Hallowed Out

If we had entered a Most Awesome Halloween contest this year, we would have lost. Horribly. We really, really tried but we ran out of steam before the big day and barely made it through. Next year, I promise, we will be much spookier, much more evil and much quicker to fulfill the wishes of the devil. Let me walk you through how Halloween tried to happen...and failed.

We started out strong. Another trip to Bagstow's Pumpkin farm for pumpkin picking and hay rides.

And hay mazes.
The day was perfect. I was able to duck out of work early one day so it wasn't crowded and it was sunny and nice. Lila loves any outing where she can ride in the bjorn.
Does it surprise you when you see a picture of me how little hair I have? It surprises me...EVERY TIME. Denial, anyone?

Amy and I always laugh that the pumpkin patch is not a patch at all. It isn't like you are climbing through the vines and cutting your fresh pumpkin free. They drive you out to a field where they have evenly spaced out a gajillion pumpkins that are all nearly identical. Is this how they grow in nature?
Despite the stepford pumpkins, Noel took a long time trying to find the right one. Mostly he wanted one that he could carry, which we eventually found.

So far so good. Halloween celebrations were off to a festive start. A week or so later, we did some carving. Jonah drew a picture of how he wanted his pumpkin to look and I had to carve to match. Here is the drawing:
Seems a little tricky, no? I also had to scoop out every single pumpkin gut. My children are apparently wusses when it comes to pumpkin gutting. When I was a kid, I don't remember not gutting your own pumpkin even being an option. My kids are spoiled.
Here is how the pumpkins turned out. Pretty awesome, I thought. We don't believe in fancy pumpkin templates at our house so that our pumpkins can have Marilyn Monroe on them. We like straight up faces. Can you figure out who's is who's?
So far, so spooky, right? Well, this is when things started going down hill. Jonah's school was having a "carnival" one night and the kids were stoked, so we put costumes on and headed out. Just as a matter of note, Jonah's costume has been picked out for weeks and Noel decided about 7 minutes before we left.
There was a lovely photo-op as we came through the door...and that was about it. There were a couple of crafts, which took about 4 minutes to do. And I think there was some trick or treating, but it didn't start for about an hour and there wasn't enough to keep three hyper kids occupied. But the kids were so excited...and were REALLY mad that we were leaving, even though they were complaining that they were bored. So we bribed them in the car with powdered donuts.
"Don't worry," we told them. "There are several more parties and festivities this week leading up to the big day!" And then the swine flu hit...Jonah first...and then Noel...and we skipped all the parties and festivities.

By the appointed night, Jonah had gotten though the worst of it and was ready for trunk or treat and additional trick or treating as well. He was going to be a ninja turtle (in a much too small costume) for Trunk or Treat and then come home and change into his Darth Vader costume for Trick or Treat. Noel, who was in the Valley between Ibuprofen doses, was adamant that he would not be going.

So Jonah and I hit Trunk or Treat, (is it just me, or is Trunk or Treat kind of annoying because the same kids come by your car about 30 times?) and then headed home to change. Jonah decided not to change, and Noel, who's medication had finally kicked in, rallied and decided to come. So we threw a costume on him, and we were off.
Things to note: Noel is wearing pajamas (which he had been wearing all day,) shoes on the wrong feet, no socks and looks a bit like the living dead. Jonah's pants are a bit tight and stop about 5 inches above the ground. And they were much more excited than this picture implies.

We hit quite a few houses in the neighborhood and were duly impressed. THREE houses (3!!!) gave out full size candy bars! That did not happen when I was a kid! Fantastic. The kids thought it was the greatest night ever, and only wanted to trick or treat at houses with decorations. (Make note.) We made it home and hour or so later, with fevers creeping back up and exhausted, but happy kids and lots and lots of quality candy (which Amy and I have eaten much of.)

And to wrap it all up, Noel slept a total of about 45 min last night. Back to reality.