OUR FAMILY OF FIVE

Friday, November 11, 2011

Halloween 2011!

**This will be my 5th post of the day...trying to finish up with Oct, still need to go Boston trip though...I am tired and so happy I am meeting Max tonight!**

You may be able to tell by now (or you will as you scroll down) that I can not say no to anything when it comes to activities for the kids. Yes, I know when to draw the line, but they have sooo much fun being happy and busy with all of their friends!

On the 28th they attended My Gym with the Maloof kiddos. Hello 1.5 hours of free play with there friends..they were in love! Thanks Jen for keeping an eye on them in between chapters:) I am still waiting for pictures, sorry.

On the 29th Derek had to work so the kids and I went to YL Main St Halloween Treats in the street. I quickly loaded them up and headed over there for about 30min. Short and sweet! All the kids wanted was the candy anyways:) If you are ever looking for something like that in your town just look up 'old town' or 'main street' and you will find it. When we lived in Orange they did the same thing.

Afternoon of the 29th, was the Irvine Pumpkin Patch....see post below...followed by our favorite restaurant....followed by...... The GIANGRANDE'S Annual Pumpkin Carving Party! Love, love, love it! Did I mention that I absolutely love it?!?!

Cookie decorating, picking out your own pumpkins in their pumpkin patch surrounded by a raised mini train, there was food, drinks, pumpkin carving, football playing on the TV, and all of the toys a child needs...what else could a party need! Loved it! Below are pictures of the patch and train. All Lil wanted to do was sit there in her PJ's (I coud not find her outfit). Even though Erin gave birth about 2 weeks earlier (via c-section) she still pulled it together and like she says, "I love the pumpkin party!"

On Halloween day the MOMS Club went trick or treating with the seniors at the community center. It was very cute to see all of the 'old' folks lightly dressed up, smiling and laughing at the kids as they passed by, and of course get healthy treats. Then it was off to the park for a Halloween party, I picked up Drew from school and then he joined in the fun.

Then after rest time we went outside to see all of the kids around the block dressed up.

Then off for chicken noodle soup at the Christopher's house. The kids got to trick or treat with Avah and Grant. We also got to see Sammi on her last night before she moved to Oregon. Derek had 'in the' on his face which meant "in the face," his classic saying. Nate had 'book' on his face for "face book." It was very funny.

Honestly, by the time Halloween actually came around, I WAS EXHAUSTED! Yes, were did a lot of fun stuff and you would may be surprised to find out that the posts only made a dent in all of the fun activities! Oh, and then there is homework, baseball, daily chores, MOMS Club, and dance. On the 1st and 2nd of November I did NOTHING.

Pumpkin Patch #3, last one!

Irvine Park is by far my FAVORITE pumpkin patch. Bounce houses, a train, hay maze, haunted house, tractor rides, and so much more to do...you can even go to the Zoo! As much as I love this park, we could not get over there until the 29th of Oct. This was a huge mistake! It was extremely crowed and not that much fun. We went there for what we wanted (pictures/haunted house), but missed out on the train ride..the line was wayyyy to long. Next year we will be going the second week it is open like we normally do!

**I love the middle picture!**

Pumpkin Patch #2

Have you ever driven down the I-5 and saw a hot air balloon? Then one day in October it turned into a jack-o-lantern?

What is that place called? Well, now you know it is the Orange County Great Park. I am surprised that so many people do not know where it is located, what it is called, or what awesome things they offer there! Hello, it is on the former El Toro Marine Base. Take a look at their website, http://www.ocgp.org/. The hot air balloon ride, parking, carousal, park, and art exhibits are always free! They have a farmers market on Sunday, concerts and movies during the summer, sport clinics, and farming....all free!
One such awesome thing offered to the public is their Halloween Pumpkin Party (I can not remember the actual name). This year was the 2nd Annual Party. Everything but food and $10 to park, was FREE! Free candy, crafts, pumpkins, petting zoo with a camel in it!, train rides, carnival games with prizes, cooking demos, and so much more. I thought it was very organized for the large amount of people there.

Sara 2 and her girls met up with Derek and I and the kids for almost two hours. They got pumpkins, but I did not want to stand in the very long line. The kids did do some games, hay maze, looked at the camel, went in the 'trick or treat town,' went on the train, and went on the carousel. Well, I should mention that it was really only Madi, Em and Drew that did things....Lil and Bella were stuck in their strollers:). I should also mention that the pumpkin patch was rather big and each child got to pick a pumpkin our for free...no matter the size of the pumpkin.

So, check out the Great Park sometime before they start charging for stuff! We may just be making our 4th trip this weekend for a FREE flag football clinic.

I know my bestie and I will be going back there before then!

Oh and Bella would not let go of her baby pumpkin! Literally she held it almost the entire time and right after we got done on the train she found it in the back of her stroller and grab that thing. It was very cute!

And little buggie was terrified of these guys! She made me cover her eyes and screamed until we walked away!

Block of Halloween

We had a great month of October! We had so much fun, but I think as the kids get older it may be harder to do all of the fun stuff with school work and sports/dance. There is just not enough time in the day or enough days in a month!

Below are a few pictures of Alisha's house. Yes, those are burned, buried, mutilated baby dolls. It is morbid, but Halloween is like her Christmas! She has some awesome decorations and when everything is lit up at night it is great to sit in there and feel a little creeped out. She is Halloween!

There are also pictures of the houses around the block. Not all of us decorated and it is not at the caliber of many houses, but the kids on the block loved it. I love my three little monsters in the front! Once again, taking pictures during the day does not do these decorations justice, so much better at night. We all had lights and candles outside...which I was a better taker of pictures at night:(

Speaking of babies,

This is our neighbor Melissa and yes, your eyes are not playing with you. She actually wanted to do it when she was pregnant (about 16 years ago) but never did. She is a hot mamma!

Below are pictures of our Halloween Block Party. It is the 2nd block party we have had since we moved to the 'block' and again we were not disappointed! Everyone dressed up, yes even me, and really got into the mood. Once again, everyone brought a side dish or desert and we had chili too. Between the pumpkin spitting contest for children (adults did it too later on), the pinatas, mummy wrap (courtesy of me), toilet papering the neighbors, and goodies....it was a fun time! Kels even came to enjoy the fun.

Derek was a Dodger fan adored with the bling, du-rag, hat, jersey, high socks, crip slips, and tug teeth. Sorry Dodger fans, but we really are not fans:) I was Merlot our babysitter. It was probably the comfiest costume I have ever worn. For those that do not know Merlot...she really does walk around with a black robe and her hair up in a towel. I threw on some makeup, added a "M" to HER robe (yep, got it from her mom), had her fancy duck tape on my arms and had fun. BTW, I hate dressing up!

Other costumes included a disco man walking around with goldfish in a glass jar as a neckless, some miners, the The Most Interesting Man, a french lady, Snookie, witch, Little Red Riding Hood, Brett Michaels, a mad scientist, a running 80's gal, military, a ref, Charlie Sheen, and so many more. Good Times!