Halloween

Our Halloween was so much fun this year! Atticus and Grace were most excited because they knew what to expect: CANDY! Atticus started out wanting to be a baseball player but then switched to wanting to be a football player. Last year he was an Aggie Football player, but this year he chose University of Illinois (Fighting Illinis) as his team. He is so funny! He loves almost every team (except t.u., Michigan, and LSU he says) so he took a long time choosing which team. His final choices came down to Illinois, BYU, UCLA, and Notre Dame. What a combo! He also REALLY wanted to see our neighbors (who we don't see often because they have high school kids) during trick or treating because they moved from Illinois. Although he never saw them that night, he was excited when a house they went to, had a person who graduated form U of I! It made his night!

Grace decided early in the month that she wanted to be a Rainbow Mermaid. So, as much as I want to make the kids costumes and be creative, I also know my limits lately. So, I was perfectly prepared to buy a costume on amazon. But, surprise - there were no "rainbow" mermaid costumes. So, earlier in the month, I got proactive and went to the fabric store and came home with colorful fabrics and a DIY plan from pinterest to make her mermaid tail. And do you know when I did this costume? 4 nights before. Now, I am proud I wasn't doing it the night before Halloween. But, every time I thought I would find time during the day that month, I didn't. I didn't know exactly how it would go, so trying to find an hour or more to figure it out during the day just didn't happen. So, the Saturday night before Halloween, I decided to stay up late. I was up until 5:30 am making this costume. It wasn't hard and only took about 5 hours to plan, cut and sew, but Hazel also decided to wake up and nurse/hang out for another two hours in the middle of the night. So, it was a long night. But, I got it done! And, I thought it turned out really cute!

Everly wasn't really understanding the whole Halloween thing. I was so excited to take her trick or treating because this is just a really cute age to do that. I knew she would love going to houses and getting candy. But, when I would ask her what she wanted to be for halloween, she just said "Spooky!" I kept having ideas to make her Minnie Mouse or a bunny or a pop star (she loves her sequin hat and accessories), but finally decided one day to just play it by ear and see what she picked from teh dress up box. A few days prior she talked all about being a cowboy and that stuck and on Halloween, we got her in some boots and a hat and a pink flannel shirt and pulled out a rope and we were set. She wouldn't wear a bandana or a belt, but she was so precious anyways because she loved being a cowboy (not a cowgirl, mind you - she just knows the term cowboy). :)

And our sweet Hazel was a cabbage patch kid. She lasted in her hat long enough to take photos and then she was done.

So, the entire week before, the weather projection was great, except for Halloween Day. It was expected to thunderstorm and rain all day long. The day came and we prepped the kids for possibly not trick or treating. And, honestly, it stinks to think you might not get to when you are little. I mean - it's one day and if it doesn't work, then all of the excitement to wear costumes and get candy is for nothing. So, I had some backup ideas in my pocket, but also hoped all day it would clear out by night time. (Remember - last year, it rained and by trick or treating time, it was just drizzling, so everyone went out; that's what I was hoping for again).

So all day long, it held off minus a few 10 minute showers here and there. It was looking promising, but then it all went south. Vic got home, we took pictures and at 5:45 we headed out with our neighbors. 5 minutes later, the wind was blowing and it was lightning and starting to rain. We came inside after they made it to only one house. And it rained and thundered and lightning for 2 hours. So, in the meantime, we played Halloween bingo, wrapped them up like mummies, did apple bobbing in the bathtub (this was all Atticus's ides and the most fun thing we did!), ate mummy pizza and decorated cookies. Atticus was my toughest sale, but he perked up and enjoyed it, and Grace kept saying that this was the best Halloween ever and better than trick or treating! (I'm not sure she really thought that, but she was so sweet to say it). Then, finally a little before 8:00, Vic and the 3 big kids headed out into light rain to finally trick or treat. Our neighbors (Steve, Kelly, Luc & Ellie) went as well. I stayed behind with Hazel to nurse and Vic took our precious Everly out with everyone. Well, Everly walks slower so it wasn't long before the big kids were trick or treating with our neighbors, (bless them!) and it was just Vic and Everly for a few houses. Vic said she loved it and was so cute. She would walk up and say Happy Halloween and Trick or Treat and I just know it must have been adorable.

Vic and Everly came home after a few houses and Everly was so happy. She told me about it and was the cutest thing ever! Atticus and Grace filled their buckets and came home as well. I was just so glad that they got to trick or treat this year, even though it was a rainy mess. Hopefully, next year is great weather because I love to watch them have so much fun!