Costumed Kids

Halloween 2010

Last year I went a little overboard on costumes ... I bought ALL new (Lugi for Landon, Mario for Cooper, a Basketball Box for Callahan, BumbleBee for Keaton, Buzz for Colton ... and Woody for Cooper, even though he already had the Mario costume). The kids do generally get several opportunities to wear their costumes other than just Halloween night. This year, I didn't buy ANY new, the kids just went through the boxes of costumes from previous years (although Landon's was purchased last year AFTER Halloween on clearance, so it was new, just not purchased this year) ...First up is the Halloween party at school (see the Halloween Party Post for pictures and a video) where the kids dressed simply in their Sesame Street hats for costumes. Colton had his preschool party the Thursday before Halloween ... here's a picture of him and his teacher (isn't that the CUTEST costume?)

Colton and Ms. Cindy

Landon also had celebrations at school ... he had a special backpack for the day ... even his shoes were a matching black and orange ... I called him Jack-O-Landon *Ü* During the day, the 9th graders got to have a Halloween dance. Landon took off his orange shirt and became a "Chick Magnet"

The Friday night before Halloween, there was the annual neighborhood party over at the church. The different church organizations (primary, young mens, young women, elders, etc.) each are in charge of a room which they decorate according to a theme. Gray and Landon were with the young men and a Cowboy and Indians themed room. Now I said *I* did not buy any new costumes this year ... but Landon didn't have Indian attire ... so hubby made a stop and $40 later, we do now have an Indian costume to add to the box (boxes) ... Grayson was able to make due with existing stuff for his cowboy costume.

After the Friday festivities, the kids went trick-or-treating in the cold and rain on Saturday night. Our house is in a little loop ... and the younger kids rarely ever make it out of our small little neighborhood, this year was no exception. The older kids did venture a little further, staying out after the little ones came home. But I think the little boys enjoy answering the door and handing out candy almost as much as collecting it! The favorites for the older boys are Reese's ... the little boys like Kit Kats and Twix. Landon said he's going on a health kick and NOT eating any candy... that's more willpower than I have!

Tricky Treats

SpiderWeb Cupcakes

When you think about Halloween, you often think about CANDY ... I LOVE the candy, and I hope that the small packaging might help with quantity control when it comes to eating it. In previous years, I've made sugar cookies and used candy corn to decorate them like jack-o-lanterns ... but I didn't get around to that this year, because I was so busy making NEW Halloween treats!

Every year at the church, there is a neighborhood "Trunk-or'Treat" (although we do NOT have the kids go from car to car, but rather room to room ... so I'm not sure WHY they use the TRUNK-or-Treat terminology). This year I was asked to bring cupcakes for the cake walk. A friend posted this spiderweb cupcake idea and I thought it was SO cute! It really wasn't very difficult either. You melt white chocolate drops and then simply follow the template from the website linked above. I think these will be an annual trick-or-TREAT each Halloween from now on. If you look behind the spiderweb cupcakes, you can also see my first attempt at cupcakes on a stick. They were a hit as well. It was the first (but not the last) time I used my new Cakesicle Pan.

We also made cookie-press pumpkins. Now the pumpkin shape did NOT come with my original cookie press. I actually hadn't seen this disk until last year. I really wanted it, but I couldn't find anywhere just the disk was sold, and I didn't want to buy and entire set just to get the ONE disk ... but this year ... that is exactly what I did. It was worth it ... these cookies will also be a Halloween (and Thanksgiving) tradition. They are Keaton's favorite.

A friend posted a darling OreoCookieCandyMold treat (seriously, follow this link, they are SO cute!) I actually made a trip to a couple of the local craft stores to try and find the mold, but I couldn't locate it. I'm going to keep looking and hopefully I'll land it before next year (I'll already have the white chocolate drops for the spiderweb toppers). Instead, I made MY homemade oreos (recipe here) and added orange food coloring to the frosting for a Halloween feel.

And then I picked up this large cupcake at the store ... I thought the idea was really cute. I did find these candy eyeballs ... I may have to work on my technique to try and duplicate the "fur" look ... maybe I'll try these critter creations next year, although looking through this post, I probably have ENOUGH tricky treats to send everyone into sugar shock ... and that's NOT including all the candy!

Volleyball

For the past couple spring and fall seasons, Thursday nights at the church have been volleyball night. It's a little bit social, a little bit cardio (a very little bit ... church volleyball rarely works up a sweat) but it's just FUN. It's for all the women in the stake area, and usually there are about 15 women who show up. It's all very low key and casual, not competitive at all. There are a couple gals with "skills" ... I'm just mediocre. I don't really remember playing much in young womens or school, but as long as there is volleyball at the church on Thursday nights, I'll clear my schedule if I can. I almost lost my wedding ring once (I had taken it off to play, placed it in my purse and then forgotten to put it back on and walked home ... the ring fell out in the church building ... but luckily it was returned to me, whew! I'm careful to leave it home now!) At one point, a pair of missionaries joined us each week ... they were pretty good and it was funny to see them playing in their suits!

We just finished up the fall season with regionals. Yes, the First Ward went on to region ... why did our ward go to region? Is it because we are SO good? No ... it's because we actually have six+ women who come each week, and we are the only ward that could actually put together a team. We went to region last year ... and both years we've gotten thoroughly trounced.

I know the church puts together a softball team ... I'm NOT into softball. I don't think the women get together to play basketball (I WATCH basketball, I don't play) ... I WISH there was enough interest for some soccer games, I love soccer! I guess I'll have to wait for spring volleyball again.

Shifting Seasons

It doesn't seem so long ago that it was summer ... then school was back in session and the days started getting a little shorter. I LOVE autumn, but here in Utah it so often seems to shift so quickly from warm to cold, summer to winter, we don't often get to experience much of the fall splendor. There had been some cooler days, but the kids were still wearing shorts and t-shirts each day. After returning home last Sunday from a cousin's birthday bash, the house was a chilly 66 degrees ... so we turned on the heat for the first time (gotta love the smell throughout the house the first time the heat gets turned back on after a long hiatus). A storm rolled in that night and we woke to snow, but the kids STILL put on shorts (and the snow didn't last very long). Then yesterday, more snow. Enough that the kids wanted to go out and play. We had to look through drawers to find the forgotten long pants, dig out the boots, gloves, hats and coats. With a couple of kids from next door, they made the first snowman of the season ... he was a bit tilted (see above), and after several hours in the sun, he was even MORE so (see below) ...

Long sleeves present a bit of a problem with Cooper's cast, most arm holes aren't big enough to go over the bulk. But the coat was fine, and we even put a glove over the hand ... you couldn't even tell he had a broken arm! I noticed that Colton's pants were a couple inches too small. He sure has grown since the spring. I'll have to spend some time going through all the closets and drawers, putting the "cold weather" clothes that still fit front and center, moving items too small for one boy to the closet of the next (one of the perks of having all boys!) . I just wish I could find a good solution for all the winter wear (gloves, hats, boots, coats) that gets strewn all over after the kids come in from playing outside.

The snow has since melted, and the kids were outside playing tag and soccer again today ... but the chill is in the air ... sweater weather is here, calling for hot chocolate and chicken soup. I certainly don't mind if the snow stays away for a while ... let us enjoy the fall season *Ü*

Mr. Moab

In the month of October, Grayson has spent TWO weekends in Moab. Over fall recess, he took the boys (Mom and Cooper stayed home, we did NOT want to get sand in his cast) and went with family to Whitewash to camp and ride motorcycles and other off-road vehicles. Grandpa Rex brought his BIG camper ... Colton thought it was so cool that it had a potty that flushed! Here's a few pictures from that trip ...

Just as the family returned home, we received the news that Grandma Henry had passed away. Pam turned around and went back to Moab to help make arrangements and Grayson returned on Thursday for the funeral.

Grayson and some work friends had planned a Moab bike trip for Friday-Sun, so Gray just stayed in Moab until his buddies came down the next day. He went alone to Slick Rock Friday morning before his friends arrived, which was good as the weather wasn't too cooperative on Friday afternoon/evening. The guys did get in several different rides over the next couple days. Gray did return with a few bumps and bruises (almost went off a cliff at one point ... the bike fell about 10 feet). Unlike his previous bike trip to Moab last May (when they camped and I had no contact), the guys came back to the hotel each night and Gray was able to check in. Here's a few pictures from the trip.

surrounded by nature

if you look close you can see the guys biking on the trail ...

look REALLY close ...

see the little spec on the mountain high?

Candy Corn

MUST ... STOP ... EATING ... CaNDy CoRn!

The comedian Lewis Black says the worst thing about Halloween is ... Candy Corn ... I have to agree, but not for the same reason (he doesn't like it ... I can't stop eating it). I have a large glass pumpkin filled with candy corn and I love to just grab a handful and nibble on it. If I take just the broken ones, have some of the empty calories leaked out? Please say that is so! I love candy corn on sugar cookies (decorated as jack-o-lanterns) ... and I make darling turkey sugar cookies with them for Thanksgiving, so the temptation lasts beyond Halloween all the way through November.

Just in case you haven't heard Lewis Black's views on candy corn ... here's a little clip ... enjoy :) I'm going to go eat me some candy corn while I watch ...

My Marathon Man

Grayson has run a few half-marathons, but hadn't yet tackled the elusive 26.2 mile race. After NOT getting into the St. George Marathon, both Gray and his brother Clay decided to try the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. Grayson has been doing distance for a while, but didn't really do any specific training. He finished with an awesome time of 3:44 (clip off a couple minutes from the photo above as wasn't at the front of the pack for the start).

Gray and Clay went down Friday night so they could be at the starting line bright and early on Saturday morning. Pam took Colton, Addie and Aiden for a sleep over Friday night, then Courtney and Co. joined the kid crew to cheer on the guys at the finish (you can read her post on their blog here).

Back at home, Cooper had a soccer game and Callahan had a basketball game, so I was on Mom Duty back in West Jordan. During Callahan's game, I was watching while jogging around the track strategically placed directly above the basketball court. While I went around the track, I figured at that moment, Grayson was nearing the end of his long run... and I bet that even after 20+ miles, he was going faster than I was on my first one!

Next up? The guys have signed up for the Ogden Marathon in the spring ... Go Blackham Boys! Grayson even "bic"ed his head ... aerodynamic baby!

School Halloween Parties

It's Elmo, Cookie Monster and Oscar ...

"Easy" Halloween Costumes!

For kids on D-Track in year round school ... Halloween comes a bit early. The kids get out of school on Oct13 and don't go back until Nov8 ... so, any scary celebrations at school happen mid-October. Last year, I was the room mom for Cooper's class, and had offered to do it again this year (room moms are in charge of planning the parties). I guess the need was greater in the older classes however, as I was asked to be room mom for Callahan's class instead. I had to shift my thinking from six/seven year olds to 6th graders, but got busy planning some activities for the party. Then Keaton's teacher sent a note that their room mom was out of town on the date of the Halloween party, could anyone help ... I figured I was already doing one party, so I said I'd head up the one for the 4th grade too (held at an earlier hour). The first grade party was actually at the start of the day ... I considered saying I'd help out there too, but decided two parties would be enough this year.

We had several activities, divided the kids up into groups and had them rotate through. The kids seemed to have fun at all the centers ... they were

• Bag Decorating
• Cup Crash
• Candy Corn Toss
• Spider Drop
• Halloween Pictureka
• Bone Bender (Twister, Halloween style)
• Make a Mummy

For the first party (4th grade) I had enough parent volunteers that I was able to walk around with my camera and take pictures and video (and make the little Muvee above). I didn't really get any pictures of the 6th grade party because I was needed to man one of the stations.

The kids did "easy" costumes for school this year ... basically slipping on a Sesame Street baseball cap for their costume (that's the picture at the top). Colton came and "helped" at both parties and was a darling Mario. I did spend a little more than I intended, but now that I have all the materials, I guess I'll just have to offer to host the Halloween parties each year to get my money's worth! Oriental Trading Co had some cute games as well, and I actually had placed an order with them ... but it didn't arrive until after the party!

Of course there was also treat time ... donuts from the PTA, and I filled a big black cauldron with fruit punch and dry ice, which the kids loved. Both parties went well ... but I'm glad they are done!

Cooper's Cast

I had sent the Columbia kids off to school with the carpool, then I was dropping Colton off at preschool when the call came ... "Public Schools" ... across the caller id ... my heart always drops as I see that name. It was only 9:00 in the morning ... what could have gone wrong already? Cooper had tripped and fallen on his arm on the way to class. He was adamant that it was broken ... and he was right! I took him into the KidsCare for an x-ray, and I didn't even need the technician to say anything, it was pretty obvious. Both bones! Cooper got a splint there are the KidsCare and we followed up with an orthopedic specialist for his cast. It's a "long-arm" cast, immobilizing the elbow, going all the way up his arm. After about four weeks we may be able to move to a smaller cast, below the elbow.

I suggested an orange cast, as he'll have it on for Halloween and Thanksgiving, but Cooper wanted red. He's enjoyed having friends and family sign it. He still has a bit of a hard time using his fingers (writing, coloring, etc.) but he's actually just about to go off-track, so he won't even be in school for much of the time. Although, this will have an effect on our usual off-track bowling, I just don't think Cooper will be up for that :( ... but Cooper has been a trouper throughout this whole ordeal, he hardly ever complains. What a great kid!