Halloween 2015

We started our Halloween evening out at our friends house celebrating Hayes 3rd birthday!

Afterwards we headed home and got changed into our 'official' costumes. 

 The kids were always going as dinosaurs - Kevin and I weren't really sure what we were going to wear. We had thought about being paleontologist and I went shopping for gear...then a quick Pinterest search and I found this idea:

Since we pretty much had most of this stuff it was super easy!

My parents dressed as pirates! The kids loved this!

 

Her first 'trick or treat'. She wasn't quite sure what was happening...but when she realized she was getting candy she thought it was all groovy. 

Me and my sweet little dinosaur baby!

We made it down to the Hales house and hung out for a while. We had such a fun time this year. Ryan was really into the whole thing and would run from house to house. He was so fast that I even lost track of him a couple times. He was so excited! The decorations didn't really scare him- even the chainsaw murder scene down the street! The only one he was a little skeptical of was this creepy clown circus set up...which I was a little scared of myself. Grayson on the other hand wasn't much into all the scary stuff. He made sure that an adult was with him at all times. 

So happy with all of their loot! And yes, they kicked Hayden out. 

On the way back home we passed a house that was playing Star Wars on a screen in front of their house. Ryan was in a trance...and I am pretty sure he would have stayed and watched the entire thing if we hadn't made him keep moving.  

Once we made it home we set up camp on the driveway and handed out candy. I feel like the boys may have enjoyed this more than actually trick-or-treating! They were so excited to give everyone candy...they would run down to the end of the driveway or to our neighbors house to find trick-or-treaters and yell "Hey, come to our house - we have lots of candy!". They were so into the whole thing that I am pretty sure they would have given away their candy if we had stayed out any longer! 

Lakewood Halloween

On Thursday we made a last minute decision to head to the Lakewood Country Club Halloween Party.  The weather was amazing so we grabbed a table outside which was the perfect way to spend the evening.  

Grayson wasn't interested in taking a picture with this creepy skeleton.

We were one of the only families outside for a while which is nice when you are dealing with three kids five and under. We pack a punch. 

We got our picture taken and didn't even have to stand in a long line - wohoo!

I took the boys to check out the hay maze and decorate some cupcakes while my parents stayed with Hayden got a head start on dinner. After dinner we headed into the ball room for some dancing!

All the tween girls thought Hayden was adorable in her little dinosaur egg costume

Ryan loved being up on stage...and some times he would bust a move! Hayden also tried to get up there...she LOVED the dancing!

Ryan and Lauren hanging out on stage.  She won the costume contest for the girls! So cute!

Hayden hanging out on the dance floor - the little boy next to her won the costume contest too! 

And a few drinks outside before heading home! Such a fun evening!

Halloween Playgroup Party

On Wednesday we hosted a little Halloween party for our playgroup friends. 

I kept it very simple with a few snacks and sweets. 

 

Ryan and Grayson helped make the Frankenstein treats - I am sure you can tell which ones they created :)

I tried to get pics of everyone as they walked in but I missed the Bishops and Wallace kiddos!

Such sweet little kiddos!

I found these little wooden masks for the kids to decorate. 

We decided to stick with markers instead of paint...

These two sat by themselves and Hayden was so proud to be at a kids table!

So much chaos

While everyone else was chowing down on the patio these two were in the back of the yard in the Jeep with the radio blaring. It was pretty cute!

 

Frankenstein!

Our playgroup is a little boy heavy...

So strong!!!

These two little goobers! 

Fun evening with friends!

What's Up Wednesday - link up

It's Wednesday - and I'm blogging! Yay - I am really trying to get back at this :) Today I am doing a link up party that a couple of other blogs that I love started. 

1. What we're eating this week...

Yesterday I dusted off the ol' crock pot.  Man how I love that thing. I always forget how nice it is to have the smell of dinner cooking throughout the day and not scrambling to get dinner on the table during the witching hour. Anyhow, I got this  this slow cooker mongolian beef recommendation from my sister-in-law and the kids loved it! I love it when they try new stuff and actually enjoy it. Not going to lie - they were a little turned off by the color and texture (mine looked a lot less appealing than the picture), but luckily they got over it. Whew. 

It was great, however next time I am not adding as much brown sugar. This recipe calls for 3/4 cups and I think I might just do 2 tablespoons...it was crazy sugary!!! Maybe that's why my kids liked it so much?1?

My parents are coming in town and I am going to make my Greek Meatballs on Thursday night. I never really follow a recipe on this one so I will have to write down what I end up doing and share it.

Lastly, I am super excited about my moms chili for our pre-trick-or-treating meal! and I can't wait to top it with cheese and fritos! Oh how I love fritos! lol

2. What I'm reminiscing about...

last years Halloween!

Look how little Hayden was...such a doll! Now she is a wild child...can't wait till she loads up on sugar. 

3. What I'm loving...

The Drybar 3 day bender

I have always loved the Cosmo-tai blowout at DryBar and wished I could do it at home. My mom got me this for my birthday and I have been working on mastering the art of the cosmo-tai. Surprisingly it's not that hard - although it always looks better when someone else do it for me.

They just came out with a new tool - The Tress Press. It Straightens. Shines. Smoothes. Curls. Sounds pretty amazing...

4. What we've been up to...

I am often asked this question and I always pause to think...because I can never remember. We are a little too much go go go but then again, I think I have always been that way. This week we have been doing a lot of Halloween activities/festivities which are so much fun with the littles! 

5. What I'm dreading...

Bedtime. Can you look forward to and dread something at the same time? Cause I kinda do. I am so tried and all I want to do is sleep...but then again we are having major bedtime issues with G and I am totally dreading another night of that. 

6. What I'm working on...

Well, it's what I am STILL working on I guess...

Master Bedroom

My mom is going to help me order the custom curtains this weekend. My art work for the entry should be shipping next week and then I will post pictures of that area. 

Guest Bedroom

I was so close to being finished on this one. I really wanted to get it all ready for my parents. I washed the new sheets and was putting them on the bed when I realized they were too SMALL. Oops! It was the wrong size...so now I have to order new ones. woomp woomp. 

Grayson's Bedroom

I got a side table but I am not sure how I feel about it. I am also still on the hunt for a little lamp. 

Organizing

When we were building this house I was so excited about my "craft" room. Well, my have things changed. I guess you shouldn't build a house when you are still working on your family. ha! Anyhow, when we moved our guest bedroom downstairs I moved my craft room into the closet. It worked fine but it was a mess. Randomly the other day I had a new idea - the mud room. So I have taken it over with my craft stuff. 

7. What I'm excited about...

Trick-or-treating with these goobers!

8. What I'm watching/reading...

Guys - I'm still focused on my Organizing book. Yes, I realize I need to move on. I just received the new Mindy Kaling book in my PopSugar Must Have box this month...so perhaps I will start that tonight. 

9. What I'm listening to...

Eh, what's on the radio? Oh and Kindermusik. 

However, we turn up the volume when these songs come on - anything Taylor,  Ex's and Oh's and Downtown. And I turn the radio when Justin Bieber or that Selena Gomez "Look Good for You" comes on. Arg, that one drive me crazy. 

10. What I'm wearing...

Trick question huh? I guess this means when I actually get dressed. Which we all know doesn't happen that often. Well, the answer is plaid. Finally some plaid. The weather has gotten a little cooler and I have busted out some fall clothes. I love wearing these because they are quick and comfy - and go great with jeans! These two are currently my favorites:

  

11. What I'm doing this weekend...

Halloween!!!

12. What I'm looking forward to next month...

Thanksgiving. The fall weather. 

13. What else is new...

hmmm. I think I covered this.

14. What's your favorite Thanksgiving recipe...

So up until the past five years I was never a huge Thanksgiving person. Gasp. I know! I never really cared about the food. Turkey, stuffing, cranberries? no thanks. I know, what a downer. Anyhow, I am happy to report I am a new woman. Once fried turkey came along it saved Thanksgiving for me. And then all the fun new sides mixed in with the traditional ones really bring it to a whole new level. So what's my favorite recipe? Hmmmm....I would have to go with my mom's pumpkin roll. (I'm not sure which recipe she used but I linked to a pretty classic one.) Get ready to gasp again, but I am not a huge pumpkin fan. I know, I so wish I could join that whole PSL fetish ...Anyhow, pumpkin pie...it's just eh to me. Anyhow, this pumpkin roll is amazing! It's my favorite pumpkin thing ever. I remember she made them a long time ago when we lived in Norway (way before they were so popular) and we would all gobble it up so fast! The cream cheese frosting is so delish!