Halloween Part 3 of 4 -- School Halloween Parade/Party

October 31, 2011 -- after this, only one more post and we are caught up and DONE with Halloween!!!  (phew!)

What a busy day it was today!
We started the morning with a parade of ONLY the four kindergarten classes:
Here he comes!!!!

With little brother cheering him on!!!

At one point E thought he wanted to join the parade...

But he changed his mind... so MD went off with his buddy, Gavin:

And they finished with one more lap around the kindergarten yard:

 Then they lined up to return to class:

 But not before one class photo!

Then his fourth grade buddies' class came over...

 and led the school parade!  This is his buddy, Dillon:

 Check out all the students in their amazing costumes!!!

 They just kept coming...

 and then I saw MG's teacher... she's the fisher"woman" here:

 And there she comes!

 Doesn't she look so beautiful in that dress Corinna bought her?!

 So I asked for a few posed photos...

 At the end of the parade, MD's class gathered for another picture with their big buddies:

So I zoomed in on MD, his buddy, and his teacher:

Then I left MD's class and went to see what MG was doing... eating, of course! ;)

 Here she is with classmate, Jason, and little guy:

 Her classroom was so nicely decorated!

 Back outside in the heat, she and Hannah were still eating (no food in the classroom - smart teacher!).  Doesn't Hannah make an adorable kitty kat???

 When she finished stuffing herself with delicious cookies and popcorn.. she went in to do some crafts:

 Of course, he jumped right in and went to work!  :)

A few more projects:

Afterwards I left her and went to get MD -- Kindergarteners always need to be picked up by a parent.  I like that rule!  So I grabbed his teacher.. and look, they match!

 After school we rushed off to swim lessons!!!  (yes, today was the first day of the new session!)

 And they had so much fun!

Halloween Part 2 of 4 -- Family Halloween Party

My good friends, Astrid and Melinda, put on a wonderful family friendly Halloween party for the children.  We all dressed up -- I know, you can't tell, but I am wearing cat ears!  ;)

 The children were so adorable!  The food everyone brought to share was delicious!

 And the children were... ADORABLE!!!!
Vanessa, Annelise, Olivia, and Cassie

MG and buddy Jenna

adorable Addison!

Happy Dorothea and Dominique

 They played a few games.  This one had me in stitches!!  I was laughing so hard I had to stop every now and then to breathe!  So these donuts were hung on a pole, the children had to try to eat them... without using their hands!!!  Can you see mine couldn't help but use his hand?!

Here are the other two:

So the children were lined up and took turns according to their heights.  The winner was determined by whomever is able to finish their donuts first without letting their donuts drop on the ground... if it does, they are OUT!

This is Vince's favorite -- Dominique is concentrating so hard here!!!!

 Brother and sister next to each other (she finally decided to join the fun after seeing everyone else having such a good time!).

Poor Dorothea (on the left)... she was on her last bite (not this picture, of course)... and it fell!  Jenna (right) did very well too.. but it fell off too!  DARN!  

 Madonna here did very well!  (she's also 13!)

And another fun shot!  :)  MG was so dainty in her bites -- she did pretty well.

The next game entailed getting an Oreo cookie into your mouth.. from your forehead!

 I don't think anyone got it on their mouths,

 but it was funny fun nonetheless!!!

 I LOVE this shot!!!!  He did so well... but just couldn't get it in...

 This is Astrid showing how to do the cookie game -- you had to be there! ;)

After the party we stopped by Uncle Leo and Uncle Matt's house for a few pictures and to get the chidlren used to the decorations... pretty scary!  ;)

His mustache was tickling him!  Heeheee

What a great evening!!!

Now... plans for next year's costumes... hmmm.... more to come!

Halloween Part 1 of 4 -- Leo's Halloween Party

We began the weekend off with an adult only party -- it's been a long time since Vince and I have done that!  We were fortunate enough to have Emma as a babysitter.  She did a great job.  When we arrived to pick up the children, MD and E were both sound asleep, while MG was still up watching a movie.
Here are some of the great costumes:
(this Rubik's cube actually rotated and he built a cup holder inside his box for drinks!)

 My good friends, Charrrro and Audrey... ;)

 Us women...

And the other set from the other side of the room:

 My cousin with a few of Leo's good  friends:

 Vince and I with our very good friend, Leo -- we all bought our costumes at the Renaissance Faire together!
(now look past us, can you see the purple and red pirate pants on the skeletons?  I sewed those!  Yes, I'm pretty proud!  ;))

 What a fun evening.  Thanks for a great party, Leo!

Pumpkin Patch

This is my mom's neighborhood pumpkin patch.  We've gone to this particular one with our Allen at Steinbeck Elementary friends for many years.  The children run around, chase each other, play around... all in all, they have a great time!  We are now at different schools (some are still at Allen) but we make an effort to meet each other throughout the year.  The one time we meet is during Halloween at this pumpkin patch.  I will miss it when we move... (but that's another post later on).
MD on an old tractor!

 MG and her friends from kindergarten (although we've known Olivia since preschool).  My, they have grown!

 Boys and trucks -- what is it about that?!

 My good friend, Lisa, Jenna's mom grabbed this adorable picture of E.  He does look adorable, doesn't he?

 MD tried to hide from her, but she got this one!

The group through the years:
2011

2010

2009

They all look so young here... where has the time gone?!