My kids dressed up this year in honor of the happiest place on earth — Chick-Fil-A!
(Stinks for you Disneyland!)
A special thank you goes out to B — the only one who could get Sissy excited about wearing a hat all night long. (And amazingly — she did!)
Scout and Navy were in sync — and loved being the cow and chicken.
I’ll even brag that this wasn’t a planned hug for the camera.
This is pure, unadulterated, genuine love.
But it didn’t last long.
And we were all quick to realize that Icka’s sign that said, “NO!” had a double meaning.
Because Halloween is on Sunday this year, we did the bulk of our activities on Saturday. The main event was the Trunk-or-Treat at church, and a wee bit of trick or treating at unsuspecting neighbor’s homes before we left. The good news is that all of the neighbors were dying over them, and gave them handfuls of candy.
We went on to Micah’s parent’s house to trick or treat. They loved the little stinkers, and we snapped a cute picture with them and Great Grandpa.
“NO!” was really starting to manifest itself — and we hadn’t even gotten to the party.
When we got there, Micah and I stuck on our costumes, and we were ready to party!
I did feel a little bad when Scout was amongst his friends who were all tough guys, and he was a cow. But I am helping him develop thick skin at an early age.
The night ended with the Trunk-or-Treat. The best stop was obviously at Jim Zimms, who gave candy out of a grocery bag.
Can’t you just tell what Scout is thinking:
Thanks for the generous offering Jim.
An entire mini box of nerds that I could already get at my own car!
What a rip off artist!
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It was a fun time.
The kids loved it.
I was happy with their costumes.
It was a fairly simple ordeal.
And best of all — we ended the night….as best friends.
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Happy Halloween!
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I have an entire year before I have to think up more outfits.
But … I am already considering dressing Icka up in some way, shape or form as “YES!” next year.
A bunch of people got together in the name of Halloween. It was mostly the young kids from the ward in the 1-4 age group. I didn’t realize it was at 9:30am, and read my reminder Email at about 9:05. So luckily my costume fetish came through, and I stuck Sissy in Elmo, and Scout in his astronaut outfit.
This is when we first arrived. It is also when it was decently cool outside. Unfortunately, the sun came out, and my kids soon became:
“A flasher”…..
and a “Chippendale” astronaut.
Some kids may have objected, but I am proud to say that my kids have learned to be quite “go-with-the-flow” with me as their mother.
Scout was really into the donut-on-the-string game. Especially when he had a little help.
Scout got pretty sugary.
Sissy did what she does best — she ate at the table.
And when she was done there — she moved on to the bigger table, and picked up where she left off. This time, she was devouring cupcakes.
The swings are always a hit.
We tried to get Icka some practice time on the scooter.
But she realized that carrying it was more efficient.
Meanwhile, Scout and Micah were putting the finishing touches on this beauty at a nearby picnic table.
A project that started a week before.
(And I feel quite guilty that I don’t have the final pics — but it was a beauty!)
Since Scout was such a success yesterday, we had him go at it again today.
This time around, he made her comfortable with her “DayDay”, he put her on the potty seat so she didn’t fall in, and he got himself the I Pad.
I guess he took the whole “relaxing” thing to heart.
Sadly, I must report that it was a no go.
Next time.
Every once in a while I ask Sis if she wants to try the big girl potty. It usually turns into more trouble than it’s worth, but Sissy came and informed me that she had “Poo Poo”, so I decided to give it a go. (Remember, I am all about letting my kids wait until they can train themselves.)
So I put her on the potty, and the story goes like this:
Here’s Sis all ready to go.
Four minutes and a lot of cheering later, I gave it a failing grade.
She was completely capable of pushing, but for whatever reason, it wasn’t all coming together.
As I was going to take her off, Scout wanted me to leave her on.
I told him he could try and teach her and left the room.
(Let’s be honest, I knew it was just going to turn into another toilet papering party.)
About a minute later, Scout ran to me and said she was pushing, but nothing was coming out.
I gave him a sippy cup to try and relax her.
He took it in — and not 30 seconds later he came running and screaming, “She went Poopsie Doops on the big girl potty!”
I came running and screaming.
We were all SO excited — and so was she.
This little girl showed it off to everyone!
And she kept looking and just staring at it so proudly.
Scout was a pro on teaching her, and he loves that he gets all of the credit!
*****
After all of the accolades and excitement died down, she decided she didn’t want it to end.
She wanted me to put her on the big girl potty again.
I liked the idea for photo purposes…so on she went.
This is when she lost her balance, fell into the toilet, and smashed her poopsie doops with her booty all in a split second.
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I guess the beauty of having a potty trained child backfires when the clean up is worse than any diaper I’ve seen in a long time.
Each morning, it’s the same. Micah and I hear Scout’s running feet, and we scramble to fake sleep if we aren’t already sleeping. Scout comes in and announces his arrival by either kissing me all over my face, immediately jumping in the covers with both of us, or blindsiding dad with a wrestling move. We hang out with him for about 30 minutes until we hear Icka stirring upstairs. I used to always go and get her, but lately I let Scout get her. Then about five minutes later, we hear Scout encouraging her to go down the stairs. A minute later, we see Scout run in first, and Icka follows shortly behind. She always has the biggest smile and her “DayDay” (blanket). She hops on the bed, and cuddles with me. And then she offers her “Good morning Daddy/Mommy/Gout”.
Notice the shirtless duo. Both of my kids are just like me and love to be freezing when they sleep. Scout is always content in his unders, and Sissy obviously is content in just a pair of shorts.
Here is a little morning love for a baggy-eyed dad.
One of the things I look the most forward to with my kids is what their “favorites” will be. Scout’s favorite color is yellow (my same favorite as a child — it’s now white), and I get so excited about anything I give him that is yellow. When I choose clothes, toys or knick-knacks I try and choose yellow, and it really does make him so happy.
So Icka is just about the age to make her declaration. I will even tell you a hideous truth — I have tried to persuade her to love green. (Oprah’s favorite color, and a nice compliment to yellow.) But to my sadness, I think her favorite is pink. (I have never liked pink! I always thought it was too girly. Even when I was young. But at least it isn’t purple (specifically violet)– the very worst color in the rainbow — and Micah’s favorite. Or heaven forbid — RED. No red head ever loves the color red — even though I am only a strawberry blond.)
I’m still not totally sure, but I think her tantrums over not wearing her pink bathing suit, her insistence on having a pink bath color, and her pointing out everything in the world that is pink (or even light red), is a decent indication. Oh yeah — and the part where I ask her what her favorite color is, and she says, “PINK“.
Bummer.
But maybe she’ll be smarter in her choices of favorite animal, favorite number, and favorite parent.
(Just kidding on the last!)
This year, Sug didn’t disappoint on our “Witchy Poo” outing.
Dressed in our best witch get ups, we headed down the road to frighten everyone at the Irvine Spectrum.
Here is the convertible that the “originals” ride in every year.
And the chauffeur.
Who knew that a cowardly lion had such a dapper side in him!
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After gobbling up our brew at Javiers, we headed to the merry-go-round and the ferris wheel.
Yes — I did lose a few teeth for the evening.
My dentist just pulled them out with pliers!
Talk about taking one for the team!
It was a good group — 20 of us, and most of us were dressed to the nines.
Unfortunately “most of us” didn’t include Scumball.
This girl got a bad memo.
I think hers said, “If you are a stylist to a star — dress like a teeny bopper from the 80’s.”
I am petitioning for her to be dis-invited next year.
This is another jokester.
Her memo said, “Try to look as good as possible — make every witch who really tried to look witchy (as in witchy poos)– look bad.”
Is she kidding?
She looks more like Marilyn Monroe who got dressed up as a witch on Halloween.
Don’t worry — since I can’t petition for her removal, I am burning that wig for next year.
I, on the other hand, was true blue. I spooked, I scared, and I hocus-pocused everything and everyone.
A few of the crazies!
But the star of the night — without a doubt — goes to “Cookie” AKA Bev.
In the down times of the night — I just enjoyed my time with my ex-lover. He hung around my neck for safe keeping. He wasn’t going to get away this time!
Remember that beauty?
This is what she really looks like.
Not so pretty now!
A special shout out to “Ruby” the truest witch of them all!
I can’t believe it will be a year until Witchy Poos ‘11.
It’s a hard knocked life!
This little weasel was dressed up for church. We were on our way to the highly anticipated primary program directed by the one and only PAT! On our way, sissy found my strawberry chapstick. I saw it, took it and rolled it down to the very bottom so she couldn’t make a mess. Three minutes later, I look back, and she has a pink beard, and pink lapels where it was supposed to be white lace.
Whatever.
At least it matched.
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(Sidenote — Icka has a whole bunch of nicknames, but without thinking, I have been calling her “The Weasel” lately. Apparently, I need to think, because Scout’s direct quote from his prayer the other night was, “And please help Icka The Weasel to choose the right.”)
This little thing is completely capable of being potty trained.
She is plenty smart, and she always tells me when she has to “go”.
Unfortunately, whenever she “pushes”, Scout and she turn things into a toilet paper festival.
So I think I will wait.
I did that with Scout — and he ended up training himself.
But knowing this stubborn little thing — she will be going to the prom in diapers.
I guess if that ends up being the case, I’ll start trying then.
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