Trick-or-Treat

I was given a task this year for Halloween costumes. Chloe wanted to be a dragon. She even went so far as to draw me what it need to look like.

Then there were the color requirements green and pink. Here is how it all came together as we headed out tonight.

I can't explain the pose... but here is the back view. We ended up pinning the tail up so it wouldn't drag on the ground. She did mention to me that she really should have a flame to show people as they answered the door. Sigh.

Alexa wanted to be a kitty. Her colors were to be pink and purple. You know all those girly kitties in the world. We did have to wear rain boots with the costumes as we where hit with a horrible rain storm at about 5 PM. Luckily the rain stopped for trick-or-treating. Just leaving puddles to walk through.

They had a great time and collected a new pile of candy. If we stretch it far enough they might make it to Valentines Day on the pile.

Preschool Halloween Performance

Alexa's preschool had a Halloween party tonight. The kids got to wear their costumes. Alexa requested to be a purple and pink kitty this year.

The four years olds decorated as section of the room like a haunted house. Lexa was not a fan of the "haunted house" even if it was really a few pumpkins and skeleton toys. She gazed from the door clutching Mommy's hand.

The night also included the kids performing three songs that they had been rehearsing. I, of course, brought my camera and video camera. Here they are performing their songs. I have the entire thing on video so I can make sure all of my house guests get the viewing pleasure.

A Glimmer of Hope

Sometimes you catch a glimpse of who your kids really are, and it doesn't make you run from the house in horror. On the contrary you think, "My God what a great kid." You begin to dream in a far off fantasy kind of way of way of reasonable conversations and even tempers.

A couple of nights ago I had just such an experience with Chloe. Now, since then, about twelve things have happened that have made me press my head to the kitchen counter and almost surrender the battle, but for that one fleeting moment I saw her in her most pure form.

I always hope and dream that buried beneath all that attitude and drama there lies the kindest of all people. That when it really counts man she will actually... wait for it... small drum roll...DO THE RIGHT THING! I know it seems hard to believe that the same kid who called her sister a poopy head at dinner and threw herself backwards onto the couch screaming , "NO!" in dramatic fashion at the words, "OK it is time for bath." could be this, but I tell you it is true.

Two days ago Chloe came home and mentioned that each morning her class goes over the calendar. She said that in two days it was Kyle's birthday. She headed up to her room and said, "I have been saving up some things for him." Back in kindergarten her teacher had a prize box the kids got to pick from. Chloe selected some Pokemon cards for a few weeks. I was surprised at the time because as far as I knew she knew nothing about them. She pulled them out of her treasure pile on top of her dresser and said she was giving them to Kyle because he really liked Pokemon. She also gathered up one of her toy alligators, and dug some wrapping paper out of the office closet and wrapped it all up herself. She then got to work on making him a card. She spent about 45 minutes cutting and decorating pop out parts for his card. Then put everything in her backpack to take to school.

I should mention that this little boy and Chloe had a rough start in kindergarten. They locked heads, so to speak, early in the year, but did eventually work through it- mostly. While Chloe was working on her card I was making dinner and she told me that she wanted to make sure Kyle felt special since it was his birthday. She was worried because she didn't think Kyle had a very nice mommy. When I asked why she didn't think his mommy was nice she said, "I saw her with him one morning and she didn't seem very nice." Now I did tell her that maybe she didn't know the whole story and maybe he was being unsafe or naughty. But in her mind she is convinced that he needed extra attention. To be fair I really don't know what she saw since I wasn't there. I do know that she was worried that he wouldn't have a mommy to give him a nice birthday, and that she wanted to make sure he had one. For that I will hold out my glimmer of hope that some of the lessons I teach in life are actually sinking in.

Pumpkin Painting

There is a very small grass -triangle shall we say? Across the street from Chloe's school. On Tuesdays there is a small farmer's market there. Today after I picked the girls up we stopped on our way home to purchase two pumpkins to paint for Halloween. Alexa picked a small "baby" pumpkin and Chloe a larger one because, "I have plans, and I am going to need space." We arrived home and they girls were set to get right to work. I situated them on the floor in the living room (gotta love wood floors) because look at this...

Grammie Sharon was busy making dinner! I can not tell you what a treat it is to get home from work and smell dinner already cooking! Yummy!

At any rate dinner was yummy. Alexa developed a love of feta cheese and tah da... decorated pumpkins!

Alexa's...

and Chloe's...

They of course went on to paint many pictures after because once the paints are out it is hard to stop.

The Halloween Sweat Shop

I always feel like Halloween just appears. I don't know. I mean I know it is coming, but every year I feel like I am madly making costumes at some endless pace. It may come from this odd belief that I am suppose to make the costumes. I blame my mom for this. She did it for us so I guess I feel like that is how it should be done. Or maybe it is just that my kids come up with the oddest requests. I would never have a prayer of finding them pre-made anywhere. I mean in the past years I have made a pink T-Rex (with white polka dots), a yellow pteranadon (with pink polka dots), and a pink archeopteryx (with so many assorted feathers I thought I had tendinitis from working on them all). It is crazy. Where does she come up with these ideas?

Needless to say I have been working away at this year's costumes. Countless hours thrown in here and there to get them all together before Friday's parties and Saturday's trick-or-treating. It did my heart good for Chloe to announce yesterday, "Mommy you make the best Halloween costumes." Ah thanks. They have even been really good sports about trying things on. So this morning as Alexa patiently tested out her head with ears attached (for the third time) and didn't want to take them off. I found it too cute not to snap the picture. Plus the fact that well... she looks an awful lot like the dog here...

is it just me?

Thank You Grammie

Grammie Eva was given a request and once again she rose to the challenge. Alexa received a package in the mail yesterday containing one pink hat with a purple flower. She also gained a new pair of pink mittens to match. Pretty cute don't you think?

She was very excited! She also removed all the stickers and stamps off the package and stuck them through out the pages of her doodle pad. A big thank you to Grammie, and don't worry Chloe will be heading out soon yarn shopping for that sweater she would like so rest up those knitting needles.

Costume Box

There is a box in my closet. A large Rubbermaid box containing the Halloween costumes of years gone by, old dresses their Grammie Sharon picked up at a thrift shop, as well as a few other random items gathered from who knows where. Every now and then the girls ask for it to come out so they can play dress up. I usually cringe because it means that my living room will now begin to look like a bad day at the Goodwill drop off with bits of clothing thrown everywhere.

It is comical, though, how different the girls are and how they make their play connect together. Alexa always wants to dig out the dresses and be a Princess. Chloe usually mixes it up but frequently becomes an animal of one kind or another. They always manage to combine their costumes and work together toward a common goal.

I present to you Princess Alexa...

and her pet Archeopteryx (costume from Halloween last year).

I sort of lost track of the story line but it involved something with a drum, a boat (also known as the couch)

a bad guy you were suppose to hide from,

and there was definitely hot lava.