Happy Halloween!

Halloween may very well be the boys' favorite holiday. Jones especially loves it - for all of his anxiety about certain things, he loves scary stuff.

For the last month, we've been watching Halloween episodes on Disney Junior and driving by the best decorated houses in Canton. Their favorite is either the "Spooky Castle" on Pisgah Drive OR the yard by Dahdah's that has "No Noggin" (from the Halloween "Curious George") hanging from a tree.  They don't find this hung (apparent) hunter nearly as unsettling as I do and ask to see it every single time we are in the car.  Also, Freddie says, "spooky" "pookys." I never want to forget that.

As they always do, Jeremy's family held a big Halloween party. We all ate chili together before the kids hit the streets to Trick or Treat. To be honest, both Jones and Freddie asked to stay put and play with Ellery and Evan's Matchbox Car collection. I don't think they understood the candy-part of the holiday. I think they were happily content with just the COSTUME part. Once I convinced them to get out, though, they both did really well. "No fits, no fighting!" so we were able to go significantly farther than last year - and they were VERY generous with their "Thank yous" and "Happy Halloweens."

They made their mama proud.

Then, we went back to Dahdah's to dig into their yummy buckets. 

And then their mama ate way more candy than a person on a perpetual diet probably should.

So, you know. Same ole, same ole.

While I want the boys to remember
the year their mama indulged their
wish that she dress up with them,
I hate this picture of me.
I'm telling myself I look so
huge, because I'm standing by
two tiny guys. Seems reasonable, right? 

OF COURSE, they had to give their buddy Blue a treat.

It was a happy coincidence that
cousin Lila went as a cowgirl.

Canton First Fall Festival

Just about every year that we've been married, Jeremy and I have gone to the Canton First Baptist Fall Festival (previously the "Not So Scary, but a Little Scary Party"). This year was no different. Not only is it a really fun event for the family, but it also was another chance for the boys to wear their costumes, so that I don't feel like I spent all that money for, like, 3 hours of wear.

Anyway, the boys had a BALL. Freddie was significantly less interested in the games than he was in the candy he could win by playing the games, but still, he kept his eyes on the prize and did what he had to do to put it in his pumpkin bucket (no, wait. His is the ghost, I think).

The biggest surprise of the nite was that Jones not only got in the bouncy house, but he also did the obstacle course - and NOT because we made him! HE WANTED TO!  This is huge, because just a few weeks ago at the Fall Festival for Sissy's church, he wouldn't get close to it.

What a difference a month makes.


I decided to dress up ... wait. Let me rephrase that. The BOYS decided that I would dress up. I'm not so sure that they DECIDED I'd dress up as they ASSUMED I'd dress up. As Jones announced he'd "be like Sheriff Woody," he announced that I would be Jessie. It was a foregone conclusion. He also assumed that his daddy would complete the Round Up Gang as Pete the Prospector. Jeremy wouldn't play along ("I'm going as Jeremy Pressley," he said), but Mama would.

Freddie made it worth it all - just before we left for the party, he said, "Mama, you look so great in your Jessie costume." Though I felt like I looked FAR from great, it made me feel like a million bucks to hear my little buddy's sweet voice offer such a kind compliment.

After such a fun festival, the Main Event will just be gravy for my little Buzz and Woody!