Happy Halloween!!

What a difference a year makes...

but then again not really.....

we still can't get a good Halloween picture in to save our lives!

Happy Halloween!!! :)

Trick or Treating Galore

I am sitting here writing this with a big glass of wine in my hand and chocolate in the other.  Why you might ask? Well first of all my husband is deployed and that basically gives me the right to do whatever I want, right? And secondly we have gone trick or treating so dang much in the last week that I am ready to hang the towel or the pumpkin, whichever. Thank goodness tomorrow is the finale. My genius self saw all of these fun Halloween activities different evenings and thought hey, let's get out of the house and go do these free things! Well, they're exhausting trying to keep 2 mobile (and fast children) within arms reach and we are swimming in candy right now, it's nuts. Here are some pictures from our past couple times trick or treating just to show you I'm not making this up!

Last week we went trick or treating at the local high school. Layla couldn't be bothered to walk and hold her pumpkin so she put it on her tray and made people walk to her to give her candy. Diva.

Brady knew what to do and all was fine and dandy until he saw a guy in a gorilla suit and went ape himself.  We were surrounded by a bunch of toddlers and my 3 and a half  year old screams at the top of his lungs, "NOOO!! I WANNA GO HOME!!!". The poor kid had to take of his mask to calm Brady down. It's always fun making a scene.

Post-gorilla happiness.

"Hey ladies, it's a good thing I'm so strong. I can carry my pumpkin and yours too. And I can beat off the gorillas if you need it, I'm not scared at all."

Then we had the genius idea of getting Brady's hair spray painted. He decided on red. And told the lady to "paint it, paint it all." Yay.

Yeah I don't think he'd make a good ginger.

After 5 washes his scalp is still this lovely red color. A friend thought he burnt his scalp. Oh no, just some fun, fun hair spray paint.

Miss Tinkerbell crab-ass pants was there too. She enjoyed eating a cookie and scowling at everyone.

Oh and let's not forget trick or treating at the zoo.

Where Brady was terrified of the characters and Layla was not.

Last night we went to Offutt Air Force Base's Kid's Halloween Party. I actually got Layla to keep a bow in her hair so I had to document it. Big day.

We decorated cookies with the Cookie Monster, who else?

Mimicked some Minnie and Mickey blow-up things

And just stared at them for a good 10 minutes

Brady made a lollipop ghost while Layla tried her best to get herself lost

And then we sat down to eat some dinner and a cookie of course. (I swear Layla eats more than just cookies. And I swear I must take a picture of her every time she's eating a cookie?).

And then I told her no more cookies.

So she just took selfies of herself instead. Better than screaming I guess.

And to finish the night they dove into a pit full of balls. They got yelled at by a lady because she thought they were stealing candy eyeballs out of the pit. I told her, "Yeah they're 3 and 1 and they just like big balls, not eyeballs." Psh, I told her.

And that brings us to today where we went trick or treating at Daddy's squadron. I was a little nervous because Daddy wasn't there. As a key spouse I'm trying to be at most squadron activities and luckily my kids did great.

They seriously had boxes and boxes of candy for the kids (a lot donated to the squadron from Walgreens) and we have two huge buckets full of candy from it, yay!

On a mission. A candy mission.

"Hi, what's your name? I like your costume..

Oh I see you have some candy there, yeah let's not saying anything but feel free to hand your bucket over.

What, mom??

All the kids running off their sugar rush.

So yeah, you can probably see why I'm ready for this whole trick or treating thing to be over. It's exhausting for me but it's so worth it to see them having fun and enjoying the holiday of Halloween. For an entire week. And if anyone needs some candy, we've got some! :)

Weekend Recap: Grandparents are wonderful things, round 2!

We were so lucky to have Brian's parents here this weekend! When I would tell people that my in laws were coming in this weekend a lot would say.."Oh no, you have to spend a weekend with your in laws?"  But it's not like that, not at all. I adore my in-laws and am so thankful for the relationship I have with them. I am so thankful that they are not in the least bit crazy, mean, or horrible like so many in-laws that I've heard of.  And a huge bonus is that they're great with the kids and the kids absolutely love having them around. The kids were still a little sick this weekend as was I, but we did a lot, had a lot of fun, and can't wait for them to visit again! Here are pictures from our weekend...brace yourselves, there are a ton of pictures.  If you want the quick version, we went to the zoo and the pumpkin patch and had lots of fall fun!

Just a little Saturday morning snuggle

And some picnic time

And some weightlifting with Papa. Can you see the pure joy on Brady's face?

Think they miss having a guy around??

Then it was Nana's turn for some weightlifting!

We just hung around the house and played Saturday morning. watched the Minnesota Gophers beat the Nebraska Huskers (big deal!) and then Saturday night we got in our costumes and headed to the Omaha zoo for Spooktacular!

Buzz Buzz trying out his new wings!

And my sweet little girl in her poodle skirt (just a tad warmer costume than her Tinkerbell one!)

Ready to go trick or treating!

I wore a witch's hat. I'm pretty creative, I know.

Buzz Buzz and my 50's girl just hanging out with the fishies. And just for future reference, those wings have a pretty wide wingspan and can and will knock small children out in a tight trick or treating space.

Layla goes crazy for the penuins every. single. time. So cute!

Brady terrified of the large characters and Layla just trying to get in the picture.

Papa in the spooooky cave with all of the nighttime animals!

Both kids not too sure!

But then we found the area where there was a DJ and of course Brady had to bust a move. This time with no wings. We didn't want him to get arrested.

Papa and Layla joined in too.

And then this cowgirl on stilts rubbed up on Papa. It was his highlight of the night. ;)

After that we went in the jungle building where they had free flying bats. Joy. I put my hat on and scrunched down the whole time. I am terrified of bats. Bats and opossums, my 2 least favorite animals of all time. Which we saw both of during our visit.

Yay for Spooktacular! So much fun!

Clearly Layla is done for.

The next morning we put on our pumpkin shirts and this time Layla joined in on the snuggle session.

Had to get a little dancing in before the pumpkin patch.

We went to the nearby pumpkin patch, the Bellevue Berry Farm and Pumpkin Ranch. It's literally like 2 miles from our house. And all Brady wanted to do was go on this bounce house.

Finally we distracted him and went on a train ride.

And played on a little see-saw. 

And then went on a hayride

Which he had fun on

"Papa, I said no touching my hair. I saw you dancing with that lady on stilts last night and I just don't know where your hands have been."

We went into the pumpkin patch and Layla kept screaming, "PUNKIES!!!" (That's Layla for pumpkins.)

She was determined to pick this one up.

We found the corn maze where Brady was our fearless leader and I flex my arm while taking his picture.

Uhh wrong way maybe?

While we were lost we found this giant slide

Everyone had a blast on, even me! We were also filthy after it.

Whew we made it out!

Fun time at the pumpkin ranch!

:)

This was us last year, what a difference a year makes!

This pumpkin was a little more Layla sized

Brady is terrified of most things that are scary Halloween like (good description, right?) but Layla loves it. It makes her giggle. 

We got home and instantly we started carving our pumpkins. 

It was Layla's first time and she LOVED it!

Having fun getting the yuckies out.

Oh and when I said we I should have said everyone but me. They looked like they were having so much fun, I didn't want to get in the way.

They are saints, both of them.

The finished product!

Brady, pumpkin man.

Enjoying the beautiful fall day

Layla was passed out but I got a picture in with my little man

Thanks for coming to visit, Nana and Papa, we had a blast! :)