Our Halloween activities started Saturday, with Shane and Rachel. We carved pumpkins, got take out, and spent the evening together. We begged Mckenna to come downstairs, and she graced us with her presence at the table for literally one minute, to draw what she wanted on her pumpkin. Then she spent the rest of the time being grumpy on the couch. Rachel was the queen of cleaning out the guts. Shane got the job of detail carving. We had to talk Jeff into the fact that carving pumpkins was fun, but he came around and ended up coming up with my favorite pumpkin of the night. Anna was obsessed with playing with gooey pumpkin insides, and ended up taking my suggestion for a kitty pumpkin. (Shocker!) It was a pleasure watching Drew and Nathan really get into their design, and not need any help at all. What a change from years past, when Jeff and I were stuck slaving over six pumpkins, with toddlers whining at our feet.
On Sunday, we invited several friends over for a low key gathering with costumes, food, and drinks. The Halloween playlist was bouncing off the walls, there was at least one baby in almost everyone’s arms, and the Roquamole was a huge hit.
I took a second to photograph everyone in their costumes, but didn’t keep my camera out for the party. There were too many chips to eat, and too many babies to hold.
Anna bowled us over with her gypsy fortune teller look.
Mckenna was a hit in that wig, sweet little Annie!
“What’ll it be fellers? Mustard? Or Ketchup?”
Jeff and I dressed up as Mckenna and her favorite right hand woman, Uniqua. We kept it a suprise from the children, and when we walked in to show Mckenna, she surprised us and said, “What are you two doing?!” Not in her normal vocabulary and SUCH a funny response. She loved it.
Like I said, babies babies EVERYWHERE. What fun to experience. This was their first outing to our house. Noah, Henry, and Hayden.
Jon and Robyn with their boys. Parents of three month old triplets get a pass on the costume rule.
Brett and Billie as miner #21 and mistress.
Shane and Rachel as kitty and nerd. I don’t really think he dressed up all that much actually. Can you really dress UP like something you already ARE?! (sibling rivalry always lives on) (The stapler was the perfect touch.)
Gray and Loch in the most AMAAZING handmade costumes. Max was made by grandma, but Billie knitted the monster sweater AND HAT.
After dinner we headed out into the hood with our gang and the kids raked in pounds and pounds of candy. Drew took off for his first Halloween trick or treat with friends. (WHAT?) And Nate had two friends of his own to join in the fun. We rambled slowly, laughing at the antics and excitement of all of them. Gray and his swinging tail, running after Anna. Mckenna loudly reporting to us after every house with what candy she had been given. Anna racing ahead of the pack with more energy than I have ever seen her have. Nathan and his friends cool and collected, little professors, who we eavesdropped on and enjoyed. Towards the end Jeff and I sat down on a curb as Shane and Rachel kept an eye on the girls – well, I actually laid down on my back on the cement I was so wiped out and my back had started hurting earlier in the day. Picture me laying on the cold cement as Billie says to the trick or treaters walking around/behind me, “Pay no attention to the tired old parents!”
We loved every minute of this day – it was the perfect mix of friends and food and fun, and I can’t wait for next year.
After cleaning up this morning, this was the only proof of it left.
xo
Tara
by Tara Whitney
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