Grannies and Werewolves and Mustard, Oh My . . .

Halloween came a day early to our house. The high school and middle school in our district allow their students to get dressed up for school. The elementary school doesn't. I, personally, think it's a horrible policy. I remember dressing up and parading around the school and even in front of the school if the weather permitted. Now, my son's class doesn't even have a Halloween party. Times have certainly changed. They do, however, have a Masquerade Ball at the elementary school tonite. Son #3 wants to attend for the first time and we're going to have to juggle our schedules to make this happen. Son #1 has what could be his last football game of the season tonite and I don't want to miss it. Hubby kindly volunteered to take #3 to the ball and then meet son #2 and I at the football game later on. I can't believe we're adding a #4 to the mix!!! :)






Anyhoo . . . this is what our house looked like this morning. Connor wanted to be an old lady so he bought a wig, a pair of pearls, borrowed my MIL's walker and I bought a housecoat for him. You should have seen my husband trying on housecoats in Sears yesterday to see if they would fit Connor. I literally almost wet my pants with laughter!! I told him that it was definitely true love when you tried on housecoats to make your wife happy!!



This granny is 6 foot 2 and weighs 240 lbs. Her boobs are made of bubble wrap.











I had to get a shot of the bun . . .















and of how his shorts hung below his housecoat.


He even borrowed my husband's slippers and a straw purse I picked up in Turks and Caicos. He had a lipstick and compact in his purse because what Granny would be caught without a lipstick and compact? All his own idea, I swear!!!





I told him to go easy on the lipstick because I don't want him playing on the offensive line tonite with pink lipstick stain on his lips. I never thought I would ever hear those words come out of my mouth!! : )


Son #2 was a container of mustard. His friend that is in most of his classes is dressing up as a hot dog. I hope to get a picture of the two of them together later on. I was able to get a picture of his friend, Dylan, who knocked on our door this morning looking like this . . .











Needless to say, this didn't go over very well with our two dogs!!


Just another day in our life!!









And last nite, we carved our pumpkins. It was nice because the whole family actually got involved.





Trevor striking a pose while Brendan gets the "Shmutz" (as he calls it) out of his pumpkin.











More "shmutz."









Brendan drew his own design this year and Connor helped him draw it onto his pumpkin. I cut it out so it was definitely a group effort this year. I haven't carved a pumpkin in a couple of years and I forgot how much I liked doing it. Judging by the huge hug and kiss and "Great job, Mom" that I got from Brendan, I did a pretty good job. : )





And here are the finished products . . .






Brendan's Masterpiece!!













Trevor's Masterpiece!!











Hubby's Masterpiece!!












From our house to yours, we hope you have a safe and SPOOKtacular Halloween!!


Many blessings ~ Wendy

Lots to Say in No Particular Order . . .

So we've been back from vacation for five days now and, like most people, I didn't do any big grocery shopping for about two weeks before we left. We lived on take out, food that was crammed in the back of the freezer, left-overs, take out, friendly neighbors' impromptu dinner invitations and, did I happen to mention, take out? I guess what I'm trying to say is that I definitely needed to do a LARGE grocery shop since our return home. I used to love to grocery shop but lately I've been trying to come up with every excuse not to do it. I actually find it very meditative to walk up and down the aisles, looking at all the different varieties of products. As I sat on the couch drinking my morning coffee, I realized that I could not come up with one excuse not to make today the day I finally went. My mom has my youngest son until tomorrow. My middle guy is with my sister until tomorrow and my oldest son was still sleeping and doesn't start his triple sessions of football practice until Friday so I didn't need to be home for him either. My husband was working and the dogs were flopped out on the couch so I was able to go by myself without being on any kind of time restriction. That is no small feat in the summer as anyone with kids will tell you.

When I got into the car, the car thermometer registered 106 degrees. I haven't seen that in a long time (it did go down about 20 degrees once I got the car out of the sun and put the a/c on, thankfully)!! Up until recently, the summer has been very mild, temperature wise. I think we're going to be paying for it for the next couple of months though. I hope I'm wrong. We are rapidly approaching my most favorite time of the year!! Autumn!!!!! I noticed that a lot of the weekly magazines at the checkout lines in Shop Rite are showing apples on their cover which is a sure sign to me. When we were in Wildwood Crest I had to come up with a costume for my youngest son, Brendan. One of the nites at the beach we have what we call "Pat's Derby." It's named for one of the family members who passed from melanoma two years ago. "Pat's Derby" consists of people paying $10.00 each to dress up in a costume of their choice. There are usually about eighteen different people so it's 6 per race. For each race you bet who you think is going to win and can put as much money down as you want on that particular person. They all stand on a line and then the person in charge rolls a dice and, depending on which number they roll that particular person moves up one line until they reach the finish line. I think there are about 9 or 10 lines in all. The winner gets to keep the money that all of them put in to be in it and the bettors collect their prize money as well. It's a lot easier than it sounds and it's a heck of a lot of fun. This year, two of my boys dressed up.

Trevor was a giant banana. He bought this from a friend the last week of school when they were cleaning out lockers. His friend wore it to school on Halloween and threw it in the back of his locker. He was gonna throw it out but my son, always looking for a bargain, bought it for a mere $1.00. I told him it makes him look very appealing. : )

And here's my pirate, Brendan. He decided on our way to the beach that he wanted to participate in the "Derby" so I had to come up with a costume for him . . .

which brings me back to my story about how autumn is my most favorite time of the year. : ) So I found a Michael's Crafting Store. I can smell those from miles away!! When I walked inside they had all of their fall decor up and Halloween stuff everywhere. I was in Heaven!! I walked up and down every aisle and came up with the idea for him to be a pirate. I bought fabric spray paint and skull stencils with the intention of stenciling the skulls onto a black shirt that I picked up. Have you ever tried to use that stuff? It was an absolute joke!!! I screwed it up the second I pressed the paint nozzle down. OH MY GOODNESS!!! Thankfully, after I tossed that still-full-to-the- top paint can out I came up with the idea to use the stickers on the stencil instead and they came out pretty good. I also happened to throw a plain black shirt into B's suitcase at the last minute so I was able to use that as well. It's very hard to see but I also glued a plastic parrot on his shoulder with Liquid Stitch. It was the first time I have ever used that stuff and it is awesome!!! It held that parrot on with no problem.

I just re-read what I've written and, I must say, it is all over the place,isn't it?!!? Let me just finish this with some pictures. My head is spinning and I have to meet my husband for dinner in half an hour. Dinner for two hasn't happened in a LONG time!! : )

More pictures from "Pat's Derby." Sonny and Cher aka Tristan and Kayleigh. Someone else wore the long dark wig so a compromise was needed. : ) Doesn't my nephew look great as Sonny?!!? Look at the size of his microphone!!!

Trevor as a brunette.

And finally . . . I had to share this picture from last year's "Derby." Such good times!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy