All Things Halloween

This year we engaged in a number of Halloween celebrations . . .

We started our celebrating with a surprise trip to Disneyland! The kids had a random weekday off school so I arranged a trip without them know where our destination was! Needless to say, they were thrilled when we arrived on Disney Way! We took Aubs good friend Jamie, who had no memories of her last trip to Disneyland. We had a long day, and tons of fun!!







The next day I hosted "Halloween" dinner club and asked everyone to arrive in costumes. I was prepared with a couple back-up costumes - sure that not everyone would follow directions, but to my surprise - all came dressed in their Halloween Holiday Best! It was a great night with friends!



And what would Halloween be without our annual trip to Bates Nut Farm?? Okay, okay. . . I am lying. Cayden informed me he had never been to the pumpkin patch. . . and searching my memory, I realized we hadnt been to Bates since he was 2. Our recent "Perfect Pumpkin Searches" have occured in those big boxes outside Home Depot and Vons!! Go ahead, call me a terrible mom! So this year, I gave in and took them to the "official Pumpkin Patch!"




My good friend Jessica decided to throw her husband a Spooktacular Halloween Birthday Bash! It was fun to dress up like we were kids again (although some of our costumes were not "kid friendly") and much to our kids dislike, have a much needed "grown up night!"





We also attended the kid's school Halloween Carnival, carved pumpkins, and dressed the kids up for the school parade!







And then there was Halloween Day! Poor Cayden ended up sick late Friday night. We thought maybe his stomach didnt agree with all the celebrating at school on Friday, followed by a night of junk food at the high school football game. But come Saturday morning, he had a pretty gnarly fever and was definitely ill. When I told him Happy Halloween his little lip started to quiver and tears ran down his cheeks, knowing he was going to miss out in the fun of the greatest kids holiday ever! He spent the entire day in my bed with a fever off and on. He was sure he had swine flu and has heard all the news hype and kept asking me "if he was going to make it?" It was so sad.



All day I hoped he would recover enough to go out tricker or treating for just a few minutes. He was happy with that plan, but every time I asked if he wanted to get dressed - he would tell me "in a little while." It was pretty sad. I told my mom we most likely wouldnt be making an appearance at their house :( Sad for broken traditions, but what more could I do to heal this poor little one. My friends changed their plans and moved "Halloween Headquarters" to our house so Aubrey and I could join in the fun. Everyone arrived, we had dinner, and were ready to go trick or treating. Last minute (the motrin must have kicked in) Cayd decided to throw on his costume and go around our neighborhood.




I called my mom to tell her Cayd was up and we would be by! Our crew carivaned to mom and dads neighborhood and to say the least "bombarded them." The kids rang the doorbell , did the trick or treat thing, and all proceded to let themselves in. It was funny - mom was trying to name them all as they walked by her . . . and soon the living room was full!



We stayed just a minute at mom and dads and then proceded to another neighborhood to make a couple more visits. We finished the night off with dessert and apple cider and a lesson in candy sorting and trading (I'm not sure where my friends grew up where they didnt learn how to do this??) Anyways. . . we had an exciting month of October . . . the Halloween decorations will be coming down as we prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Hooray for the best time of the year!