the Many Incarnations of Halloween

Whew! Unlike our northern friends, who have Halloween on whatever day their local authorities decide (wha?)... ours is always Oct. 31. That does not stop us from beginning the celebrations early. A full week ahead, we went to our first party: Kaden as Woody and us as, well, Mom and Dad (the fact that we went straight after a Saturday Mass contributed to our lack of parental costumes). There were, oh, maybe 30-40 kids in costume running around. They had pinatas, guessing games, tossing games, decorations ALL over, themed food, even bobbing for apples (extra funny with toddlers involved). It was THE kickoff of Halloween season!

Pirates dance around after looting, yes?

Then came Kaden's "school" parade- he went as Woody, escorting his friend Tinkerbell. She came instead of Cinderella due to a glitter explosion. They climbed in and out of police cars, walked around trick or treating, ended with a class party, and then came home with an ungodly amount of candy.

The boys went out by themselves, as Mrs Potato Head was feeling a bit green!

Later that night was the church's Halloween family potluck at the park. Jim and Kade went (see above) and had a great time running around, eating good stuff and taking a hay ride. Our boys came home before the train ride (shh) since it was getting a bit late, even by holiday standards.

So the next day, the 3 of us headed off to the town's Fall Festival. We ran into some friends, about 3 random single "Buzz Lightyear" kids (one of whom asked our Woody to pause for a photo) and climbed in and out of a fire truck. There was a lot more to do, but it was over 80 degrees and our kid was sweating up a storm in his PJs. I mean costume.

Lollipops cure anything, though. Just ask "Monkey George"

All this brought us to... October 31st! We dressed Kade in his pumpkin shirt and talked about Grandpa Carl, whose bday is on Halloween (and who would have been 74 - hard to imagine). After church, we headed to Toys R Us, to buy Kaden a present from Grandpa Carl in honor of his birthday. (Yes, we had a hard time explaining how a dead relative he's never met was giving him the DVD he saw us pick out!)

Some friends stopped by to Trick or Treat, and despite a bit of a cough and sniffles, Kaden was all excited to go out. We headed to a friend's house, except by the actual holiday he was refusing to wear the Woody PJ/costume, and just kept his pumpkin shirt on. They lended him a pirate hat, which made for some fun "arrrr" and goosestepping. Then, 2 hours later we came home with even MORE candy and a very tired boy.

Whaddya mean this isn't a real costume? They gave me candy and I hardly sweated!

You know what all this led to, right?? Yep, up all night together and then a sick day today. We need to get better by Thursday, though, because we have our very last (previously postponed) H'ween party. Yes Ma'am, the holidays have begun :)