Halloween

I had a hard time getting good pictures this year. We started out in Mason's crew, but then ran into another school chum and Leo decided to head off with him--and they were a much faster group. They hit many more houses and got a lot more candy. Halloween was a lot louder this year too. Even Molly got in on the action. I thought the dark and the chaos would freak her out, but she insisted on going up to the houses herself and getting candy.

Attaching the extra spider legs. They didn't want to stay on.

We just put out the jackolantern yesterday, and already he looks like this.

A rare front view. I ran out of glow in the dark paint to finish the web on the front and his web wasn't stiff enough--after run from house to house it looked more like an inverted umbrella on his back.

Molly didn't spend long in the wagon, but loved her costume.

Action shot.

Molly posing for the camera.

And now we're continue our tradition of hot chocolate while watching It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

Leo's BD party

Since Leo's BD falls in the middle of the week, and next week is right before Halloween, we had his party this weekend. Leo wanted a cheetah-themed party this year. So we had a cheetah cake, cheetah balloons, pin the tail on the cheetah, and a rousing game of cheetah, cheetah, leopard (duck, duck, goose), apple bobbing, and some Calvin-ball, and finally Angry Birds come to life. I think everyone had a good time, but Leo threw a huge tantrum at one point that made most of the guests a little uncomfortable and frustrated us.

There are no words

Molly wanted to wear her shirt like this all evening.

Daddy's hat/our little grunge girl

A leaf as big as Molly's head

A leaf bigger than Molly's head

"Slow" weekend

First there was a little boy with a stomach virus on Friday night. 

So, no swimming Sat morning, instead a trip to the Library.

  Later some yard work.

Then today was busy--Le Peep for a pre-Mama's BD breakfast, grocery shopping, then lunch and a nap for Molly.

While Molly napped we watched the Packer game (before she went to sleep we taught her to say "Go Packers". I think that's why they won), and I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Molly enjoyed the cookies when she got up from nap.

Then she did something she loves--coloring. After that we went and had some pictures taken at Meadowbrook (we won a free photo shoot with a photographer trying to build her portfolio). It was cold and we were not dressed warmly enough.

So when we got back Leo and Papa had hot chocolate--and Leo mirrored his sister's chocolate face.

Shenanigans

Pumpkin patch and mums

We tried a new pumpkin patch this year and this is our favorite so far--and it's just pumpkins/gourds--no games or food or animals. Best prices in the area.

Fall display inside

Fall display outside--can't wait until the mum blooms all the way!

I've always liked decorative kale and cabbages but this is the first year I've tried it.

Molly reads along

One of Molly's favorite books is Moo, Baa, La La La, which she can pretty much read along with now. However, the other night, after doing so twice, she veered a little from the story.

TGIF

It was kind of a rough week in our house. The various stresses of all the things going on in our life ganged up on us. Here Molly depicts how we all felt today before dinner.

Random sights

Gloves--check. Too-small scooter--check. Towed ducky--check. Purpose? I have no idea.

Early birthday flowers from the farmers' market.

The bag I made.