Super Halloween

I am squeezing this post in at the last moment before the calendar flips to December, because once December hits, a switch in my brain somehow considers Halloween ancient history.

For the last few years, we've had a tradition to go to the local pumpkin patch/farm with our preschool co-op.  As October approached, it occurred to me that we're not doing a preschool co-op this year!  I asked the kids in Aubree's co-op if they would be interested, or if they were too old for such activities.  Resoundingly, they declared, "you're never too old for a pumpkin patch!" Along with some friends, and younger siblings, we had a good crew.

Since my realization came so late, there were only a couple open field trip slots still available. We ended up scheduled for October 28.  In this area, that's taking a major chance.  We braced ourselves for cold, stormy weather, but lucked out with a beautiful, warm, sunny day.

At this particular Family Farm, field trip groups are guided through six stations, with about 15 minutes at each.  Our first station was the play area.  This is always a field trip highlight for the preschool crowd because there are water stations, swings, slides, chalkboards, and wooden horses to ride.  

As you might imagine, the 11/12 year old crowd was underwhelmed.  I could see them starting to rethink their cry of, "never too old!" Thankfully, a new-this-year part of the playground area was a fabulous zipline!  Suddenly the big kids were re-invested.  I had to force Aubree to try.  She claims she didn't like it, but I think, deep down, she enjoyed it.  Bryce and Thane (and even Graham!) thought it was great.

It was interesting experiencing the farm from the perspective of an older crowd.  The corn pit was a major hit.  I was worried they might get bored, but when the fifteen minutes was up, every one of them groaned and begged to stay longer.  

Of course, they were all much too big for the little tractor race course, but that just meant the little kids in our group had a less crowded riding space (the big kids were running a hay bale obstacle course).

I loved watching the big kids squeeze into the barrels for the tractor ride.  Most of them were offered their own barrel, but many of them chose to cram in with a friend.

I'm so glad we were able to make it this year.  It's one of my favorite October traditions.

Some Halloween's I am on-the-ball, and can plan fun, creative costumes.  More often, I let the kids dig through the costume bin and pull something together.  This year, Grandma Winters sent a big box full of costume options and totally saved the day.  The kids decided they all wanted to be Super Heroes for our ward Halloween party.

In a win-win situation, Mark stayed home with Nellie (the party began at 6:30, and Nellie generally goes to bed at that time, plus Mark doesn't love the uber-crowded Halloween event), and I took the four older kids to the party.

This year the party was extra crowded because we ended up combining with another ward (due to scheduling issues).  There were so many people, that my kids weren't even that interested in trying to participate in the carnival games.  They were, however, very interested in the treats.  Like, for example, cotton candy.

Try as I might, I could not get Thane un-sticky for the rest of the night.

Oh, and doughnuts.  Can't forget the doughnuts.  Doubly sticky.

 

I stuck with Thane and Graham during the carnival portion, and Aubree and Bryce wore themselves out running around the cultural hall.  I didn't particularly appreciate their wildness, but they were getting along with each other so well that I couldn't bear to squelch their spirits.

Perhaps it was mean to not let Nellie participate in the ward party/trunk or treat, but we did at least include her on the real trick-or-treating adventures.  The kids insisted Nellie be an Ewock, even though it wasn't a Super Hero, and even though I had another costume picked out. Aubree decided last minute she'd rather be a detective (and she dressed up for school as a French Teacher), so I guess the themed costumes didn't matter too much anyway.

In typical Seattle fashion, we had light rain the whole time we were out. 

I came home early with Nellie and Graham (because they were ready for bed), and Mark stayed out a little longer with the  three bigs.  While I was putting Nellie and Graham to bed, I put the candy bowl on the porch.  By the time Mark and the kids got back a short time later, all the candy was gone.  Someone had dumped the whole bowl into their bag.  That put a damper on the evening.  So rude!  I guess we learned our lesson.

The kids love sorting their candy almost as much as eating it.

It was a Super fun Halloween season.  Especially with our adorable little pumpkin (who moves way too fast these days to let me get a reasonable picture).