shorts) at Walmart and I made the backpack. Ryan put together the BMO trick-or-treat box (probably the best part). It turned out great and he looked awesome. 

Even though I only had to make the cape and the backpack, I was pooped. The creative energy and desire just hasn't been there since working. I told Ryan that I think this is the last year I sew costumes, even accessories. It just drains me.

We never get trick-or-treaters at our house (just one of many drawbacks living on a busy street). So Ryan and I took the kids and met up with friends for some neighborhood trick or treating. Here they are in all their blurriness. It was fun night in the neighborhood.

  

Loved this little setup at the neighbors house.

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.

Monster Mashup Greetings 2010

This is something our kids love to help me do each year. 

Here's hoping you have a frightful October.

http://www.monstermashup.com/dev/webroot/4ddaab

Going on a Witch Hunt

Fall is here which means that the Witches are out & about at Gardners Village. We love going to see them and ventured out last Wednesday with some good friends. It was such a fun time despite my tired& whiney daughter, who, after throwing a fit over everything decides she didn't want to leave and thus threw an even larger fit. So, we walked around again and found all the witches after our friends had already left. Sheesh.

I need to remember to go first thing in the morning though. The lighting is always better which makes for nicer pictures. Oh well. Maybe I'll drag Ryan out there next week. Berlin told me she wants to dress-up the next time so that might be fun to have them in their costumes and get some pictures of them all fancied up.