Carve it up

Spencer wore his monster shirt to school today.  He has three Halloween themed shirts and will be wearing all of them this week.

We had planned on carving pumpkins this afternoon so I wanted to take Elliott's faux individual pumpkin patch picture while the pumpkins were still whole.

 

Spencer wanted his picture taken too.

 

Then it was time for grouchy.

 

And it actually went pretty well.

 

I don't think we're fooling anyone that we're at a pumpkin patch, but at least I have something for the years of comparisons I will be doing.

 

Does this fool you?

 

With that done, it was time for carving! 

 

Elliott was NOT a fan.

Oh, and BTW, I did not tell Spencer to take his clothes off.  That kid will take advantage of any situation where he can be in his underoos.

Elliott lasted for 86 seconds and then he spent the rest of his time watching a slide show of pictures on the computer.

 

There was a little bit of Ginger petting too.

My job is to cut the pumpkin lids and clean them out.  Michael does the actual carving.  It's a system.  It works.  We don't mess with it. 

 

Our 2013 Jack-O-Lanterns

 

Halloween Party 2013

Amy and Josh used to host a Halloween Party at their house every year.  At some point (not sure when) Shireen and Joseph joined in as co-hosts. 

 

Michael and I went in 2006 but didn't dress up.  We're pretty sure we got home around 2:00 am.  Oh to be so young and full of pep.  We skipped the party in 2007 because Spencer was just a wee little newborn.  In 2008 we left Spencer with my parents for 2 whole hours and Michael and I went as a butler and a maid.  There is, sadly, no post about it because I didn't start blogging until December of that year.  In 2009 Spencer came with us and we were the family in pajamas.  You can read the post about that party HERE.  In 2010 Michael was Goofy, I was Daisy Duck and Spencer was Mickey Mouse.  You can read the post about that party HERE.  You can also read a follow up post about everybody at the party wearing the same pig head HERE.  In 2011 Michael was Sir Topham Hat, I was a (pregnant and huge) railroad crossing sign and Spencer was Thomas the Train. Wanna read all about that party?  You can do that HERE.  I just read it and I have almost the exact, word for word description of the history of the parties as I have above.  Funny. 

 

Sadly, there was no party in 2012 because Josh and Amy were going through a divorce and Amy was busy preparing for her move back home to Indiana (which I still haven't gotten over).

 

This year I am happy to report that Joseph and Shireen bought a brand spanking new beautiful house last month and have brought back the Halloween party!

 

On Saturday afternoon, after Elliott didn't nap for 2 hours, I did a grueling 66 minute Bob Harper work-out, Michael did yardwork and Spencer watched cartoons, we got ready to go.

 

We asked our neighbors to come over to take our picture before we left.  I wanted to try one with Ginger.  It wasn't very successful.  She is wearing a cape, though.  Please note that.

 

The pictures minus the dog were much better.

 

Elliott even tried to fly.

 

In the entryway of the new house 

 

 

Gloria and her hubby were peanut butter and jelly 

John and Maryellen were a carrot and a bunny.  I have NEVER, EVER seen Elliott as scared as he was when he saw John.  He absolutely panicked and wrapped his legs so tight around me I almost fell over.

 

The host and hostess and mini host and hostess.

 

Shira and Ryan.

 

Since Joseph and Shireen just barely moved in it was also a housewarming party.  Elliott and I went shopping at Hobby Lobby (contain your shock) on Friday for a little gift.

I want one for myself!  There is also a little 2013 Christmas ornament hanging from the sign for their first Christmas in their new house.

The have a huge, huge, HUGE backyard.  It is 100% dirt right now, which did not keep the kids from having the time of their lives, so we were joking that every year at the Halloween party we can see how the landscaping has changed.

 

Me and Maryellen

 

Lauren

We have 3 years worth of this picture now.  I think I'm going to put together an entire Fall comparison post after Halloween.  I have about 6,487 comparisons to do.

 

Brenda and Cliff

 

They were pretending they were an oreo.

 

We took this picture AFTER Joni and Brenda left because we are winners like that.

John was burning up in his carrot so he stripped down and then somehow ended up in Maryellen's costume.

 

We were anticipating Elliott losing it early on (reminder: he was on no nap) and causing an early departure for us, but he rallied and had a total blast.  He really did his best to keep up with the "big" kids.  He must have run about 7 miles around that backyard.  We were worried that he would fall asleep in the car on the way home and then it would be a nightmare waking him up and changing him so we brought his getting ready for bed stuff and gave him a bath at the party.  It was a good thing we did because he fell asleep about 1/2 way home and actually stayed asleep when I unbuckled him.  That is the first time I have EVER transferred a sleeping kid from the car to bed.  It was strange and scary and awesome.

 

It was a really good party.  We're already looking forward to next year.  Apparently we're going as Darth Vader (Spencer), Yoda (Elliott), Leia (me) and Luke or Chewbacca (Michael).  Spencer made that decision.



Vertuccio Farms and Pumpkin Patch

Spencer went on a field trip to a farm last Wednesday.  They let every single kindergartener pick a pumpkin and take it home.  I didn't know it at the time, but he  went to the exact same farm that we had already bought tickets to go to this weekend.  I'm really an awesome mother to keep track of important things like where my six year old is for five hours of the day.

 

Anyway, we had bought tickets to go to Vertuccio farms.  We were debating going on Saturday (9:00 opening) or Sunday (10:00 opening).  I hate going to farms and pumpkin patches and then burning up in the heat so we decided to go on Saturday so we could get there an hour earlier.  That gave us an hour of "nice" weather and an hour of "getting warmer" weather.

 

The pumpkin patch was right at the beginning.  I wanted to take pictures when we were all fresh and happy, not dusty and tired.

When I downloaded the pictures I made sure to point out to Michael how much better my photography skills are.  My pictures are pumpkin heaven.  His pictures leave a little something to be desired in the pumpkin department.  He just rolled his eyes and made a throaty mocking noise at me.

 

We also weren't pleased with the family photo taken by an absolute stranger who had no obligation to make us happy.

 

I mean, where are the pumpkins?

I do like Elliott's skeptical face though.

 

"Really, sir?  You call yourself a photographer?"

Elliott was in NO mood for an individual pumpkin picture, so this is all we got.  I think I will try to take his picture in this shirt with the 2 pumpkins we have outside so I can do comparison pictures from 2012 to 2013. 

Then it was time for farm activities.

 

First up, rubber duck races with water pumps.

 

On to the giant painted ear of corn. 

Strong man of the circus.

 

Does anybody know what this thing is really called?

 

Mini hay maze

 

Giant tube slide

 

This was Elliott's favorite part of the entire farm and the entire day.  He and Michael went down it about 50 times.

 

Extreme Air Pillow

 

This was Spencer's favorite part. 

I did go up there and jumped around a lot, I just didn't take the camera with me.  I didn't think that would end well.

 

 

Pedal race cars 

Barrel train ride (that I didn't go on because in the time it took me to take one picture I lost my seat to a hoard of people).

 

Inflatable bouncy horses 

 

Geese with some sort of fluffy feather disease

 

Donkey

 

Mama pig

That is not fat in her belly, those are babies in there.  A lot of them.  We made eye contact and her sad eyes were pleading with me to get those babies out of there.  She could hardly walk.

 

Goats

 

Turkey

 

Bunnies

Elliott sat down in this grass and then freaked out because the grass was really high (well, higher than our backyard grass) and he didn't want to touch it. 

 

Once we were done with the animals it was back to the slide.

 

 

Then, back to the pumpkin patch for a few more photos.

We went the stranger route one more time and thank goodness this lady knew something about pumpkin patch picture taking.  I will now narrate Elliott's thoughts.

 

"I will look at the camera, but I won't smile.  Nope.  No smiling.  I'm not even sorry." 

"Two pictures?  Twoooooooooo pictures?  You are really pushing my limits.  I revoke my previous statement. I am no longer able to look at the camera."

"Three pictures?  Are you kidding me.  I will now commence a toddler sneer.  Live with it."

 

We were all hot, sweaty, thirsty and hungry by this point.  We drove home, ate lunch and then put Elliott down for a nap......where he proceeded to NOT sleep for two hours.

 

Part II of our day is coming up soon!