Halloween with the PJ Masks

 I started asking Barrett last month what he wanted to be for Halloween.  I got several different answers but when I started to get Gecko (from PJ Masks) more often than not I went ahead and bought the costume.  I couldn't decide what AveryAnn should be.  My first idea was a donut.  But when Jessica said Jackson was going to be Catboy, I knew AveryAnn had to be Owlette to complete the group.  She was the cutest thing ever.  They boys loved that she dressed up with them.  She wouldn't wear the mask though.

I managed to get a couple pictures of them with my real camera!

She was not sure about the whole event. 

He was so excited!  He's been counting down the days until he could wear his costume.

This is the best one I got of all three kids.  They were so cute.

This girl marched all over the street and carried that bucket like it was her job.  It's so funny to me because last year was the first year Barrett really liked trick-or-treating.  The other years he just cried until we took him back home.  He just wasn't a fan.  But AveryAnn loved it.  She walked up to the door, said trick-0r-treat and stuck that bucket out for everyone to load it up.  She was so cute!

After we trick or treated we went back to the house and roasted marshmallows for smores.  I'm going to be honest.  I'd never done this before.  Every time I've had smores I've made them in the oven.  And that's how I will continue to make them.  It's not worth the effort it takes.  But we had fun!

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This Halloween was more low key than in years past.  I love the hustle and bustle of a house full of people but there was something so sweet about the simplicity of this years festivities.  It was just Jessica and Jackson and my parents that came.  I made a big pot of chili and some grilled cheese sandwiches.  And the kids ran up and down the streets until their little legs could barely make it up the stairs at each house.  It was the days I'd always imagined when I thought about my life with a family.  I know that all to soon these kids will be grown and it'll be Patrick and I hanging out at home while they go out with friends and I want to soak in every second of having small kids.  It's hard and exhausting but it's also magical. 

Halloween 2016

AveryAnn's first Halloween is in the books.  It was my favorite one yet.

AveryAnn was Snow White.  I'd bought this little outfit for her to wear in Disney World and she never did so it became her Halloween costume.  I wanted her to be Belle and Barrett to be the Beast but he wanted no part of it.

He had his heart set on Chase from Paw Patrol.  He was the cutest Chase ever.  His costume arrived Friday and he wanted to wear it every minute until Monday night.  It has a tail and he thought it was so funny to make his tail wag.

She thinks he's pretty great.

I can't get enough of these two.  They are just the sweetest.

When Barrett decided to be Chase, Patrick decided to be Ryder.  Barrett was so proud, it was so cute.

Early Monday morning Barrett woke up sick, so he had to miss school on Monday. We were so upset that he didn't get to enjoy the festivities.  We stayed home from work so if it was a bug we wouldn't expose anyone else.  We had invited some friends to trick or treat that night and they decided to come anyway.  I'm glad they did because we had so much fun.  We didn't fool with the hayride this year but the kids hit more houses than they ever have.  Barrett ran right up to every house and said "trick or treat" so proudly.  I couldn't believe the difference from last year. (Last year he refused to go to a single house).  I think 4 is going to be a fun age with him.  He's finally not so scared of everything.  I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year!

Horton House Halloween 2014

Halloween is moving up in my list of favorite holidays.  Barrett put on his ghost shirt and we headed to the office. After work I had to run to the store to get some last minute things for our get together. I had to dig past the CHRISTMAS candy and Christmas tree cakes to find some Halloween candy. Then I stopped by my favorite local place and got some mums.  I was so proud of myself because I talked the guy down on a big pot because it was damaged on the back.  Then I walked off and left it.  
This year we added the hayride so we could all ride and hit more houses together.  We were kind nervous how it would work.  It was perfect.  We may have to upgrade to a bigger trailer next year.
This picture just makes my heart nearly explode.

This is exactly how I visioned these years.  Making fun memories with friends.

It was so cold.  I, for one, loved it because we got to bundle up.  We piled all the blankets on the hayride and headed out.  Patrick was so excited!

This was right before we headed out.

The best we could get of Prince Charming and Cinderella. 

Sweet pirate Jackson snuck in!

Cinderella decided she'd rather have the ninja turtle.

She was so excited with the "glass slipper".  It was a near perfect fit!

We died when Jackson and Barrett got my phone and looked like they're trying to take selfies.

Joseph is a children's minister and he some how convinced all the kiddos to pick up the toys and then lay down and watch a movie.  (Barrett bailed pretty quickly)  These four laid there for a lot longer than we thought they would.
We had such a fun night.  I'm just really loving this stage of life.  I know i've said it a million times but my goal in life has always been to have a family and enjoy life together. Now that I'm getting to do it, it's even better than I'd imagined.  I think it'll get more fun as the kids get older and we add more to the group.  Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Party & The Pumpkin Patch

We've been busy this week.

Wednesday, Barrett had a "Pumpkin Party" at school.  I was so excited to get to go and see him with all his friends.  I barely got his costume finished in time.  

My sweet Prince Charming.  I had the hardest time decided what he was going to be for Halloween this year.  One afternoon we were playing with the Keeley boys and Barrett wanted something Amy had.  He went up to her and gave her the most precious face trying to get her to give in and she was like, "he should be Prince Charming for Halloween, that is a very charming face he's giving me." Then I was telling Lorie and she told me that Elise was going to be Cinderella.  That sealed the deal.

I started looking for a costume and the only one I could find that I liked was around $100.  I wasn't about to pay that for a costume he was going to wear twice.  So I headed to pinterest and found a picture of one I liked. They had sewn the entire thing.  I started with a white sweatshirt and hot glued all the stuff on it.  I spent about $35 and 2 afternoons.  I love how it turned out.  I've had to re-glue a few things but overall it's held up better than I thought it would.

The minute I walked into his classroom he started crying.  His teachers looked shocked.  The said he never, ever cries.  I just laughed.  He whines all the time for me.  Turns out he was hungry.  Once we got him some food he was fine.  

I loved watching him play. 

My sweet boy and me.  This was my first party as a mom.  It was kind of surreal to be there, with my son. I can remember my mom always coming to our school parties.  I'm so thankful I get to do all these things.  It is such a blessing to me that I get to work and enjoy all these fun things with my boy! 

With our sweet friends Anna & Drake.  Barrett and Drake play so well together and Anna is that mom I can talk to when I'm afraid other moms will think I'm crazy.  Our brains just work the same way, I think.  She's the person that I know won't judge me when I have a weird question or comment about something.  She loves pop culture/ celebrity gossip as much as I do (maybe even more).  I feel like she just gets me as a mom and even just as a person.  It's funny how there are people that have been in your life all along but then all of a sudden you get why.  I feel like 15+ years ago when Anna and my sister became friends God knew that our babies would be close in age and that we'd be friends.  {Woah, didn't mean for that to get all sentimental.  It just happens sometimes.  I think I always get this way around the holidays.} Steven was so afraid Barrett wasn't going to have a pumpkin for Halloween he went a got a few.  Barrett chose this one.  He was pretty excited! Thursday afternoon we finally made it to the Pumpkin Patch. We were going to go to the same one we went to last year but I was checking the website before we left and it said they closed at 4:00 it was already 4:00 so we decided to go to one a little further in Cullman.  Well everyone said it was "a little further", I didn't think we were ever going to get there.  but we did.  We only had an hour and I was sad we didn't get to do a lot of the stuff.  We will definitely go back. Riding out to pick a pumpkin. I love this picture even though Barrett refused to look at the camera.

Sweet boy.  He's grown so much since last year.

Daddy helping him find a pumpkin.

 

Love him.

Our little family.

He loved looking at the animals.

Love this one of my boys and the barn.  We really liked 4d Farms.  We wished we'd had more time.  

2013                  2014