Tricks or Treats

This year for Halloween, the boys got to enjoy multiple celebrations. And multiple celebrations means the candy multiplied too. Exponentially.

First, Nile got to wear his costume to preschool on Thursday. Nate didn't have a party at school, but I don't think he missed out any. Nile came home with a small bag of goodies - not too bad.

Then we had a neighborhood party on Saturday evening. It was a lot of fun for all the kids to get together and play games. There was cupcake and cookie decorating (involving lots of frosting and candy), a "duck pond" game with lots of candy and small toy prizes, and a craft table. After the games, the boys ran around in circles while the girls played a toilet paper mummy game. (The boys eventually came back and played too.) Afterwards there was a hot dog cookout - neither of my boys ate much of their hot dogs or fruit. Want to guess why? I'm betting it was the cupcakes and cookies...

At the end of the party the kids went on a "spooky trail" - I wasn't able to go because I had Novak in the stroller. I'll admit I was a bit nervous about them going - I thought Nile might get scared and freak out. But he really wanted to go, so I let them, and I headed home to wait. About 10 minutes later, the doorbell rings. It's Nate.

"Mom, that was the awesomest spooky trail walk EVER! I was a little nervous but it was okay, it wasn't scary really!"

Nile, following closely behind, didn't say a word. So I asked him how the hike went.

"It was great."

Okay, then! Both boys had a great time at the party.

Of course, the next day was Halloween! I think the two boys were literally bouncing off the walls all day with anticipation. Finally, at 3:30 we let them get their costumes on. Nate was a superhero skeleton, and Nile was a baseball player. Below are a few pictures from our neighborhood. After we made the rounds here, we headed to Colona to Papa and Grandma's house, then to Hampton to trick or treat at Gramma's house.

Now, I have a dining room table covered in candy. I think we will be purging some of the candy soon. I've got a theory how I can make the boys do it...we'll see if it works!

Isn't this cape awesome! It looked so cool in the sunshine.

Nate, showing off his loot.

It wouldn't be a true family Halloween post without at least one picture of Novak.

Gingerbread House

Today the boys and I continued our annual tradition of decorating a gingerbread house for Christmas. (I guess I haven't shared our photos from prior years.) This was Nile's first time helping out. It was a little different this year because I had to make the frosting and find the candy to decorate, since we didn't have a full kit. (Believe it or not this is a Halloween gingerbread house kit!) We had a lot of fun. And I think we only chased down about 100 of these little "bb" sized candies as they rolled over the floor.



In all fairness, I took photos of both boys' sides. Here is Nile's roof:


And here is Nate's roof:

Run, run, as fast as you can...

One of the boys' favorite books is "The Gingerbread Man" - I read it almost daily to Nile. For a few weeks he's been asking to make his own Gingerbread Man. So, we bought some premade gingerbread dough (even I know when to let Pillsbury take over) and borrowed some cookie cutters from my mom. Today, since we had to stay home for the morning (cousin Emily came for a visit), we decided to do it!

Step 1: Roll out dough and select your shape.


Step 2: Bounce excitedly as your brother gets to cut out a cookie. Ask ten times if it's your turn yet. Switch places with your brother. Repeat 10 times.


Step 3. Watch mom put cookies in oven. Ask her 15 times if they are done yet.
Step 4. Watch mom take the cookies out of the oven. Ask her 10 times if they are cool yet.
Step 5. Ask mom again when they will be ready to decorate. Get frustrated when mom tells you we don't have the ingredients to make royal icing.
Step 6. Send mom to the corner store (i.e. gas station) for powdered sugar.
Step 7. Watch mom make icing. Ask her 5 times why the egg yolks don't go into the icing.

Step 8. Finally! Decorate the cookies!


Step 9. Ask mom 50 times when you can eat the cookies. Sigh when she says not until after naptime.


Step 10. Eat a cookie and pronounce it the "greatest cookie ever."

I suppose I'd have to agree. They do look pretty festive, don't they?

Counting the Loot

This is mine, and this is mine, and this is mine...


Hmmm...Are you sure this is everything?