Trick or Treating in the Neighborhood

Tinkerbell and Superman got a lot of loot this Halloween. Between school parades, trunk or treating at Lyla's daycare Friday night, Boo at the Zoo Sunday, and "real" trick or treating on October 31 we had enough candy to feed a small army.

This year I pulled out the outdoor decorations - didn't take any good pictures, except I caught this one of the kids admiring the lanterns glowing on the landscape wall that is falling apart (don't look too closely). They were thrilled by the glowing lanterns when we got back home from wandering the halloween wasteland neighborhood. They didn't like them very much when the sun was still shining!

We took the kids to a few houses immediately around our house because we only know a handful of our neighbors. Steven l.o.v.e.d. it! He could not get enough knocking on doors and candy filling his bag. After we went to the five or six houses we knew he had to have more, so we headed around the block to find only two other houses with lights on and appropriate halloween decor to know they weren't going to be too creepy. Maybe next year we'll try and find a neighborhood more suited to trick or treating. It really was fun seeing his excitement and maybe Lyla will have more fun when she gets older!

 Clark Kent and Superman

Tinkerbell and Lois Lane (lame, I know. I wanted Lyla to be Kryptonite but she was very happy to be Tinkerbell)

**To rid ourselves of candy, Tommy set up a "store" a couple of mornings later. He found Steven a transformer and Lyla a puppet, a few books and coloring books at the half price bookstore. He then made the kids "pay" for their toys and books with their Halloween candy. Tommy even told them he was going to give the candy to someone who "needed" it - that might not be the best message but it is OUT of our house! Great idea, go ahead and steal it!**

Halloween 2011 at the zoo

We've been to Boo at the Zoo for the last four years. It is always fun looking back on the pictures each year and see how different Halloween has been for our kids each visit. This year Steven was very interested in hitting all the trick-or-treat tables but Lyla was still just along for the ride. This year, my friend Heidi and her daughter Joselyn joined us for our visit to the zoo. It was fun to have friends along with us this year!

Boo at the Zoo 2011

A stroll through Halloween memory lane: 2010, 2009, 2008,

Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin patch has definitely changed since I was growing up. Agri-tourism has gone a off the deep end for Halloween! My work hosted an event at Faulkner's Ranch for families (and others) who wanted to explore the adventureland farm for some fun in the fall!

We did see a bison, a few goats and petted a bunny rabbit. The did have a corn maze (devasted by the danny drought and frosty freeze). But the most fun was had in the bounce house, race cars, water pumps and mommy got to go on a modified hayride with her kids!

It isn't all about the pumpkins and apple picking anymore. Going to Sekapp Orchard in the fall is one of my favorite childhood memories. I remember picking apples and using the apple peeler and grater to make applesauce with my mom. Putting the cherry red hots in was my favorite part! While there was no applesauce making at our house this year (unlike last year's fun), we still enjoyed our day at the farm! 

First Haircut

I decided it was finally time to get Lyla's haircut.

BEFORE

She was quite serious throughout her cut. Even though she watches me cut Tommy and Steven's hair, I still don't think she knew exactly what to think of Cindy or her scissors.

AFTER

Barely any hair was removed but I was relieved to not have to constantly brush her hair out of her eyes. We also may recieve a bonus for this cut...Cindy told me that her hair might grow more now that the baby ends are gone. Geesh, wish I'd known that sooner!

Our router is working!

Yeah, internet is back! Look for some new posts soon!

Clowning around

School Carnival

Scenes from the CTK School Carnival.

Yum, ice cream! Like daddy, like daughter!

 Face painting a rainbow

Up there with the big kids

Weeeeeeeee!

Symmetry

Steven's brain works just like mine and Tommy's. He is so orderly with his block construction and his coloring patterns. It is amazing sometimes how he fits things together!