Halloween 2015

Half Moon Bay for pumpkin picking!

Sissy has wanted to ride a horse in the worst way for months.

That's one strong daddy!

Self-timer family portrait with the camera balanced on a pumpkin. :-P

My Auntie Jackie SO KINDLY offered/insisted on making the kiddos Halloween costumes!  AMAZING!  She's the reason I derive so much enjoyment in Halloween costumes, she used to make our when were were kids. :) The kids were so excited for fittings, not only to see their costumes but also to spend some quality time with Auntie Jackie! They ADORE their Auntie Jackie!

These guys are becoming more interested in potty training by the day...I'm not ready!!

Productive trip to the potty!

Pumpkin carving time!!

Juju drawing out her plan for carving.

Emmy lost her first tooth that night...This was the last picture of her full smile!

Daddy saved the day and pulled it out!  Emmy was a little stunned afterward.

Checking out the illuminated pumpkins!

An owl (Mine), a jack-o-lantern (Emmy's), a scary monster (Hannah's), a minion (James') and Minnie Mouse (Julia's.)  Daddy ran out of time to carve his pumpkin because he had to take a call with a job offer from Clorox (which he ultimately turned down, but more on that later...)

I definitely did't get an "after" picture of Emmy's new smile until a few days later (it's in a separate post.)

Halloween parade at Escondido Elementary!

Ali and Emmy

Ali's baby sister, Charlotte cuddling up to Nick. :)

Oh, Hannah.

Adult's only Halloween party! So, Nick and I decided to go as an 80's Prom King and Queen.  We found the perfect costumes on e-bay.  When my dress arrived in the mail, I tried it on for the kids, and as I descended the stairs, the girls and their buddy, Ali, stood before me with mouths agape and eyes open wide.  Together, they exclaimed, "Mommy, you look BEAUTIFUL!!!"  I'm not kidding when I say that their reaction surpassed any I received on my wedding day.  I instantly became a Queen in my girls' eyes.  And in Ali's, too, as was shared with me by her mommy.  I loved every second of it!

Dave from Top Gun and Bridie is Elphaba from Wicked...It was so much fun to celebrate Halloween with so many international students who had never celebrated Halloween before. :) Everyone got really into it!

At long last, Hannah was transformed into Belle.

The MSx children's party on Halloween just outside our back door. 

The only picture I got of all four of the kids after getting them dressed...Emmy had already opted for face paint.  :-P I lost all control, but the kids had a blast. ;)

Tinker bell...

...And her Peter Pan.

Cinderella!!

Hannah and Emmy and their great friend, Zaira.

James was FILTHY before we left to go trick-or-treating, so I made one of my worst decisions to wash his shirt while we ate dinner.  OF COURSE, it wasn't completely dry in time and he was none too thrilled with me to be wearing a damp shirt out trick-or-treating.  Luckily, his tantrum subsided when he noticed the many flashy costumes, so I could pull the shirt over his head...Even still, the moral of the story is  just let the kid wear a filthy costume and get over it!

Heading out onto Waverly Street, the neighborhood where Larry Page (from Google-I just learned about him on Halloween :-P) and the late Steve Jobs live/lived.  It was INSANE!  The streets had been closed and there were hundreds of people filling them.  The neighbors all went above and beyond with the decorations and the lines to get to the doorstep to say "trick or teat" were at least 20 people deep.  I was panicky trying to keep track of all the kids, and for once, Nick shared my anxiety.  We went to a  few houses in the thick of things and then found a side street that was much more of a typical trick-or-treating experience. The kids LOVED IT!  Particularly James.  He giddily GALLOPED from one house to the next.  As soon as we said "thank you" to one person, he said "'nother one!!"  Until it was just after 8:00 and people were closing up shop and turning off their lights.  The kid would have kept going otherwise.  It was MAGICAL and thrilling to watch!

Blurry photo, but this was Steve Jobs' home.  They had a stage with a circus side-show act playing on it; and a very, very large spider suspended from the trees next to the sidewalk. Someone would periodically drop it down just over the heads of the unsuspecting spectators.

The decorations were unbelievable, particularly the spectacular light displays.  One house had flames projected onto it, making it look as though it was on fire.  Another had a ghost that was so real looking!