Halloween 2015: Lego Guy, Cotton Candy and My Little Pony

We finally decided on a lego man for Cody, cotton candy for Macey, and Mackayla, never really confirming what she would actually be until that night, Rainbow Dash. Although if you randomly asked her she would say Rainbow Dash and then tell me she didn't know.

We had fun coloring their hair

Macey's original original costume looked more like a pink sheep, so we ended up peeling off all the extra and just keeping the basics. Easier to move and not so hot - it was a hot day!

We credit the idea to Clayton, who was a blue cotton candy!

Macey was excited to show anyone and everyone her costume, so the spray painted pillow was a success. And the other two loved theirs, too.

Our ward trunk or treat was that night so we quick went to that and got dinner and some candy. Ben was of course called out during that time because I'm pretty sure people in Orange County know that he needs to be called on all major holidays and Sundays during church for huge problems such as a runny nose or slight lameness. (Sarcasm:)) Some sweet fellow-vets took his on call shift for a few hours during trick or treating hours though. We brought him home some chili and met up with him to go to a new spot to trick or treat and meet some friends.

 

  I left a little game on our porch with a bowl of candy while we were out.

 Lewiston St in Ladera is like Halloween on steroids. There are several haunted houses, one paid haunted house, exhibits, etc. all in people's homes that live on this street. 

 The man in this home supposedly works for Disney

It sure felt like Disney with all the lines we waited in! 

But this was amazing!!

One haunted house theme was Pirates of the Caribbean

I loved it because it wasn't so much dark and creepy but creative and fun

 Here's our crew:

 One haunted house the girls did not go through I went through with Cody. He thought it was hilarious but I was so freaked out I started using my camera flash to blind the people scaring me, and running.

 After that we went back to our neighborhood and went to a friends house for a little while who always serves soup and cider.

 Overall, it was such a fun night and I'm glad we tried out that busy crowded street just for the experience, but I think next time I would stick with traditional trick or treating.

The next day was hilarious:

Fast Sunday with daylight savings the day after Halloween. Kids hyped up on sugar with adults with low blood sugar. 

I was playing the organ and Ben was out on a call.

The kids sat so good except for one scream of "I hate you!" from Mackayla.

When I finally came to sit down with them after sacrament Mackayla was sitting glaring straight ahead not moving. I sat next to her and put her head in my lap and she was out 2 minutes later. She hasn't napped for months, probably years!

Halloween Parties!

I was in charge of the Halloween parties for Mackayla's preschool and Cody's class.

They fell on the same day, but luckily one right after the other.

 Here's the cute preschoolers when they first got to school.

Of course their costumes were ditched after the first half hour.

We decorated pumpkin cookies ate frosting off knives, pounded tees into pumpkins, searched for pumpkin seeds in sand with tweezers, played at the park. 

Preschoolers are so happy with cute little things!

 Cody's class decorated cookies, painted pumpkins, colored witches, and were supposed to do the cutest story writing center. (The woman in charge of it couldn't for the life of her figure it out!)

 This little girl was my shadow for the next couple hours. Every time I made a move she was right next to me.

 Then we went outside and had a "potato sack" race with garbage bags. Cody was first in his line and immediately punched holes through the bottom so he could just run. Cheater! Smart though, I would've done it! Then they had to get candy corn on a spoon and run them over to a cup to fill.

I felt a little twinge of sadness for Macey, who lives for friends and parties, and the only thing she did was color a pumpkin after solving all the math problems on the page. It's fine, it's school, and that's life. I saved her some cookies though!

Fall Soccer

Cody had a great season of soccer.

We originally signed him up to play football and his registration was messed up and he was left with nothing. It's fine, but it was frustrating because in Orange County if you want to play something mainstream you sign up months and months in advance because there's so blasted many people. This left us with no options after that, because everything was full. 

Anyway, it's all good. One of Cody's friend's mom was coaching and a player dropped from her team and she added Cody. We are so grateful. She was a great coach, and in her words "their team may not have won many games, but they are going to have a killer after party!" They were fun good boys who didn't lose sight of the point of these games: fun! (sometimes some parents forget that!)

 Cody decided he also loved playing goalie and he did great at that

 He was one of two players chosen from his team for an All Star team put together after the season. He was so excited! Unfortunately, half of the games are played on Sunday, so we had to turn it down. Such a bummer.

A few October Things

October flew by in a huge blur of lessons, practice, volunteering, homework, and appointments. And now I'm not going to remember details about all this, but at least I have pictures to know some of it happened:)

We made Mackayla a "brave" chart for doing anything out of her comfort zone.

She finally filled it this month and her and I went out for ice cream after dance to celebrate!

Cody's class sang the school song in their Friday flag ceremony so he really wanted me to come watch. Which meant we had to get ready and run to school. Macey rode her bike and Cody rode his scooter and that seemed like a brilliant idea while I jogged beside them with the stroller. Until I had to turn around and take it all home.

 Halloween costumes came out early and the kids changed costume ideas several times.

 

Our fireplace was decorated with Halloween stuff - but not so cute and fancy that you can't tell I did it!

Carving pumpkins and getting booed on the same night worked out well!   

 We Finally went to a pumpkin patch that Macey has been asking to go to for two years. We did just a couple things there, and it quenched her curiosity for this place. It's called a pumpkin patch, but it's in a parking lot!

  

 Not long after that Mackayla had a preschool field trip to a pumpkin patch in Irvine.

 There's also a little zoo by the pumpkin patch. It's only $2 but they have quite a few animals -mountain lions, bears, snakes, etc., and a petting zoo.

 And I finally got a new rug. It's amazing how such a small thing makes me happy. It's NOT brown!