Kellen: "Mom, for Halloween, I need you to get me a belt and a sword."
Kristie: "Um, ok. What are you going to be?"
Kellen: "A dude with a belt and a sword!"
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Book Fairy Bust
After my journal vent last year about how churches and their Fall Festivals were putting a big ole’ cramp in our neighborhood Halloween activities, I decided to take the bull by the horns (or the ninja by the sword, if you took a good look at the costumes last night) and declare my very own Fall Festival right here in my neighborhood. “Festival” is probably too generous of a term, but I did invite about ten of our neighbors over for a pre-Trick-or-Treat get together, which wound up being a lot of fun and a nice chance for us to be together with all our neighbors for what is probably the last time (sniff, sniff).
We had chili with all the fixings (thanks, Jeanette!) and hot dogs and chips for the kids; everyone brought salads or sides or desserts to share. I hit a clearance sale at Big Lots which means I was able to get Halloween tablecloths and decorations, and party favors (forgotten) and glow sticks (also forgotten and half of which were defective once we remembered them) for the kids. And the KidzBop Halloween CD playing in the background, which was really fun, until it started skipping on the Time Warp and none of us noticed for at least half an hour.
After the eating, and the chatting, and the swatting of the flies (hello? Was it not the last night in October and why are there still FLIES here???) the kids all ganged up and went trick or treating around the neighborhood, parents trudging along in their wake. Blaine and I always split up on Halloween; one of us goes with the kids and one of us stays home to pass out candy. I convinced Blaine that holding down that chair in the driveway and passing out candy was hard, hard work, and sat there all night and BS’d with my neighbor, who passed out candy with me. Whew, I was exhausted.
All in all, a successful night.
Then, right before bed, after the Gluttony of the "Halloween Night, I Don't Care, Eat Candy Until You Puke" Free For All, as it is every year, it was time to put the rest of the Halloween candy back in the buckets and leave it on the front porch so the Book Fairy could come and make her trade. Now, the Book Fairy was very organized this year, making plans ahead of time. No running out at the last minute to get ready. She knows that the boy child in this house loves Magic Tree House books, so she double-checked to see at which number his personal collection stopped, and the next two in line were the ones shebought from Books-A-Million brought in her magic fairy bag. The youngest child in this house loves Ramona Quimby, so the Book Fairy brought some Henry Huggins books, also by Beverly Cleary, thinking those would be just as good. Since the oldest child in this house enjoys Judy Blume, she brought a couple of those as well.
Wouldn’t you know, when the kids put out their bags of candy last night they quickly wrote letters to the Book Fairy telling her exactly which books they wanted in exchange. NONE of which werehidden under my bed in her magical fairy bag. I mean, do any of you let your kids wait until Christmas Eve to write to Santa? No! You get those lists in early December so you have some idea of what you kids are hoping to get --- hedging your bets, if you will. Last night, the Book Fairy was so screwed.
Most years, the next morning, the books on the front porch are met with smiles and happiness and an enthusiastic “Yes!”’ from each child. This year? Not so much.
Kellen took one look at his books and said, “I’ve already read these.” I said, “What do you mean you’ve already read them? They’re not in your book shelf. Uhhhhh, I mean …… are they in your book shelf? Maybe the Book Fairy didn’t realize you had already read them. When did you read them, anyhow?” to which he grumpily replied, “We have a library at school, Mom.” in his most patronizing tone. Little brat.
Kendrie was completely under-whelmed by hers as well, and Brayden’s only comment was, “Well, I’m excited to read these, but they are below my AR level at school. That’s why I’ve never bothered to read them before.” Leading me to the harsh conclusion that Book Fairy struck out not once, not twice, but THREE times this year.
I promised the kids I would take them to Books-A-Million to pick out some new books. I don’t want them to feel like they traded in all their Halloween candy for a bum deal. I still believe in the power of reading. I still believe in the power of the Book Fairy --- it’s a fantastic idea, and I want to continue the tradition for as long as my kids trick or treat. Thank you, Lisa B, for sharing it with me so many years ago!
But I can tell you that next year, that damn fairy is giving out Books-A-Million gift cards and calling it a day.
We had chili with all the fixings (thanks, Jeanette!) and hot dogs and chips for the kids; everyone brought salads or sides or desserts to share. I hit a clearance sale at Big Lots which means I was able to get Halloween tablecloths and decorations, and party favors (forgotten) and glow sticks (also forgotten and half of which were defective once we remembered them) for the kids. And the KidzBop Halloween CD playing in the background, which was really fun, until it started skipping on the Time Warp and none of us noticed for at least half an hour.
After the eating, and the chatting, and the swatting of the flies (hello? Was it not the last night in October and why are there still FLIES here???) the kids all ganged up and went trick or treating around the neighborhood, parents trudging along in their wake. Blaine and I always split up on Halloween; one of us goes with the kids and one of us stays home to pass out candy. I convinced Blaine that holding down that chair in the driveway and passing out candy was hard, hard work, and sat there all night and BS’d with my neighbor, who passed out candy with me. Whew, I was exhausted.
All in all, a successful night.
Then, right before bed, after the Gluttony of the "Halloween Night, I Don't Care, Eat Candy Until You Puke" Free For All, as it is every year, it was time to put the rest of the Halloween candy back in the buckets and leave it on the front porch so the Book Fairy could come and make her trade. Now, the Book Fairy was very organized this year, making plans ahead of time. No running out at the last minute to get ready. She knows that the boy child in this house loves Magic Tree House books, so she double-checked to see at which number his personal collection stopped, and the next two in line were the ones she
Wouldn’t you know, when the kids put out their bags of candy last night they quickly wrote letters to the Book Fairy telling her exactly which books they wanted in exchange. NONE of which were
Most years, the next morning, the books on the front porch are met with smiles and happiness and an enthusiastic “Yes!”’ from each child. This year? Not so much.
Kellen took one look at his books and said, “I’ve already read these.” I said, “What do you mean you’ve already read them? They’re not in your book shelf. Uhhhhh, I mean …… are they in your book shelf? Maybe the Book Fairy didn’t realize you had already read them. When did you read them, anyhow?” to which he grumpily replied, “We have a library at school, Mom.” in his most patronizing tone. Little brat.
Kendrie was completely under-whelmed by hers as well, and Brayden’s only comment was, “Well, I’m excited to read these, but they are below my AR level at school. That’s why I’ve never bothered to read them before.” Leading me to the harsh conclusion that Book Fairy struck out not once, not twice, but THREE times this year.
I promised the kids I would take them to Books-A-Million to pick out some new books. I don’t want them to feel like they traded in all their Halloween candy for a bum deal. I still believe in the power of reading. I still believe in the power of the Book Fairy --- it’s a fantastic idea, and I want to continue the tradition for as long as my kids trick or treat. Thank you, Lisa B, for sharing it with me so many years ago!
But I can tell you that next year, that damn fairy is giving out Books-A-Million gift cards and calling it a day.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU (or with me, since I’m the one raising these kids, I’m probably the one who needs it the most)
45 Days to Go
I have a confession to make. I am probably the only person on the planet … or at least the only person on the planet not living in a cave or under a big rock, who has never seen any of the Star Wars movies. (Nor, might I add, do I have any desire to.) Oh, sure, I understand it’s some sort of phenomenon …. I had male friends in Jr. High who watched the first one (or is it the FOURTH one? I’m so confused) two hundred times in the theatre, but it just never did anything for me.
I realize that to die-hard Star Wars fans, that statement is nothing short of un-American. (Much like Blaine tries to tell me it is un-American that I don’t like Mexican food … but that is cultural argument for another day.) I don’t know the difference between Princess Leia and Princess Padme. I thought Obi-Wan Kenobi played power forward for the Celtics. I don’t know the difference between Luke Skywalker and Annikan Skywalker, although I have a sneaking suspicion they are somehow related (come on, with a name like “Skywalker”???)
I’m not sure whatever happened to Han Solo … who I used to call Han Sulu, until Blaine explained that was another character on another show altogether. I’m also very perplexed by the Luke/Annikan/Darth Vader connection ---- somebody is somebody’s father, or maybe his brother … or maybe it’s like in The Terminator, when Linda Hamilton’s son comes back from the future to save her from Arnold before she even gives birth to him ??? Or something like that? Do you see why I’m confused?
Anyway, you can imagine my delight when I discovered my children did NOT want to be superheroes for the third year in a row this Halloween, only to find out they all wanted to be Star Wars characters. Thank goodness **they** knew which ones, because if it was up to me, they would all have been cute little Ewoks or Yodas or something. But they had definite opinions and put their costumes together with pride and excitement. (Ok, I confess, they pointed to the ones online that I needed to order. No homemade costumes or originality here.)
In case you can’t tell (because Lord knows I can’t) Brayden is Padme, Kendrie is Annikan Skywalker (NOT Luke, she was quite adamant, and she was also adamant that I NOT order the attached fake braid for her to wear) and Kellen is Darth Vader. OK, even **I** know that one. So here they are, in all their Star Wars glory, although I think Brayden has herself confused with one of the Charlie’s Angels.
No costume would be complete without light sabers and a duel.
Making it even more fun were our friends Kody (also a Skywalker) and Ryan (Yoda, who someone mistook for Shrek??? What was *that* about?) and their parents, Princess Leia and a grown-up Vader, who are obviously WAY more fun than plain-clothes Blaine and me. I was unable to get in the photo because I was too busy smuggling Kit-Kats out of the kids’ bags.
But here you have it, the 2005 Halloween adventure. Hope yours was wonderful, as well.
I have a confession to make. I am probably the only person on the planet … or at least the only person on the planet not living in a cave or under a big rock, who has never seen any of the Star Wars movies. (Nor, might I add, do I have any desire to.) Oh, sure, I understand it’s some sort of phenomenon …. I had male friends in Jr. High who watched the first one (or is it the FOURTH one? I’m so confused) two hundred times in the theatre, but it just never did anything for me.
I realize that to die-hard Star Wars fans, that statement is nothing short of un-American. (Much like Blaine tries to tell me it is un-American that I don’t like Mexican food … but that is cultural argument for another day.) I don’t know the difference between Princess Leia and Princess Padme. I thought Obi-Wan Kenobi played power forward for the Celtics. I don’t know the difference between Luke Skywalker and Annikan Skywalker, although I have a sneaking suspicion they are somehow related (come on, with a name like “Skywalker”???)
I’m not sure whatever happened to Han Solo … who I used to call Han Sulu, until Blaine explained that was another character on another show altogether. I’m also very perplexed by the Luke/Annikan/Darth Vader connection ---- somebody is somebody’s father, or maybe his brother … or maybe it’s like in The Terminator, when Linda Hamilton’s son comes back from the future to save her from Arnold before she even gives birth to him ??? Or something like that? Do you see why I’m confused?
Anyway, you can imagine my delight when I discovered my children did NOT want to be superheroes for the third year in a row this Halloween, only to find out they all wanted to be Star Wars characters. Thank goodness **they** knew which ones, because if it was up to me, they would all have been cute little Ewoks or Yodas or something. But they had definite opinions and put their costumes together with pride and excitement. (Ok, I confess, they pointed to the ones online that I needed to order. No homemade costumes or originality here.)
In case you can’t tell (because Lord knows I can’t) Brayden is Padme, Kendrie is Annikan Skywalker (NOT Luke, she was quite adamant, and she was also adamant that I NOT order the attached fake braid for her to wear) and Kellen is Darth Vader. OK, even **I** know that one. So here they are, in all their Star Wars glory, although I think Brayden has herself confused with one of the Charlie’s Angels.
No costume would be complete without light sabers and a duel.
Making it even more fun were our friends Kody (also a Skywalker) and Ryan (Yoda, who someone mistook for Shrek??? What was *that* about?) and their parents, Princess Leia and a grown-up Vader, who are obviously WAY more fun than plain-clothes Blaine and me. I was unable to get in the photo because I was too busy smuggling Kit-Kats out of the kids’ bags.
But here you have it, the 2005 Halloween adventure. Hope yours was wonderful, as well.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
A COMPLETE 180 IN 365 ......
Week #12 of LTM
Our three little goblins this Halloween: Brayden, a witch either practicing her come-hither pose, or needing a hip replacement ... Kendrie, the lone Muskateer ... I have no idea WHY people thought she was a boy, do you? And Kellen, who chose to be Zorro because he had the "best sword".
Photo taken 10-30-04
Well, we made it through the Halloween holiday here in Georgia, safe and sound and only a few sugar-induced arguments to show for it. Last night the kids were happy, enjoyable, and loving life. This morning, thanks to the rapid drop in blood sugar, the late night spent socializing with neighbors, and Daylight Savings Time …. My gosh, we’ve got three unpleasant campers on our hands. You’d almost think we had THREE kids on steroids, the way the mood swings and grumpy attitudes have come out in full force. Thank goodness it’s only one night a year, right?
I wanted to show you guys a picture from last year which should help explain why this year was so much more fun.
Last Halloween, Kendrie had been diagnosed only two weeks before and had just gotten out of the hospital. She hadn’t even started losing any hair yet, but all I have to do is look at her face in this picture to remember how confused and distrustful she had become. No smiling for photos, and no interest in anything that was going on around her. What a difference year makes!
Also wanted to share with all of you (who might not have heard of her) that the Book Fairy came to our house last night. Who is the Book Fairy, you ask? (Or, you didn’t ask because you don’t really care, but I’m going to tell you anyway.) She’s the chick who dates Santa Claus on the sly (sorry, Mrs. Claus) and shares an apartment with the Tooth Fairy. Every Halloween, when our kids come in from trick-or-treating, we let them eat candy to their heart’s content. You know the saying …. "Halloween is like a frat party; it’s not a success until somebody pukes." And when they are done eating enough candy to keep Mars Corporation in business, they can choose five pieces to keep for the next day. Then, all the candy and suckers and gum and everything that is left goes back in their buckets to be left on the porch for the Book Fairy. On Halloween night, she flies to everyone’s house and every child who has left their candy for her to eat receives books in their pumpkin!! (I KNOW! Can you believe my kids fell for it again this year????) So Brayden is now the proud owner of a set of Amelia Bedelia books, Kellen is learning about the wonderful friendship of Frog and Toad, and Kendrie received a Brand-New Reader set of Monkey Books. It’s actually a terrific idea that I got from a friend a few years back, as long as your kids believe (or prefer books to candy). Plus, it makes it harder for me to dip into the buckets and snack myself into oblivion, since I make Blaine take the evidence to work with him. I guess the kids still believe ….. first thing they did this morning (at 6am …. Darn daylight savings time!) was run to the porch to see if she came. I know they’re getting smarter, though, because Kendrie’s comment was, “Mom, if the Book Fairy ate all that candy, it must be hard for her to fly!”
Hope your Halloween was wonderful!!!
Kristie
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KENDRIE’S PERSPECTIVE:
WORST THING ABOUT HAVING CANCER TODAY:
Well, probably just that on the weekends I have to take my icky Bactrim medicine. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Do you realize that I’ve had leukemia for a little over a year, about 55 weeks, and I take four doses of Bactrim a week. Now, we haven’t covered too much math in Pre-Kindergarten yet, so I can’t be sure ….. hmmm, times four …. Carry the one ….. drop the decimal …. I think that’s around 200 doses! In fact, it’s exactly 220 doses! (Mom said I could cheat with her calculator.) I take one teaspoon at a time, times 220 times (oh, geez, more math) Let’s see, that’s almost three cups of Bactrim, one squirt, squirt, squirt at a time! Y.U.C.K!!!
BEST THING ABOUT HAVING CANCER TODAY:
My mom told me when she went to fill the Bactrim prescription this week, Jerry (that’s our pharmacist. He and my mom are on a first-name basis because she has to go there so much for my medication) told her one suggestion was to let me melt a Hersheys Kiss on my tongue, then squirt in the icky-tasting medicine real quick while my tongue was still coated with chocolate. Hmmmm. I just have a few questions. First of all, where on earth am I going to find a coat to fit my tongue??? That’s just silly. I suppose he’ll want little mittens for my teeth, too? And secondly, why did Jerry wait a whole year to make this suggestion? I am my mother’s daughter, baby, bring on the chocolate!
Friday, October 29, 2004
COUNTDOWN TO SUGAR-NIRVANA -- ONLY TWO DAYS TO GO!!!
Week #11 of LTM
Well, here in the “rural” county where we live (only three minutes from the mall, but unable to get pizza delivery, go figure!) Saturday has been decreed as Trick Or Treat Night and all I can say is “Thank Goodness!” If I have to listen to my kids count down the hours, or plan their attack of the neighborhood, fantasize about the buckets of treats they hope to score, or argue about whether the miniature Snickers bars or Tootsie Roll Pops are the better of the candies …. needless to say, I just want Saturday night to get here already! (The fact that I pillage their stock after they go to bed doesn't have anything to do with it, do you think?)
We did have a fun activity this week and I thought I would share some photos with all of you. Our friends Laura, Rob, Lonnie, Melissa and Emily invited us to their annual Pumpkin Carving Party on Monday night. First we painted mini- pumpkins (well, first we **ate** because if you know the Escoe family at all, you know that is the most important part!) and then we used those cool pre-printed designs to carve the bigger pumpkins. I had never used a kit before, which would explain why my carved pumpkins from previous years always look a little lopsided and un-proportioned. Sort of like John Kerry’s head. (Not that I’m endorsing Bush in any way on this upcoming election next Tuesday ….ahem … )
So anyway, we all had a great time and really got into the act. Thanks to Laura, Rob and their kids for hosting and including us in such a fun annual event! We hope to be invited back next year and promise to do a better job cleaning up the back yard before we leave.
Blaine and Brayden have a little bonding experience on their pumpkin. Actually, Brayden is the only kid in our family who yanks out the insides of a pumpkin with glee. Kendrie was willing, but timid, and Kellen is such a girl, refusing to get his hands "icky".
I just love this picture of him .... he almost looks angelic, don't you think? Must be a trick of the lighting.
"What do you mean pumpkins aren't blue? I'm five ... I have a good imagination, and I want my pumpkin to be BLUE!"
All the kids show off the masterpieces at the end of the evening.
See? I told you the tongue disease runs in our family!
Actually, I'm probably lucky my own tongue wasn't hanging out for this photo!
I hope everyone has a fun Halloween (or Harvest Festival, or Fall Party, or Autumn Extravaganza, or whatever PC thing it is you choose to celebrate.) We’ll post pictures from trick-or-treating this weekend …. First of my kids looking cute in their costumes … then of my kids going door-to-door demanding candy in a most neighborly way … then of my kids sacked out on the sofa in a sugar coma, chocolate smeared on their faces, clutching that last roll of Smartees in their grubby little fists, I’m sure.
Thanks for checking in,
Kristie
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KENDRIE’S PERSPECTIVE:
WORST PART ABOUT HAVING CANCER TODAY:
Ugh. Tonight was a THURSDAY, which used to mean my mom would yell at us to be quiet while she watched Survivor. Now, since starting long-term maintenance, Thursdays are marked as the night I have to take seven pills before bed. Seven! I don’t care how much my dad crushes it up, that’s a lot of damn applesauce.
BEST PART ABOUT HAVING CANCER TODAY:
Today was Mix-N-Match Clothes Day at school. I know, I know, that doesn’t have anything to do with cancer, but you should have seen how funny some of my classmates looked! And tomorrow, my mom is bringing pumpkin cookies to school, woohoo!
Well, here in the “rural” county where we live (only three minutes from the mall, but unable to get pizza delivery, go figure!) Saturday has been decreed as Trick Or Treat Night and all I can say is “Thank Goodness!” If I have to listen to my kids count down the hours, or plan their attack of the neighborhood, fantasize about the buckets of treats they hope to score, or argue about whether the miniature Snickers bars or Tootsie Roll Pops are the better of the candies …. needless to say, I just want Saturday night to get here already! (The fact that I pillage their stock after they go to bed doesn't have anything to do with it, do you think?)
We did have a fun activity this week and I thought I would share some photos with all of you. Our friends Laura, Rob, Lonnie, Melissa and Emily invited us to their annual Pumpkin Carving Party on Monday night. First we painted mini- pumpkins (well, first we **ate** because if you know the Escoe family at all, you know that is the most important part!) and then we used those cool pre-printed designs to carve the bigger pumpkins. I had never used a kit before, which would explain why my carved pumpkins from previous years always look a little lopsided and un-proportioned. Sort of like John Kerry’s head. (Not that I’m endorsing Bush in any way on this upcoming election next Tuesday ….ahem … )
So anyway, we all had a great time and really got into the act. Thanks to Laura, Rob and their kids for hosting and including us in such a fun annual event! We hope to be invited back next year and promise to do a better job cleaning up the back yard before we leave.
Blaine and Brayden have a little bonding experience on their pumpkin. Actually, Brayden is the only kid in our family who yanks out the insides of a pumpkin with glee. Kendrie was willing, but timid, and Kellen is such a girl, refusing to get his hands "icky".
I just love this picture of him .... he almost looks angelic, don't you think? Must be a trick of the lighting.
"What do you mean pumpkins aren't blue? I'm five ... I have a good imagination, and I want my pumpkin to be BLUE!"
All the kids show off the masterpieces at the end of the evening.
See? I told you the tongue disease runs in our family!
Actually, I'm probably lucky my own tongue wasn't hanging out for this photo!
I hope everyone has a fun Halloween (or Harvest Festival, or Fall Party, or Autumn Extravaganza, or whatever PC thing it is you choose to celebrate.) We’ll post pictures from trick-or-treating this weekend …. First of my kids looking cute in their costumes … then of my kids going door-to-door demanding candy in a most neighborly way … then of my kids sacked out on the sofa in a sugar coma, chocolate smeared on their faces, clutching that last roll of Smartees in their grubby little fists, I’m sure.
Thanks for checking in,
Kristie
################################################
KENDRIE’S PERSPECTIVE:
WORST PART ABOUT HAVING CANCER TODAY:
Ugh. Tonight was a THURSDAY, which used to mean my mom would yell at us to be quiet while she watched Survivor. Now, since starting long-term maintenance, Thursdays are marked as the night I have to take seven pills before bed. Seven! I don’t care how much my dad crushes it up, that’s a lot of damn applesauce.
BEST PART ABOUT HAVING CANCER TODAY:
Today was Mix-N-Match Clothes Day at school. I know, I know, that doesn’t have anything to do with cancer, but you should have seen how funny some of my classmates looked! And tomorrow, my mom is bringing pumpkin cookies to school, woohoo!
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