Trick-or-Treat!!

Happy Halloween! I am so glad this day is over. The kids couldn't behave themselves during the day, and I kept threatening to take the trick-or-treating away. But being the pushover that I sometimes am, I let them go anyway. And what fun they had!!!

Since Gabriel and Elliott love their costumes, getting them dressed was only mildly annoying (Gabe couldn't find his socks, Elliott wouldn't stop running away...). The picture taking was also only mildly annoying. They just couldn't wait to get outside...

As soon as we left our steps, both kids were yelling, "Trick-or-treat! Happy Halloween!" at anyone and everyone. At first they went to each door they saw, then they figured out that you only go to doors where a light is turned on. Both kids climbed the steps (and it was no easy feat for Elliott between her poofy dress and slippery shoes) and fought over who got to knock on the door. They were polite to everyone, both saying their "Please"-s and "Thank You"-s. It was amazing to hear (since I rarely hear them, it's nice to know that they are actually polite kids). Elliott showed her true devilish side tonight. When a very nice woman let her pick the candy that she wanted out of a bowl. She chose a few pieces, and when the woman asked her if she wanted popcorn too (she had a bunch of ready-to-pop bags), Elliott took ALL OF THEM! It was hilarious...and kind of embarrassing. I told her to put them back, but the woman was so nice. She said to keep them, it was less for her to have to eat. Elliott beamed her 1,000 watt smile at her, and all was well. Whenever someone told her she could have more than one piece of candy, she dug her grubby little paws into the basket and took fistfuls. Gabriel was much less hoggish - and when told he could have more than one piece of candy, he said, "I'll just have three." - and he only took three.

Elliott could have stayed out there all night. She was thrilled. She'd never been trick-or-treating before, and was in heaven. She loved telling everyone that she was a witch and that Gabe was a lion. I'm pretty sure she touched every single pumpkin in our neighborhood, too. Gabriel got tired after about 35 minutes, so we came home. We missed a bunch of houses, but the kids still got a ton of loot. I am thinking about having the Great Pumpkin come see us tonight to take away some of the candy...and maybe leave the kids a little present.

So my first time trick-or-treating as a Mom was loads of fun! But I'm glad I have 365 days before I have to do it again!

Punkas!!

The above is Elliott's pronunciation of pumpkins. The girl is obsessed with pumpkins! I have taken her to a number of pumpkin patches, and she is the happiest I have ever seen her when she is surrounded by large, orange pumpkins. As soon as she sees the sea of orange, she starts screaming "Wook, Mommy! Ownge punkas! Have a!" (Look Mommy! Orange pumpkins! Have some!) She has to touch them all (and I mean ALL), she sits on them, hugs them, kisses them, and then moves them all around the patch or field. The only thing she doesn't like about pumpkins is the dirt. She gets very upset when they are muddy, and even more upset when they are wet with dew. Eventually she gets over it, and will love on them regardless, but she is a bit perturbed. And it doesn't matter if the pumpkins are real. She loves the faux punkas in craft stores, and she loves books about them. She loves watching "Cinderella" so she can see the pumpkin turn into the coach. She's completely obsessed!

Our latest trip was this morning, and she was in heaven. She and I went with our MOMS Club. Gabriel was in school and Janna stayed home with Jon (Daddy had his "special surgery" yesterday). So she had me all to herself - which doesn't often happen. The place where we went was in a large field, and there were rows upon rows, bins upon bins, and piles upon piles of pumpkins. She was beside herself with glee. It was so cute to watch. And to hear! She would run from pile to pile, sit on a few, and scream to either myself, Katie, or Jennifer (my 2 best Mommy friends) to look at her and take her picture. I took over 50 pictures of her and various pumpkins this morning alone. That isn't in addition to the various other pictures I have taken of her in other pumpkin patches.

So today was a great day! I love the Fall - and I am so glad that my kids seem to love it, too. Gabriel understands what seasons are, and he loves that the leaves are changing color and falling off the trees. Elliott, as I said, loves the fruits of the season. She loves picking apples, too. And Janna is just such a happy girl.

Monday, Monday...

Holy crap...it's already the second week of October. I swear the time is seriously getting away from me!! Last week was pretty good. Gabriel is still going through his nasty/annoying/spitting phase. He basically gets to go to bed around 7 because he can't be nice at the dinner table. It's great! He tells me he's not eating the junk that I make, then he shoves the plate to try to knock over every one's drink, and then he spits all over. Dinner-time is so miserable these days. And Elliott tries to eat (she's an awesome eater), but when she sees Gabriel throw his food, she joins right in. Good times!

So because Gabriel was so terrible at dinner Friday night, he didn't' get to go running with Daddy on Saturday. And he missed out on a good time! Jon and Elliott ran in the Barktober 5 mile race at Lollipop Farms (it's a local animal shelter). Jon finished First in his age group, and Sixth overall. Elliott was in heaven! Not only was there a playground, but there were dogs everywhere! She got to "pet" a huge puppy and kitty (people in costumes), and apparently she couldn't get enough of them. She even entertained a few locals with her animal noises. Silly girl!

Enough about last week...this week is going to be fun! Today we are doing nothing - Gabriel keeps saying he doesn't feel good. Tomorrow is Gabriel's snack day at preschool (I made trail mix), and the girls and I are going to our MOMS Board Meeting. Wednesday is outdoor day. The leaves here are gorgeous, and Gabriel understands that this is Fall (I LOVE preschool), so we're going to gather leaves and make some decorations. Thursday is field trip day. In the morning we go to the Pumpkin Patch with preschool, and the afternoon is filled with Apple Farm fun. Friday we leave at the crack of ass for PA. Saturday is Pumpkin Festival time at Rorhbach's, and Sunday is party day with Jon's family. Busy, busy, busy!!