Fin's Matterhorn Birthday Party

While I'm catching up on stuff, thought I'd finally post these pictures of Fin's birthday party. Fin is still obsessed with the Matterhorn and Disneyland, so he of course wanted to have a Matterhorn birthday party. He asked me the day after we had spent some time at a nearby park where the kids rode their skateboards down a big grassy hill. That sparked the idea to have our party at the same park and "bobsled" down the hill, and the idea just snowballed from there (pardon the pun). We made brautwurst and hot dogs (and sauerkraut! but I think I'm the only one who ate that) :) I made a desert table with cupcakes, white candies, "snow monster" peeps and rock candy (just like the crystals inside the Matterhorn!). We decked out our wagon to look like the bobsleds and hung snowflakes from the trees and canopies. And for the piece de resistance Josh designed a photo cut-out for everyone to take pictures in (Fin loved these at the county fair over the summer). I downloaded all the music and messages from the ride, including the famous "Remain seated please, permanecer sentados, por favor!" and played it at the top of the hill. For activities we just brought all our wagons, sleds and ride-on toys for all the kids to go down the hill on. The kids had a blast going down the hill. Nanny even joined in the fun. I was a little worried that all the kids would just want to go play at the play structure around the corner, but once we started "sledding" no one asked to go. They totally forgot about it. After cupcakes and presents we all had a "snowball" fight (wadded-up paper and foam balls). And that was it! We couldn't get the kids off the hill long enough to make the "grow snow" I got. I loved the simplicity of the whole thing and everyone had a blast, the birthday boy especially. Doing birthday parties like this does require a lot of planning and a lot of help from family and friends, but in the end I love doing it (and am blessed to have some great co-planners in my sister and mother-in-law!)

Halloween (I know, I know, about a holiday season late)

So October was a little busy for us. Crazy busy actually. So busy that my house is still recovering as we near the end of November. So I'm going to try to cram in all our Halloween activities into one post. Better late than never, right? ;) In no particular order here's a few things to celebrate one of our favorite holidays:

Pumpkin City with Nanny! Pumpkin City is a pop-up pumpkin "patch" that turns up every year (Josh's first job was at Pumpkin City). There's a petting zoo, carnival games, rides and of course, pumpkins. The kids loved the rides and Parker just about died and went to heaven riding the ponies.

Josh and I attended a costume party at our neighbors. It was awesome to only have to take three steps to get back home. I couldn't stop leaping about and plie-ing all night.

One of our many Halloween projects, we made some pumpkins out of yarn. We also made ghosts out of napkins, and a ton of Halloween paintings.

We made gingerbread cookies at Nana and Grandpa's house. Instead of gingerbread men, we made "bonemen" and zombies. :)

Parker and Daddy did the the Daddy and Me pumpkin carving at her preschool. Everyone loved her pirate princess pumpkin that Daddy carved for her.

We also went to Auntie Sarah's annual pumpkin carving party at Gammie's house.

Parker and Gammie were ladybugs this year.

As was Tammie!

Fin's class also had a Halloween party. I wanted to help out and Fin's teacher said it was fine if Parker came, so she just made herself at home and participated in all the activities as if she was part of the class. Several of the parents thought she was part of the class till one got brave enough to ask how old she was! They paraded through all of the classrooms (his school goes up to eighth grade) and Parker did the whole thing (the parents did not go into the classes). She LOVES school.
Fin's whole class.
And finally, the main event! Trick or Treating! This year Fin was a discerning trick-or-treater, and would not knock on people's doors who did not have decorations up. "What about that house, their light is on?" "They don't eben have a pumpkin." he'd say witheringly.

Jessie and I whipped up Fin's costume from some cheap cargo pants and a woman's blouse from the thrift store. Jess sewed up the sides of the top so it'd fit better and then took the strings that formerly tied the arms and made the loops for the laces on top. He looked awesome. We made Parker's costume too, just sewed the felt wings onto a pink top, bought matching pants and crafted the headband. Both costumes together cost less than $15. LOVE handmade costumes!!

THE LOOT!! Supply is still going strong...

Conversations

Fin: "I just want to be 29."

Me:"Daddy's that old. I'm not even 29 yet."

Fin: "Is that more than 100?"

Me:"No, its less."

Fin: "I want to be 100 then."

Me: "Well you'll have to take really good care of your body to live that long."

Fin: "Like what?"

Me: "Like eating lots of veggies and fruit and exercising and stuff like that."

Fin: "Well...I do walk a lot."

Parker comes and sits down at the top of the stairs, all dramatic sighs and sniffs (she should be sleeping). I relent and ask her what's wrong.

"Pippin just won't wet me read dis book to him! I just wanted to read dis to him"

I think all my DIY is rubbing off...

Fin:"Can people just live in houses right on the beach?"

Me: "Yeah, there are houses right on the beach. They cost a lot of money though"

Fin: "Well, we could just make one. Like out of sticks and stuff? Or maybe bricks? Is that a great idea?"

Parker hands me a pumpkin and says in a sing-song falsetto voice, "The princess is giving you a pumpkin!"

"Oh, thank you princess. What a nice pumpkin."

"Yes, she got it at the gas station for you!"

We're having lunch out when Fin nudges me and subtly points at the lanky man with salt and pepper hair eating at a table across from us.

"See the guy Mom?" he whispers, eyes wide with a huge grin.

I'm confused, "Yeah, why?"

"He's the guy! The one from the show? Who eats stuff?"

I stifle a giggle. "Oh yeah. Umm I don't think thats Anthony Bourdain, but he sure does look like him doesn't he?"