Halloween 2020

2020 has been quite a year, and I really didn't think Halloween was going to be the same. As Fall began, and social distancing guidelines were still in place, I started to brainstorm alternative ways to celebrate. I didn't have to worry too much. Trick or Treating was still on where we live, and the community came together to make it extra special for the kids!

This Halloween wasn't filled with the usual amount of activities, and hand sanitizer was a staple while Trick or Treating, but it went surprisingly well. Actually, I said I preferred the C-vid Halloween! Everyone was in their driveways, extra festive candy tables were set up, everyone was just HAPPY to be out, and it was much more efficient!

There are stressful moments every single day in a big family household, and Halloween was no exception. I was a bit bummed that Dylan went off with his best friend and his girlfriend, but they made a surprise appearance later, and it made my night! Overall, it was a great Halloween, made even better due to the fact that it was on a Saturday! Here's how we celebrated...

The Not-So-Perfect Halloween

Welcome to the least Pinteresting, most un-Instagram-worthy Halloween recap ever! Halloween isn't my favorite holiday, and it definitely didn't go as planned this year. Actually, I almost considered skipping the recap entirely, but I like to document the real life moments on my blog, so I can turn it into a book one day!

Before I recap what we DID do, let me focus on what didn't happen. We were so busy in October, that I didn't even decorate the house until 10 days before Halloween. Those decorations are still up, and probably will be until I get a few moments of free time. We didn't make it to the pumpkin patch because travel soccer and life with kids consumed our weekends, then my mom had a health scare and ended up in the hospital. Our pumpkin - yes, singular - wasn't carved until the day before Halloween. We didn't make any crafts or recipes. Poor Liam didn't even have a costume, because I wasn't spending a fortune on a costume he would refuse to wear. I forgot to buy the kids their Halloween morning treats, which has been a tradition since Dylan was 1. The unseasonably warm October weather went away for Trick or Treating, leaving us all cold and miserable. And to top it off, my original Halloween recap completely disappeared before I hit publish on Friday, and now I can't upload my pictures properly today. Yay, Halloween!

Before I move on to MUCH better holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm going to give Halloween a final shout out. I'm not going to lie. I'm happily saying goodbye to the holiday that only my kids seemed to love this year...that is, until it was too cold to actually enjoy it! Here's to the few pictures I took and the most brief Halloween recap in blog history!

Pumpkins Pumpkins Everywhere

Happy Halloween!

We had a really busy weekend full of Halloween fun! Time was running out and we still had so much to do so we crammed in every pumpkin activity we possibly could. Although it was busy (and exhausting), we had so much fun!

We kicked off the Halloween festivities on Friday! Lexie had her Halloween Party at school and I organized the party and volunteered. I always love to get a glimpse of my kids at school. It's just such a big part of their lives that I'm not a part of so any insight is welcome! The party was a success and Lexie and her classmates had a great time!

As soon as the party ended, we rushed to pick up Dylan, Lily and Liam and we made the 45 minute drive to Grant's office.  The company he works for was having a Trick or Treat event for all their kids. I didn't take any pictures but somebody took one of Grant with the kids.  

It was a lot of fun! Dylan helped Grant's coworkers hand out candy while Grant and I took our other three kiddos trick or treating on all three floors of his company. By the time we left, their bags were literally overflowing with candy. I joked that after that there really is no need to go trick or treating again but that idea got shot down!

On Saturday afternoon, Lexie, Lily, Liam and I headed to the library pumpkin patch. They got to "pick" pumpkins out of the patch, paint the pumpkins, then decorate sugar cookies. 

 

 

By the time we left, they were covered in paint and icing and required a complete clothing change!

We met up with Grant and Dylan and headed to a nearby pumpkin patch for our yearly hayride, corn maze and pumpkin picking tradition!

This was the latest we have ever gone to the pumpkin patch and it turned out to be an amazing afternoon. It was a perfect 75 degrees, it was sunny and we arrived just before dinner time so we didn't have to wait in line for anything. I think we discovered a new time to go!

 

 

 

By the time we left with our perfect pumpkin, we were all covered in mud, but it was our favorite trip to the pumpkin patch to date!

Late Saturday evening, Lexie, Liam and I made the trek into Downtown Pittsburgh to meet some online friends who were in town. Shortly after Liam was born, I was connected to the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network and added to a few Rockin' Mom Facebook groups. I was unbelievably grateful for the support I received when I was still feeling lost and overwhelmed. 

The DSDN community is absolutely amazing! The DSDN has been a part of my daily life for over 3 years and I have met some incredible moms. I eventually started volunteering my time as an admin for a new Rockin' Moms group then made the switch to running their Instagram. The time I spend volunteering and interacting each day is such a positive experience and I rely on my fellow Rockin' Moms. 

When the Vice President of the DSDN told me that she and another board member would be promoting the DSDN at a medical conference in Pittsburgh this weekend I knew I had to meet them. We went into the city at 10 pm and crashed their pajama party in their hotel room! Although our visit was short, it was so awesome to finally meet them!

 

We wrapped up our weekend of Halloween fun by carving our pumpkin! We didn't have much time so Grant just did a traditional Jack O' Lantern face. Sometimes the simplest things turn out to be a hit!

We had so much fun gearing up for Halloween over the weekend! My family is excited for a day full of Halloween fun and we're wishing you and yours a happy and safe Halloween!

Let's Be Friends!

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Halloween 2015

Halloween was an absolute whirlwind. October seemed to fly by and we had to race to cram in all of our usual Halloween activities!

We managed a last minute visit to the pumpkin patch.

We went trick-or-treating at the VERY crowded high school.

I volunteered at Dylan's 5th grade party.   It was a big change from the usual class parties.  The party was held in the gym and cafeteria, and the entire 5th grade partied together.  It was unbelievably loud. Dylan didn't want me to take pictures, so all I have is the one picture he let me take and a picture of him in the costume contest.

I planned Lexie's class party and coordinated all the donations. It was time-consuming, but the party went perfectly! The two other moms I worked with were awesome. I'm so glad I got to spend the afternoon with Lexie and her classmates!

I volunteered at Lily's very first school party.  She had a last minute costume change to Elsa, of course.  She had a great time!

FINALLY, we made it to Halloween!

We kicked of the day with Liam's last mini-photoshoot for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  He looked too cute in his costume!

Thanks to our constant busyness, pumpkin carving had to wait until that afternoon.

We gave Liam a "pumpkin guts" sensory bag, but it didn't last long!

We only carved one of our pumpkins.  We got it done JUST in time!

After a quick dinner of Cheesy Halloween Pasta,  Mummy Dogs, and Peas, we literally ran through the house getting into our costumes. We jumped in the car, and made it to Grant's mom's house just as Trick-or-Treating began. Phew! (That's life as a family of 6. Always rushing around, always racing out the door, and always late!)

For the first time in 3 years, it wasn't raining on Halloween!  It wasn't chilly, either.  It almost didn't feel like Halloween without the rain!  Trick-or-Treating is SO much better when the weather cooperates!

Daryl from The Walking Dead led our pack, and he was followed by Thing 1 (Thing 2 didn't have time to put her costume together...oops!), a Butterfly Fairy, and a penguin.  We make our own theme!

Trick-or-Treating with Lily is very entertaining. Seriously, that kid is destined to be an actress or perform on Broadway!  At every house, she sang, "Trick or Treat, THANK YOU! Happy Halloween!"

Upon arriving at the awesome haunted house in town, she spotted all the monsters strolling around the yard trying to scare the kids.  She was genuinely scared, but screamed "I HATE HALLOWEEN!" in the face of each monster who tried to scare her.

As we walked away, she went back to singing a song about a spooky Halloween night.  The song lasted for over a block, and she even sang it to the people handing out treats.

And, just for the record, don't tell her she's a beautiful butterfly. She will promptly correct you by saying, "I'm not a butterfly.  I'm a FAIR-WEE!"

I love that kid!

Dylan and Lexie are pros at Trick-or-Treating, and moved very quickly, but Lily lagged behind.  She had no problem doing it alone!  Liam wasn't the least bit interested.  He spent a little bit of time in the stroller, but I mostly carried him.  If I put him down, he ran! He was pretty much the cutest penguin ever!

We lasted about an hour and a half before heading back to Grant's mom's house.  The kids were tired, but they got a lot of candy, so they were happy!

We returned home, and a few friends stopped by.  The big kids ran off to play while Liam hammed it up. I would blame his excessive happiness on all the candy, but he really didn't have more than a piece or two!

It was a great night and their smiles say it all!  We had a wonderful Halloween! 

How was your Halloween?

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