Preschool and Halloween

Zach started preschool! It's so exciting! He loves going. It's a good thing all around because it broadens his horizons, gives him something to do, gives him something that's just his, and gives me some time during the day. Usually Cade naps during preschool, so I get some time to get things done or work out (if Jake's home). It's great. He really likes his teacher (it's one on one). And he gets to go with his cousin, Ashley! He loves it.

Every morning he asks me if he gets to go to preschool today and then he asks if Ashley will be there. It's so great! Cade misses him while he's gone, but like I said, he usually naps, so it doesn't sting too bad.

Thanksgiving Point Scarecrow Festival

My parents took us all to the Scarecrow Festival, which was really fun! The boys had a blast playing games, eating candy, jumping in bounce houses, feeding ponies, etc, etc. There were pony rides, animals, scarecrows, pumpins, face paints, the Headless Horseman, hay ride, snowcones, and corn dogs. What a night!

I know this is blurry, I'm sorry, but it's the only one I got and it was a highlight.

Mmmm, snowcone.....

Pumpkins are supposed to be jumped on, right?

I got this costume for Cade, and he looks really happy in this picture. But every time I put it on him, that happiness lasted about one minute. He hated the feet and the hands and the hood. But he didn't notice the hood so much because he hated the hands SO much! So, this was not his official costume, though he looks mighty cute in it.

These are the boys' costumes. Zach was a very muscley Spiderman, which he loved. He loved the mask, too until he wore it 3 or 4 times and realized that he couldn't eat candy with it on. Then it wasn't so exciting anymore, seeing as how candy is so essential to all Halloween parties (we went to several).

Cade was a little Sheriff's Deputy. We made this costume for Zach 2 years ago and it worked out so nicely, we did it again. The pants and shirt match Jake's uniform really well, then we added a "duty belt" with kids police toys on them (including the hand cuffs of course), and Jake's name tag and badge. If you saw him with Jake in uniform you would be very impressed. He makes a cute Deputy.

So, then there was Grandma Bailey's Halloween party. I went as the Cat in the Hat. Zach was so excited that I was dressing up, too. It was fun for him because I hadn't dressed up any of the other times he was in costume.

There were all kinds of games like a ring toss onto a dino. Good throw Cade!

Nice form Zachary!

Ghost bowling

Eating donuts off of a string. No hands!

I'm going to get you, delicious donut!

Yummy!!

This game was a hit with the boys, and so cute to watch!!

Halloween night we always go to Jake's brother's house to trick or treat. He makes a very good spook alley for trick or treaters. Most of the family gets involved, even a couple of the nieces and nephews this year. They build a 3 room "alley" and go all out. They make elaborate costumes and scare people to death. It is quite famous in his area. It was a parking lot on his street because people drove over specifically to go through the spook alley. It's very fun, so we go over for that and trick or treat in his neighborhood. It's lots of fun and the cousins get to be together. They are best friends!

This is Dave on stilts. He was kind of a scarecrow and probably the scariest one.

Deanne is also on stilts. They had clown room and a couple of the clown masks were terribly creepy!

I wore colored wigs with my sisters in law, Kristin and Tracy.

And this is a picture of Cade's trick or treating experience. He really only visited 2 doors. He didn't like it much. He was kinda freaked out because most people answering doors were dressed up. He loves candy, though, so the 2 pieces of candy he got, he just sat in the stroller and ate while the other kids ran from house to house.

Zach, on the other hand was a trick or treating pro. He was very motivated and I think he may have begged for extras at some houses. He tried to grab about 7 extra Otter Pops at one house. He would get his candy, run back to us on the sidewalk, show us how much candy he had and run to the next house. If we were in an area where nobody was home for a while, he'd be the one leading the way (running) to the next house with lights on. "This one, guys! Come on!"