Halloween Fun!

In previous years Joel didn’t care about Halloween at all.  He didn’t like it actually.  He would sit in the stroller with the shade down a hat on his face and ignore the fact that anything was going on.  This year he was looking at a catalog and asked what something was.  I told him it was a batman costume that you can wear for Halloween.  He started asking to “go to Halloween.”  We talked about Halloween a little and he was pretty excited about it.  It was then that I knew he would probably go along with my idea of everyone being superheroes for Halloween.

My 3 superheroes!

Their very cool capes!

The superhero family!  Vincent, Brad, Joel, Kelli and Cecilia.

Grandma Diane made us all capes (Vincent already had one) and I made sweatshirts that looked like superhero shirts and masks for all the kids.  I made a sweatshirt for myself too, but not Brad.  He told me he wasn’t going to be able to go because he would be in the field.  It ended up raining that afternoon so he was able to go with us.  He was a little disappointed he didn’t have a cool sweatshirt to wear.  I knew I shouldn’t have listened to him and just made one.

I love Joel's expression!

Joel with his teacher at the Halloween Parade.

We had all be wearing our capes around well before Halloween Day because the kids loved to wear them and pretend we were all superheroes.  Many nights (and days) we would run around the house in them and race, wrestle and pretend to save people and things.  In the morning Cecilia and I went to Joel’s school to see their Halloween Parade.  We were then invited to stay for the class party.  Cecilia was so excited to stay and play with Joel and Joel was pretty excited to have us.  There are only 4 kids in his class and Cecilia was happy to be number 5 for the morning.  I really enjoyed seeing how he worked in his classroom.

Joel and Cecilia waiting for a snack.

Cecilia loved getting to go to Joel's school.

Already to go trick or treating.

After School Diane, Brad, the kids and I went to a nearby nursing home that offers trick or treating.  It is a very popular spot!  The residents are all lined up in two very large areas and hand out candy to all the kids.  It is indoors (except for the long line you stand in to get inside), safe, the kids love it and the residents like seeing the all the children dressed up.   Brad was helping Joel at the nursing home and he said that about half way thru Joel realized what was going on and no long had to be prompted to say trick or treat.  He really seemed to have fun.  Cecilia figured out the routine rather quick but kept just throwing her candy toward the bag and missing and moving on to the next person.  I spent my time picking her candy up off the floor. 

Super Cecilia.

Super Joel!

Afterwards we went to Aunt Linda’s house to trick or treat.  The rain was letting up by then so we went trick or treating around her block.  Vincent and Joel were running from house to house.  Joel wanted to go in everyone’s house at first because that is the normal thing to do after you ring a doorbell.  We had a lot of fun.  Before we got back to the car Joel spotted a very large puddle and managed to jump in it before we could stop him.  He was in heaven!  He loves puddles!  After Aunt Linda’s house we drove to my godparent’s house to trick or treat.  Aunt Kathy offered them fruit just to tease them and my kids were more than happy to have fruit instead of candy.  

The bag was as big as her!

Vincent and the dog.

Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but I really enjoyed it this year!  It was fun that all three kids enjoyed it and I didn’t have to feel like I was torturing Joel by taking him with us.

Joel, a dog, and Vincent.

Konow's Farm

The kids all had a day off in October so we went to Konow’s Farm.  They have corn mazes, a petting zoo, mechanical bull, corn pit, pile of straw to climb on, jumping pillow, pedal tractors, a cow train, pumpkins, etc.  It is a really fun place and kind of busy on a day the kids are off school.  Diane and Keith came with us and we met up with Kristy, Brett and Luke and the Kirk’s.  Due to the timing of everything we only had 2 hours there, because I had to be at Bible Study and they all needed to get some sleep before school the next day.  I told my carload of kids when we got there that we only had 2 hours and if they wanted to see everything I could keep telling them when it was time to switch activities or they could decide on their own.  They wanted my help.  I also told them that we were not going on the pony rides or the hayrides or the bigger corn maze.  They were all fine with that.  In reality it was only Keith and Vincent that cared about anything I was saying.

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Joel looking at the deer.

Cecilia and the goats.

Sweet piglets!  I love pigs!

Grandma Diane and Cecilia

Brett and Luke trying to climb in with the goats.

A jumping pillow.

Joel riding a tractor.

Cecilia and Maggie!

Diane and Joel.

We had fun at the petting zoo and jumping pillow and then headed to the cow train.  They were almost out of cows to ride in, but had one left.  It wasn’t big enough for me to ride with Joel, but the guy in the cow next to Joel was very nice and kept an eye on him for us.  Joel did great!  Cecilia rode on Jackie’s lap and Vincent and Austin were quick to grab the cow’s at the front of the train.  When the train came back Kristy, Brett and Luke went on it and Vincent sat with Brett! 

Jackie, Tyler, Vincent, Keith, Joel, Austin, Cecilia, and Maggie.

Amy, Maggie, Cecilia and Jackie

Vincent being a goof and Austin.

Tyler and Keith.

Joel and his new friend.

The cow train!

Brett, Luke, Kristy and Vincent.

Our fearless leaders in the corn maze!

Jackie and Cecilia going down the really fast slide.

Keith's turn!

The maze was ok, I am not sure we went all the way thru it because we came out the entrance, but the kids had fun.  Tyler grabbed Joel’s hand and kept an eye on him without anyone asking and Joel was happy to be with the big kids.  After that we headed to the straw pile that had a really fast slide that was a lot of fun!  Even Cecilia and I went down it!  From there we met up with Kristy, Brett and Luke in the corn pit.  I jumped in with the kids and somehow they decided it would be fun to bury me.  I ended up with corn in my pockets, my pants, and my underwear.  If you were wondering having corn kernels in your underwear is not very comfortable.  All the kids (except Maggie) seemed to love the corn pit.

Tyler helping Joel.

Cecilia following Joel into a long dark tunnel.

Cecilia wasn't happy until she made it all the way to the top.

The corn pit!

Joel.

Cecilia getting buried.

She loved it!

Keith getting buried.  Brett was helping too!

Luke and Vincent.

It is hard to remember what we did after the corn pit but we did a couple more activities and then left.  We stopped and grabbed food along the way and Keith had to work to earn his supper.  He was in the back with the kids so he had to keep handing them food.  It’s hard work being the oldest!  It is probably very different for Keith going from being the youngest in his family to the oldest when he spends time with us.  We were running late so they dropped me off at Bible Study on the way home.  While I was there I spent a good portion of the night picking up corn kernels that kept falling out of my pockets!  It was a fun afternoon!

Adorable Luke!

Maggie did NOT like the corn.

Vincent buried.

Brett had fun burying Vincent.

Cecilia and Mommy.

Austin jumping.

Brett and Vincent getting ready to jump.

Keith, Jackie, Joel and Austin....the sun was really bright.

Vincent, Austin, Keith, Cecilia and Tyler

Diane, Amy and Maggie.

Joel and his big buddy Tyler.