Halloween

 

Reagan's costume was a given this year, since we'd had an Alice In Wonderland tea party this past spring, and the Queen of Hearts was decided on months ago.  We had to add a shirt and sleeves to adapt to the weather, but... she was good to go.  Colby, who had been a Ninja at school and for other Halloween parties,  was coerced into dressing as the Mad Hatter - as long as it was the "live action" version, and not the cartoon version.  Fine.  We'll Depp it up.  Quinn absolutely refused to stay on theme with the rest of the family, and went as a soldier.  The result?  Both Colby and Reagan won their age categories for the Chassell Halloween costume contest, and together won 2nd place overall.  That makes them $35 richer this evening.  And their stubborn brother (who, admittedly, looked pretty cool as a soldier, but would've looked COOLER as a character from Alice in Wonderland)??  Yeah.  He came home penniless.  Listen to your mother, kid.  Stage Moms R Us.

 

 I'm thinking of making these steel-toed boots Quinn's "everyday" wear.  He's already destroyed the tennis shoes I bought him at the start of the school year.  They lasted all of 2 months.  Shoes made of indestructable metal might be just what we need.

 This picture is creepier than I expected.  When I was editing it, I noticed Reagan's ghostly face peeking out of the window for the first time. 

Since we were going with the "live action" version of Alice In Wonderland, the make up had to match.  One alert Chassellite even noticed that I tried to make Reagan's hair into a heart on the top of her head.   Glad that effort (and 2 cans of hairspray) didn't go unnoticed, Beth ;).

Parading for the judges.

At one point during the evening, whilst both hands were FULL of candy,  Quinn started whining that "last year we went to FIVE Halloween Parties, and this  year we've only been to THREE".  Really, child?  I mean... REALLY?????  You want some kind of pity for your deprived childhood????  Although, I have to admit, I did get a proper reaming from a fellow Mom after she learned at the boys' school party today that they've never actually been Trick-Or-Treating.  "What kind of American ARE YOU?!?!?!"  she asked.  One that gets cold outside. "Buck up and take the kids door to door" she says.    Yeah, maybe I should do that.   Next year.

 Victory! 

Halloween Visit to a Nursing Home

The boys' class visited a local nursing home this morning, where they were supposed to dress up and share about a historical figure.  Quinn had Christopher Columbus, Colby had John Adams.  After some initial confusion about WHICH John Adams Colby was supposed to be reporting on (he swears it was John Q., but all his information was on John Sr.) we decided on an appropriately vague costume that could be modified to represent either man...lose the hat and roll up the pants for Sr., and keep as is for Q.

He looks AWESOME, don't you think?

Well, since I was right near the nursing home anyway this morning, I decided to stick around and watch the kids' performance.  John Adams didn't walk through the door, though.  A Ninja did.  Colby had ditched his John Adams costume at school, and elected to wear his regular Halloween costume instead.  Turkey.  But he still did his report as if he were John Adams... only in Ninja wear.   Apparently my video of his report didn't turn out, but this is what he said....

"John Adams was our 2nd president and the only president to have a son who was also a president."

UHHHHHHHHHHHHH..... okay Mr. Ninja Adams.  That's just.... wrong.  There were these people called the BUSHES, you see.....  Good grief.  Luckily, the residents are all hard of hearing, or may not remember much of the 80's and 90's, so.... we may have slipped that one past. 

Anyways... here's some snippets of the rest of morning:



Ballet Class

 

The knees.  They just exploded out of the tights in the car on the way to class.  ((sigh))

 

Gracefulness takes alot of concentration.  The tongue adds a nice touch.

 

 

Halloween Part I

Let the "season" of Halloween begin.  We've already scaled back our original plan of 5 Halloween-themed events, and are now working on maybe THREE.... if behavior cooperates.  But there's costumes and  candy involved, and a full moon approaching.  Colby at one point tonight said "Mom, I can feel the sugar working but I'm trying really hard not to let it take me over".  Good boy, Colby-man.  Because sugar-hyped children during a full-moon on Halloween = perfect storm of insanity in these parts.  I should just buy the kids' teachers a bottle of wine now.  Should be a fun week for them. {{SHUDDER}}.

Tonight's trick-or-treating through the college's dorms was actually very pleasant!  Good job, MTU....

Snakes and the Cub Scouts

That's the quietest I've ever seen 15 eight year old boys EVER.  I think the warnings about sounds and sudden movements leading to unexpected snake bites worked.  Thinking about getting a Boa for the house here.

Preschool Field Trip To A Farm

The rain mostly held off for us this morning - at least enough to pet some pigs, gawk at some turkeys, and feed a llama or two. 

A Saturday in the Fall

We've had a total of maybe 4 nice days this fall.  Thought we should really take advantage of the nice weather yesterday, because I have a feeling it will be very short-lived.