Halloween Hayride

As previously mentioned we had a Star Wars theme this year. Jonathon was Dark Vader and Jackson was a clone. I thought they looked very menacing.

The girls were princesses. Emma Mae's dress was a little last minute but I thought it looked pretty cute. Madi wouldn't wear her tiara but she did sit for a while and let me fix her hair.

I asked her to do something princessy and this is what she did. (mental note: I guess the dress was a little see through. Should have put on the white undies instead of the bright blue ones.) Very cute, though.

We started a tradition a few years ago to do a hayride through the neighborhood. A friend who lives in our neighborhood actually started it. The first year that I took Jonathon trick or treating in the neighborhood Jackson was a tiny baby. (scratch that, Jackson was never tiny but you get my point, he was only about 3 mos old) I was holding Jackson walking Jonathon down the street. I think Josh had gone out of town. My friend, Cheryl, asked if the three of us would like to hop on her hayride and I was so relieved. We rode around with all of these people we didn't know but had the best time ever. It felt so good to be welcomed. The next year, we started doing it ourselves and invited Cheryl to ride with us. And thus began our tradition. We had a small group this year but every year anyone who wants to come is welcome and we will make room, like they made room for me.

It took forever for me to get a picture of Emma Mae. She was too busy checking everything out. This is her with her cousin Bethany. Very cute.

Bethany and Madi. I know Bethany must have been cold but I never heard her mention it.

Theres Dark and Commander Cody with a couple of clones and a power ranger.

My sister and her feline daughter, Bailey.

And there's my mom who was so crazy helpful that day. She's always very helpful but she was even more than usual because I had cookies to bake, 3 parties to attend at 2 schools and a baby to take care of. She was so worn out by the end of the day that she didn't ride on the hay ride with us. Sorry, but thanks for the help mom.

For weeks the boys have been saying 'trick or treat, smell my feet'. I didn't make them stop and I guess I should have because the first two houses we went to Madi said that to the older gentlemen that answered the door. I was mortified. I forbid the kids to say anything like that for the rest of the night.

I snapped this as Emma Mae was running from the house. She would follow the crowd of kids to the house but not make it before they would all get the candy and begin to run away. When she saw them turn to run away she would turn, too. She was so independent and just had a total blast the whole time we were out.
Jackson had to pee about halfway into our ride. This nice lady allowed him to use her restroom but only if I would mention it on my blog. There is your nod Kathy, thanks for the use of your toilet and for always buying whatever crap I happen to be selling. Your a good friend and the best tax doer anybody could ask for.

There is the last picture taken of Jonathon before he had his eyelid cut open this morning by his brother. You'll have to wait till tomorrow to hear about running to get stitches at 7:30 in the morning and my constant feeling of inadequecy as a mom.

And Madi and Jackson enjoying their spoils. Overall, we had a pretty good Halloween. It is my favorite holiday and we usually start gearing up for it a month out with all of the scarey movies. Sad to see it go and even sadder to know that the Christmas lists are coming out already...