Thursday, October 31, 2013

Phineas & Ferb's Halloween Special



Favorite memories:
  • Ben was so self conscious about that orange hair of his.  For a little guy he is very concerned about what people think.  I'm working on it with him. 
  • We brought the stroller with us trick or treating but Jackson walked the whole time.  Mostly ran.   
  • Jackson also held his bag by himself the whole time.  I tried to take it from him as it filled up but he insisted.  Towards the end he was dragging it. 
  • Ben took great care of Jackson, holding his hand and leading him up to every house.  It started to get old, especially when Jackson became distracted by the decorations and costumes and was causing a delay in the candy receiving.  There may have been a house or two that Ben came back crying from.   
  •  Jackson's barely audible "trick treat" he learned to say just before the big day. 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Halloween Carnival

When we lived in Danville Ben started to attend a fun Kids Night Out event at our town's rec center.  It was five hours of babysitting which included a pizza dinner, crafts, games, a dessert, and a movie.  He attended several here and then several at a club we attended.  When we moved he continuously asked when he could attend Kids Night Out again.  Finally it dawned on me, we should have one at our place.  It would give Ben a fun night with his friends, my friends a date night out, and me the chance to throw a little party every month (without taking on all the expense myself).  So with my in-laws permission to take over their house, last month we had our first one, "Falling into Autumn," where we did leave crafts and watched Disney's Up.  This month I went all out with a Halloween Carnival and had an absolute blast with all my cute guests.  All in all I had I believe 17 little guests (which luckily included five bigger kid helpers, who took their job very seriously and were a HUGE help).  I loved planning all the activities leading up and I LOVED watching the kids have fun, especially Ben.  He just beams when he is around his friends and it is so fun to kinda spy on how he is when he's with them.  Enjoy lots of pictures.
Carnival games included Graveyard Smash, Jack-o-Lantern Toss, Witch's Hat Toss, Can Crash, and Donut on a Rope (my absolute favorite, so funny to watch). 
 

 
I love how Ben is "flying" around in the background.  He was just ecstatic the whole time and so fun to watch. 
 
I found my little niece this sweet super girl costume online so decided to dress my boys to match her (with stuff we already had).  We sure do love these little super heroes of ours. 
 
My photo booth in action.  I love opportunities to create stuff with my hands.  I used to enjoy art a lot as a kid and always find it rewarding when I get the chance to do some every now and again.  I'll definitely hang on to this for future Halloween parties.  I think they are my very favortie kind to throw. 
 
These carmel apple slices were delicious (and the perfect size for little mouths; whoever eats a whole caramel apple anyway).  The mini chocolate chips put them over the top.  I have leftovers in my fridge still.  Must eat those tomorrow.  
Now here's the donut on a rope game I was talking about.  Totally nostalgic to me.  I can remember playing this at a Halloween party as a kid.  James on the other hand had never heard of it before.  The kids thought it was so funny and it was hilarious to watch them spinning around with their mouths opened wide trying to get a bite of the powdery goodness.  
 
 
After the carnival games, a pizza dinner, and lots of trampoline jumping we played freeze dance, mummy wrap (where the kids raced to wrap their mummy in toilet paper), and mummy says.  We partied outside until their was no light left and then took the party inside.  
 
The big kids asked if they could put on a play for the little kids and they had this whole scenario wherein three girls came knocking at an old man's house to trick-or-treat, where he captured one of them and turned her into frankengirl.  The littles were so entertained and laughing the whole time.  
 
Then we snuggled up to watch Alvin & the Chipmunks Meets the Wolfman (or something like that).  No, they didn't all sit and watch the movie the entire hour and a half.  Of course not.  But they were all in all good and the big kid helpers and I had the whole place (including outside) all clean before my last little guest left.  
 
Seriously a great time.  I have loved my last two months hosting these events, but sadly wont be able to continue them (at least not in Brentwood).  Our little family will be moving to the town of Walnut Creek in just a few days and I'm so excited, but also bittersweet to be leaving my amazing in-laws house and the great friends we've made/reconnected with.  But we will be back for visits.  And maybe if my mother-in-law doesn't mind, another Kids Night Out sometime! 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Goblin Jamboree

We went with my grandmother-in-law and cousin Dylan to the Goblin Jamboree at the Discovery Museum in Sausalito this weekend.  I whipped up some simple and inexpensive costumes for the boys to wear made from Dollar Store armor, tin foil, red tights, and sponges oh my! since their real costumes aren't ready yet. They only lasted about halfway through because a) it was difficult to play in a tail and armor, and b) it was blazing hot for San Francisco and I designed their costumes around sweatsuits (forgot San Francisco has their summer in the fall).
I made me a princess hat, which looks more like a dunce hat, to match the boys.  It only lasted for this photo.  
Yes that would be the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.  Gorgeous.  
 Nana was barely hanging on from her busy week with grandson Dylan and helping me chase after all three at the Jamboree.
There was so much to do including carnival games, bouncy houses, a petting zoo, pony rides (Jacky rode the teeniest, tiniest pony named Pinky and kept saying hi to him as he rode), and lots of fun things to explore and climb on the museum grounds.  We have about three other parties to attend before Halloween even arrives, including one that we are throwing, so these boys might just be Halloweened out by then, at least I know I will.