Halloween Through the Years

While trying to compile Halloween pictures through the years, I realized that I am terrible at taking pictures of the kids in Halloween costumes.  So, this is the best I could do!

1997 - Tigger

1999 - Alligator

This alligator costume is my favorite costume ever.  It was so soft and comfortable, and Tom used to put it on to make Tyler laugh!!!

2001 - Spiderman (seen here with a friend from Dartmouth, Jac Carreiro)

2002 - Red Power Ranger

2003 - Batman Beyond with Papa as a guy from KISS

2004 - Power Ranger and an Alien

2005 - Yoda

2006 - Flower, Buzz Lightyear, and Ninja

I have no idea why Buzz was crying

Ninja

 2007 - Power Ranger and Minnie Mouse

 2008 - Dracula, Scary Guy (?), and a Butterfly

This was taken outside of the preschool - Katie, Sophia,Caroline, and Collin.

2009 - Wolverine and Dorothy - the year of the swine flu; we didn't make it out to trick or treat that year, but Dad made trick or treating at home so much fun that we still talk about it on a regular basis!!!  The most talked about character Dad created that night is "Banana Hands" (seen below)!

 2010 - Alice in Wonderland and Soldier

 2011 - Captain America, Cowgirl, and a Cupcake

2012 - Grim Reaper, Spider Web Queen, and a Ladybug

 Kate hated the headpiece, but she wore it and even went out trick or treating for a short time.

Papa dressed as Wolverine this year.  Collin and Reagan want Papa and Grandma to dress as Kermit and Miss Piggy next year; I love the idea!  I hope they do it!

The Trick or Treating crew - Addie, Reagan, Collin, Jack, and Max.  I am so glad that Reagan was able to make it out.  She has not had a fever since the morning, and she felt fine so we decided she could go out and have fun.  They all had a great time.

Somewhere I have pictures of the years 1998 and 2000.  Somewhere.  I will update this post every time I find a missing picture.  That was before I had a digital camera and I wasn't exactly organized with photos.  I'll blame it on the fact that I was either in law school or working full time then.

Hurricane Sandy

We were fortunate that Hurricane Sandy was just an annoyance around here.  The worst that happened to us is a tree branch fell on our fence.

School was closed for two days and we stayed busy.  Here is a little bit of what we did:

Reagan used a kit to carve her pumpkin.  It is supposed to be a cat wearing a witch hat.  Not sure we will use a kit agaiin.

Collin came up with his own design, drew it on paper and then on the pumpkin, and I helped him carve it.

This was the first time we have ever carved pumpkins; usually, we just paint and decorate them.  The benefit of carving is that we had pumpkin seeds to roast!  I roasted them in butter and salt and the kids thought they tasted like popcorn.

They also built a fort, watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and spent time with Grandma.

Kate was happy to have so much time with her siblings; she loves all of them so much.

Kate and Reagan both have fevers today.  Kate's fever started last night and Reagan woke up with one this morning.  They are both right around 100.  When Reagan woke up this morning, she said her head felt "overweight"; I couldn't help laughing at that!  I feel so sad for her because her class is having a Halloween party today and I was going to help in the class.  We even made mini pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for the class.

Luckily, Collin was happy to deliver the muffins to Reagan's class.  I know how excited she was about it, bummer.  She is still hoping to be better tonight so that she can do a little trick or treating.

Our Week in Pictures

On Sunday, Reagan, Katelyn and I went to the Musictown Parade.  Kate was so cute sitting on the curb with her American flag like a big kid.  She really enjoyed all of the bands, but did not like the long procession of fire engines with blaring sirens.

When I took this picture of Reagan standing with Miranda and Madison, she got annoyed with me.  I think she said, "Mom, is that necessary?".  I just noticed that Madison is flossing her teeth in this picture; too cute!

On Monday, we went to Tyler's football game.  Reagan and Collin put on their best smiles for the event.

They are actually lollipops and as much as I try to avoid the dollar spot at Target, I knew the kids would think these were super funny.

Kate found the raisins in the cabinet.  They are now on a higher shelf!

On Thursday afternoon, I was cooking seven pounds of sausages with peppers and onions for Tyler's weekly football team dinner and while I did that, Reagan read to Kate.  They both loved it.

Reagan colored and assembled this cute Halloween craft at school this week.

Reagan had dance yesterday and the students wore costumes to class.  Here she is with a few friends.

Collin is the grim reaper character.  He came with us to dance because after the class we went straight to a Halloween dance at their school.

Whenever we go to the school dances, Collin does laps around the gym, usually by himself.  I don't understand why he does this, but it is his thing.  I captured him in the act.

 Unfortunately, I also captured that woman texting in the background and I wasn't able to crop out her phone and hand without cropping some of Collin!

Reagan was glued to Allie the whole time we were there.  They danced and also did laps!  What is it with the laps?

Kate was very good at the dance even though it was bedtime.  She really liked these inflatable jack o'lanterns.  There was also a man in an ALF costume and Kate loved it; I thought this was so funny!  I should have taken his picture.  I also thought it was funny that the guy dressed as ALF; I'm sure there was not a child there (other than his own kids I guess) who knew what he was supposed to be!

One of Kate's favorite things to do is rip up napkins or any other piece of paper.

 I took these pictures this morning.  

Kate also loves birds and dogs.  At Collin's soccer game today, she got her fill of both.  She says "bird" and "dog" and also makes their noises ("tweet" and "ruff ruff").  She gets so excited (squeals and screams) when she sees birds; it is over the top cute.

She is battling an incoming tooth right now and it hasn't been pretty.  Of my four children, teething has been hardest on her.  I tried to give her Tylenol before bed tonight, but she always spits it out and I don't think any of it went down.  Then she could not fall asleep and I ended up holding her until she did.  She is sleeping soundly now.  Sometimes a baby just needs her mama.