Halloween '14

We all went in different directions this year, but here is a mish-mash of our spooky fun!!

For FHE, we "Boo'd" 4 families with treat bags.  We made candy corn M&M cookies, and bags of "monster mash" (caramel popcorn, pretzels, candy corn, and gummy punkins).  3 out of 4 of the "Boo-ings" went smooth as can be, but 1 of them was pretty hilarious.  We got caught before we could even walk away from the door.  I guess "Boo-ing" a family with 7 kids isn't as easy 'cuz there are plenty of kids to answer the door as. soon. as. you. knock....and then proceed to run out onto the lawn looking for who knocked on their door...and saying, "I think I see the Brown's van...hey is that MarynAvery crouching in the bush over there!"  Haha!  Lots of fun!!

MarynAvery went to a Costume Contest Party for Beehives on Wednesday night.  Avery won the award for the "Scariest"...Haha!!  She was definitely rockin' some serious shoulder pads, and nailed the character perfectly.  Maryn dressed up as a "Steampunk"...if you ask her what that means she would say, "it's an eclectic mix of science fiction, Victorianism, and the industrial era".  Ummmmm...right.

It's kinda fun having them both as Beehives for a few months.  They overlap by 3 months.

We carved our punkins on Thursday night (Devil's Night for Detroiters), and got pretty creative with it!  Parker named her punkin "Spooky Jack" when she picked it out from the punkin patch.  But when she got home, she changed her mind and named it, "Spooky Vampire Kitty".  Unfortunately one of the vampire fangs broke off, which broke her heart.  Luckily, Dad fixed it up so that it still worked.  But geez!!  Drama!!

Avery went for a big jagged smile.

Maryn did a heart with filigree designs on the sides.  Yep, always thinking outside the box.

View from inside the punkin looking out...a little creepy.

Mark and my punkin ended up being Jack Skellington's face.  We have enjoyed watching that movie this year as a family.  Finally, Parker is old enough to not be scared by the funky animation and the rest of us love the soundtrack.

Parker Rapunzel ready for her preschool party the morning of Halloween.  She was supposed to be a cowgirl, but changed her mind at the last minute because "she wanted to be a beautiful princess for her friend, Lucas".  Aye yi yi, another story for another day.

 

Mark and I showed up towards the end of the party to get some pics of her with her buddies.  This is Macy, who has been with her since last year.  I love her individuality.  She rocked the firefighter costume because that's how she rolls!

Some of her other buddies, Fancy Nancy (far left) and Vanellope Von Schweetz (from Wreck it Ralph).  I just love this picture!  So sweet!

Halloween night, Avery went trick or treating with her posse from church/school.  Her friend Emma is the other old lady, Kassie is the jestor, and Beth is the nerd.

Maryn went trick or treating with a friend from the other Midland ward, and dressed up as Pinky Pie, another of the My Little Ponies.  I don't know why we didn't get any pictures of that costume, it was really cute.

Trick or treating in our new neighborhood was an eye opener.  There is a guy who lives a few houses down from us that goes all out, and gives out full size candy bars.  Because of this, he has drawn quite a crowd to our neighborhood.  That plus our location on the corner meant we had a LOT of trick or treaters.  Waaaay more than I expected.  For the past 6 years in Tonica and in our rental here, we haven't had any trick or treaters to speak of, so I guess I got out of the habit.  Anyhoo, I was out of candy by 7:30 and had to turn off my lights and put a sign up because I could still hear tons of traffic outside.  Next year, I will be more prepared.  :)

Mark and I were invited to a Halloween party for some couples in our old ward.  We decided we wanted to start a theme for our costumes...Parker's favorite couples from animated new releases.  This year: Wild Style and Emmett.  Haha!!

Hope you all enjoyed your spooky day this year too!!

4 Random Facts about Me (Drafts from the Vault)

{Another oldy, but goody.  Why didn't I just hit "Publish" for cryin' out loud?!?  This is classic stuff!  This one is from 11/13/07.}

1.  I hate roller coasters. I’ve hated them as long as I can remember. All those trips to Cedar Point, I’d be sitting on the bench holding purses, drinks and jackets so everyone else could ride. You know the day after Prom where all the seniors took a trip to Cedar Point? I didn’t go. I’ve stayed away from them for awhile and finally broke down with Mark when we were first dating. We were at the Eastern Idaho State Fair and I didn’t want to seem like a wuss, so I agreed to ride with him and was simultaneously crying and screaming the whole time. We got off the ride and I ran to the bathroom in humiliation and to clean up my mascara-covered face. Needless to say, he still liked me after that, but I swore him to secrecy that he’d never tell his brothers.

2.  I rarely puke. I’m not sure about when I was a baby, but as a child I rarely actually vomited. The only incident I really remember was after eating a bad Strawberry Sundae from McDonald’s. It happened in the car on the way home and luckily we had a garbage bag. Because of that incident I think I got stereotyped, but after that I remember not throwing up for a long time. Even when I was pregnant, I didn’t puke, I’d just feel like I needed to all the time.

3.  My fingers are funky. I don’t have double joints or toe-thumbs or anything. It’s basically just my index and middle fingers on both hands lean out. So for example, the two fingers on my left hand sway to the left and the fingers on my right hand sway to the right. Who knows why, but it’s like my hands got stuck in a really bad windstorm in utero and are permanently bent. It’s kinda freaky looking.

4.  I love thrift stores. I sometimes spend hours perusing them just to relax. When we were living in Twin Falls, they had a thrift store “Rodeo Drive” on Main Street in the old downtown area. I started out at “The Mustard Seed” and then worked my way up through antique shops on either side of the street to “Society of St. Vincent de Paul” and then finished up with the “Idaho Youth Ranch”. Unfortunately the DI was further out, as well as the Salvation Army. I actually had to make specific trips to these stores. Since I’ve been back to Livonia, I’ve found a few regulars…Salvation Army on Farmington and Plymouth, Society of St. Vincent de Paul on Wayne and Hunter, and Value World on Ford and Wayne. I’m still able to satisfy my craving for thrift and finding a great bargain.

Friday First's (Drafts from the Vault)

{So I just realized that I have this folder of blog drafts that I never got around to publishing...not sure why, but they are making me laugh!  I figured I might as well publish them, right?!?  Enjoy my walk down memory lane with me!  This one is from 9/21/07.}

First Music: I am a child of the 80's, so I went through the Michael Jackson phase. I was also a big fan of Whitney Houston. Other first’s included Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven on Earth” and OMD’s “The Best of OMD”.

First Best Friend: I always had lots of friends, but never one specifically. I remember when I was about 12, Jenny Collier (from church) and I labeled ourselves as best friends and dressed up as Salt & Pepper for Halloween. Later our friendship would crumble over liking the same boy…Jeff Goldman!! She wouldn’t talk to me after she found out he asked me to “go” with him. I broke it off with Jeff after a couple weeks because I felt so bad. She moved away a few months later anyway.

First Book: I remember reading the Little House books in my latter elementary years, as well as Sweet Valley High!! I remember distinctly checking out Thoreau, Steinbeck, and Lord of the Flies one summer in High School just for the fun of it. Other all-time favorites include Amelia Bedelia, Ramona the Pest, Anne of Green Gables, Judy Blume books, Alice in Wonderland, and Mercer Mayer.

First Car: The first car I bought with my own money was an ’87 Ford Tempo that was red with really faded red velour interior. I called it “Old Red”. It was a stick shift, and Daren taught me how to drive it while I was living with them in Chelsea.

First Job: Chopping onions, slicing bread, selling (and snitching) cookies at the Miami Bake Shoppe (15 years old).

First Date: Buddy Kennedy took me to see his Ypsilanti High School’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors”, Spring 1990.

Her First Field Trip! and my thoughts on this whole "co-op" thang...

Parker's first field trip was to Leaman's Green Apple Barn.  She had so much fun, and it was a good time for the million parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name it...that decided to tag along!  (The school doesn't transport or chaperone the kids, so each child must have a parent/guardian in attendance...guess that included extended family too!  Needless to say, it kind of made the whole thing a chaotic zoo, but hey! it's a field trip for heaven's sake!)

The kids were able to pick apples and make cider, make a craft, have some donuts, and play on the playground.  It was a perfect fall outing!!

I know I probably sound like a big whiner sometimes when it comes to co-opping in this preschool.  I don't know why I have a somewhat curmudgeonly attitude about it.  I really do enjoy spending time with Parker in her environment, and observing her personality as it blossoms into this girl that she is becoming.  It's all fascinating and miraculous, and I absolutely treasure the opportunity to step into her world for a brief moment.  I realize this won't ever happen again with her in this way, and so for that I am grateful!!  I also realize that this wasn't a possibility with M and A, and that because Parker is my last baby I am extra conscientious about squeezing as much enjoyment out of these "last" experiences as I possibly can.  See?  All of these things are good...all of them are worthwhile...all of them are important.

I think the whiney-ness comes from the fact that it makes me feel old, and out of shape, and a little bit lonely, and that's not fun for anyone.  Feeling old, and out of shape, and lonely also makes me melancholy.  It makes me miss the days when marynavery were littles, and I had more energy.  It makes me sad that this baby of mine is now growing up, and that poof!! this phase of my life is drawing to a close.  I guess that's a good enough reason to make me feel snarky...at least that's what I am telling myself.  I can expect that on co-op days, I get a free pass to just come home and take the rest of the afternoon off!!  I put my feet up, turn a movie on for Parker, and ZONK out!!  I also may or may not have just hit up the drive-thru for lunch on the way home cuz I'm so stinkin' tired that even the thought of slapping together a sandwich is overwhelming.  I should probably be planning dinner, or getting some laundry done but instead...zzzzzzz...followed by Tylenol, washed down with Diet Coke, lots and lots of Diet Coke.  I know, I know, I know...so sad.  Anyhoo...I just wanted to give an explanation to my sarcastic comments about co-opping in the preschool.  In case you wondered, or wanted to judge me, or whatever.  Just keepin' it real.  Haha...(nervous laughter followed by an awkward silence.)

But I do it all anyway...wanna know why?

This.  I mean, how could I not?

An Old Michigan Tradition

It's CIDER MILL TIME!!  Woop-woop!  I can't tell you how happy this time of the year makes me!  I just love it so much.  This year we got an early start too, which helped make the season that much "funner"!!  Yay! 

On the girl's first day off from school, we headed south to an old favorite...Spicer's Orchard outside of Fenton.  I remembered it being closer to Midland, but in reality it ended up almost an hour and a half from our house!  Hah!  Oh well, the trip was fun too, so it's all good.

This place has it all in terms of a good cider mill...it's got a little something for everyone!  It has a great kid's play area with bikes, a corn bin, a zip-line, a big pirate ship play-fort, a sand-box (ewww, not my fave!), tube slides, a petting zoo, corn-maze, apple-picking, punkin' patch, and of course hot donuts and fresh cider!!

 

Hooray for FALL!!!