Halloween Season - 2016

So I've been extremely busy with life and as a result am terrible at updating our blog.  I'm hoping to make some improvements over the next few months.

Here is a look at our Halloween Season... first up Del Osso Farms in Lathrop.  We were a little disappointed this year - they started charging general admission so it was $18/person just to walk through the door.  When we could get away with paying $20 or so for Drew to do a few things plus the pumpkin canons.

Well we made the best of an expensive situation...

Mom & Dad on the Hay Ride

Drew on Hay Ride

Drew on the Zip Line

Brave Kid

Dad at the Pumpkin Canons

Then on Halloween, I finally took the day off so I could watch his school parade and help in the classroom.  Normally I could sneak away during the workday just to catch a peek at the parade, but life has been busy and complicated, so the only way it was going to happen this year is if I took the entire day off.  It was worth every moment!

And they predicted rain by 7pm, so we tried to get our trick or treating in early!

Kylo Ren - Star Wars the Force Awakens

Thankfully it didn't rain - well a few sprinkles don't count.  We made our rounds with our trick or treat buddies - and the Moms were smart again and traveled with some treats of our own -- wine!  We called it quits when the kids could no longer carry their candy.

Ben 10 Halloween

In the spirit of playing catch-up on blogs, I'll be consolidating this post which is Halloween Eve (there wasn't any school on Halloween) and the big night.  Drew was Ben 10 for Halloween this year - an older cartoon that is on Cartoon Network during off hours.  Dave and Drew shopped for this costume the day after Halloween last year, and scored this one for a killer discount.  Problem was he was more into Ben 10 last year compared to this year... and even then not really.  Good news, the costume still fit, barely.  Drew's had a massive growth spurt over the past several months.

Here are some pictures from Drew's school Halloween Parade.

Drew's class making their first round (he's center - white shirt brown pants)

Ben 10 (aka Drew)

Pause in the Parade

Ben 10 Makes 2nd round

 And then the following night was Halloween.  Living where we do there is quite a few homes to hit for trick or treating, so I go prepared...

Dave stayed behind this year to scare the neighborhood kids- his favorite thing to do.  Julie and I took Drew and Christopher until they were ready to drop.

Drew & Darth Vader... I mean Chris

Trick or Treat!

Drew had to have Curious George for the weekend from School

Drew actually called it quits pretty yearly this year.  In years past, he's emptied his bag and gone out for a second round.  This year he was done after the first candy dump.  Worked for me - I could finish the wine sitting down.

Halloween for the Over 21 Crowd

More catching up... Halloween for grownups.  Dave and I celebrated another Halloween party at our friends Brian and Stephanie's (Drew's old daycare).  As always plenty of stories to share and remember, but not necessarily G rated for the blog. 

Here are the highlights - I was Hermione Granger from Harry Potter & Dave was the Punisher.

Punisher & Hermione - before the party

The full Costume

All the ladies (I'm bottom center)

The guys - Dave is back center

Steve & the Punisher

Hermione & the Punisher again

Costume of the night - the troll

Brian & Ms Kirsten (Drew's old Preschool teacher)

Jonelle & Travis - I mean Kool Aid Man & The "ew" girl from Jimmy Fallon

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013 started with the school parade, and this was our first at our new home school.  Here is Drew as the Kindergarten version of Obi Wan Kenobi...

They have all the kids parade around the blacktop.  The younger kids went first and made two circles.

A few of the older kids even played the Star Wars Emperial March!  The 5th grade version of it anyway.

Our Tiger mascot and the Principal, Mrs. Mallon.

Drew's teacher, Mrs. B.
I will have many post about her this year - we love her!

A view of the younger kids during the parade.  They made a huge square.

And then our little Jedi, Obi Wan Kenobi.

And here are the photos from our evening trick or treating...

The first house that gave him candy...

Daddy came with us for about 30 minutes before he had to go back and scare the kids...

And I'm no dummy - notice what I brought for trick or treating assistance... ?

Wine by "light saber"

And then a glimpse of our "scary house.."

Dave the scary circus clown was proud to have made several children cry (including our 1 year old neighbor) and made the 16 year old group of boys run screaming from our house, not once... but twice.

Happy Halloween!

Homegrown Fright Fest

It's become an annual tradition, an adult only Halloween party at our friend's Brian and Stephanie's house.  This year was like years past - fun, entertaining and painful the next day.  Last year Dave had a rough day-after.  This time it was my turn.

Here are the pictures from the party! (no pictures of the recovery day)

Dave and I went as Sonny and Cher.  You know - I Got You Babe.

Stephanie (aka Dorothy) and I 

 L-R: Rene (as a "ceiling fan"), Cheri (the Rockford Peach) and Me

Check out the brewing concoctions.....

 ... this is what had me in trouble that night and left me hurting the next day.  Starting with beer and switching to liquor, never been sicker.  Even at 19 I knew that.... so why 15+ years later I think things would be different is beyond me.

Some of the girls.  L-R: Cheri, Stephanie, Michele, Me

Sonny, I mean Dave's moustache wouldn't say on.  So he found creative ways to show it off.
L-R: Dave & Michele

And then you have to have the 80s shades to go with your 60's costume...

The costume hit of the night was the Rocky Horror Picture getup....

L-R: Me and Nathan

And here's a partial group shot - thanks to a friend (Waldo) who sent me this picture from his phone.

Where's Waldo?

The hosts - Ted (Brian) and Dorothy (Stephanie) always know how to throw a bash.  Halloween wouldn't be the same without the annual costume party.

I have tons of other pictures, but let's just say when all these parents mix alcohol and costumes... it's an interesting evening and many pictures may not be very "family friendly" hehe.  Not to mention the more I drank the more unfocused the pictures were.... but I swear they looked perfect when I took them!