More Trunks, More Treats

The Halloween party continued last night when we attended our old ward's Trunk or Treat. It was so fun!

Phoebe and her friend Isaac decided to be Thing 1 and Thing 2, so I borrowed Phoebe's Elphaba costume for the evening. I couldn't commit to being fully green, but I did find some green eye shadow and liner.

I used iron-on transfers on inexpensive Walmart shirts to create their look. I also melted off part of Phoebe's logo and used a black Sharpie to color it in. The wigs used to be shoulder length, but I chopped them up to be a little more like the Things in The Cat in the Hat. And I made Phoebe's tutu yesterday afternoon. I ran out of time to finish it properly, so it was a little sparse.

We sampled various chilis and soups, then the kids played games while most of the parents decorated their trunks.

Our car is always a big hit, thanks to Bryan. There were a lot of kids there and almost everyone went around multiple times. We ran out of candy near the end.

Everyone stayed in their costumes a few extra minutes so we could take a picture. Bryan opted to be the man behind the camera.

I feel like we've had more Halloween activities this year than ever before, and we still have a few to go.

Off to Hogwarts

The activity planning group that Sophie belongs to at the library hosted a Harry Potter themed party last night. They took a quiz to be sorted into houses, played Harry Potter Bingo, chose wands, cast a spell, and enjoyed butterbeer. It was a fun evening! Sophie was a lovely Luna Lovegood and Topher was a dashing Harry Potter.

Thrills and Chills

Phoebe's fall show was this weekend! It was called The House of Thrills and Chills and she had the leading role. She was fantastic! One of her Young Women leaders who came to see the show said it best when she described the other kids as acting while Phoebe WAS her character. She's very natural onstage.

Our family saw her on opening night. The kids were very impressed with the set. It's meant to look like an old, dilapidated house.

Bryan took this during the curtain call.

Some of us, plus Phoebe's friend Isaac, saw it again on Saturday afternoon.

We forgot to bring her flowers on Friday night. On Saturday, while I was at the play with Cooper and Sophie, Bryan and Topher picked up a bouquet for Phoebe and delivered it when the show was over.

And don't worry, that bruise is part of the magic of theatre.

Wonderful job, Phoebe! Now here's hoping she can catch up on some sleep.

When the Parade Passes By*

Sophie's Halloween parade was on Friday morning. It was a brisk day, which is perhaps why the kids took the parade route at a good clip. Sophie's Galinda costume is perfect for her; all those pink ruffles really suit her. I love it because I could easily spot her walking down the sidewalk during the parade.

Topher's costume parade was that afternoon. It had warmed up some so the kids were a little more leisurely in their gait. Bryan was able to get away from work long enough to attend this parade. He gets photo credit for these two pictures. Topher was thrilled to see both of us.

*Name the musical reference

Mile Upon Mile

On Wednesday's drive home from Bryan's work party our van reached an important milestone. I reached my camera over and took a blurry picture to mark the 100,000 mile occasion.

Boo Bash 2024

A Long, Long Time Ago

Bryan's dad rediscovered this gem that Bryan edited together eighteen years ago. One thing that's interesting to me about this video is that Peter still has some of these mannerisms. And he still gets silly and goofy when he's tired. Somehow this simultaneously feels likes it was many years old and like it just happened.

Time is weird.

Peter is funny and entertaining, then and now.

And Bryan is still clever.

Do As I'm Doing

We had a dinnertime visit from Uncle Jordan, Aunt Leah, and the cousins tonight! They were on their way home from a trip and stopped to eat with us and to chat for a bit. I was so busy talking that I didn't take any pictures. Thankfully, Sophie borrowed my phone and took these of Zariah and Maverick. Legend was there too, but he was busy playing with Topher and didn't join in the picture taking.

Thanks for being such a fun cousin, Sophie. And thanks for visiting, Jordan and Leah!

Show 'Em How It's Done

After a few cold weeks, today is gloriously warm, a perfect 75 degrees. Topher and Sophie have been playing in the backyard essentially since getting home from school. Cooper, who had been doing homework, just went outside to play football with them. As Cooper was heading outside I heard Topher's voice drift in saying, "Watch and learn, Cooper!"

I guess Cooper's about to get schooled.

Candy Gathering

Tonight we went to our ward's Trunk or Treat. Topher dressed as Link from Legend of Zelda.

Sophie was Galinda from Wicked.

Phoebe was Elphaba (I forgot the green face paint on the kitchen table at home), also from Wicked.

Cooper was a cowboy.

And I dusted off my Professor McGonagall costume. I went without makeup and perched my glasses down on my nose to make myself look older.

Bryan got to decorate the van and hand out candy, as usual.

For the first time in many years, we didn't refuse the peanut candy. That still feels weird.

I thought (very briefly) about making all the costumes, but decided this was a good year to buy our costumes. Considering I found Sophie's and Phoebe's costumes this morning, I think that was a good choice.

This was the first of many candy-gathering activities we have planned for the next two weeks. We'll have waaaaaaay too much candy by the time October ends.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

A benefit of driving kids all the way to school in the morning is getting to see the sunrise. Photo credit goes to Sophie who asked for my phone while I drove.