BOO!

 My Bee and Pirate trick or treaters!

This Halloween seemed crazier than ever.  All the activities and events, that my five year old was involved in, took place within three days and seemed to be enough sugar load for one year.  HA!

There was much fun to be had so honestly you can't have too much of that.  This year I assisted in the classroom Halloween party and parade. 

The children participated in the school costume parade.  It was adorable as the kids marched around the school grounds and up into the neighborhood.  The kids were super excited and happy to parade around and see all the different costumes.

Aye, Matey!

Four mothers assisted in the party planning. We came up with some great ideas.  We had 4 stations for the kiddos to visit within the classroom.  

Station 1: Snack station:  They could decorate a petite cupcake with icing or gummy worms. 

Mmm Cupcakes!

We also had a pudding option where the children could create their own graveyard.  We used a recipe similar to this one on Bon Apetite. But replaced the homemade pudding with store bought pudding cups as our school doesn't allow us to bring in baked goods from home.

Station 2: Halloween bingo. One mom, brought in the game and witches hat.  She had a blast playing along the kids.  Each child received a small Halloween trinket for participating.  

Bingo!

Station 3: Build your own pumpkin face.  I cut out pumpkin shapes from orange construction paper.  The children had goggly eyes, black triangles, crayons, stickers, and pipe cleaners to make their creations.

Station 4:  Coloring station.  We printed out Halloween images from this website.  At this station, the children were self guided and could spend some time on their own.

Our neighborhood parade has been a yearly event that we all look forward to.  Its a blast, where all the kiddos in our hood gather at the neighborhood park to showcase their costumes.  After a walk around the park, kids venture out to look for candy in a scavenger hunt. 

 Waiting in line to walk around the park

Now we have loads of candy that is sitting around our house, tempting us as well as turning my boy into a sugar monster!  Planning to donate! 

My little buddy

Well, well, well. This work thing is getting in the way of posting all sorts of interesting things that come flooding in and out of my brain. There is so much that I would like to record here. Journaling is so cathartic as well as providing a window in the past. Although creating a cyber journal slightly scares me as what if all those important blog posts, special emails could one day completely abolish, disappear, poof into thin air....yes, I know, back up your files (which i do every year, but should probably do every week). That is why I love letter writing, aka snail mail. Need to make a note to mental self to do that more often.
Any who, I am getting into a rhythm here in DC and loving it! The rhythm is slightly fast paced, but includes important facets of life: family, friends and work. I am managing to spend good quality time with family, which includes not only my husband and child but my mom dad, brother, his fiance, aunts and an uncle. My time with my son is as involved as I can be. As I am apart from him a lot of the day, I find those special moments where I can look into his eyes and be present with him, play silly games with him and tell him how much i love him. Friends, yes, I've been making it a point to go out with my girlfriends and am so enjoying that facet of my life too. Girls night out over really good food and wine! Work is exciting intense and busy. But I love that I am using my brain, making a mark and creating something.
I wanted to post a few little pics of hen as he is growing growing growing and speaking so much Spanish that I really am needing to get Rossetta Stone! Yikes help!

"FireLion"
(notice the lion costume is a bit on the small side too, was from his FIRST Halloween)
was this events costume pick!
Halloween party at our neighborhood park
and the rescue truck visited too!

Curious as to what this little one was for Halloween?

Hay fest at Butlers Orchard!

The boys

Digging in the backyard!