This Halloween

This is the first year that Taft was completely certain about his costume.  There was no way I would talk him into anything else.

He wanted to be a soldier.  And a soldier he was. 

Trunk or Treat

Our church has a huge Trunk or Treat each year.  This is our first year to be a part of this church and we were thrilled to get to participate.  We have Life Groups which are small groups with different topics that take place over a semester.  

Ours was divided up into class weeks, a fellowship week, and a service week.  We decided to do Trunk or Treat as a group and use it as a service project.  The pastor wanted it to be bigger than an anything done before.  

One of the families in our group has a camper so we decided to go with a tailgating theme.  It was so much fun.  Everyone dressed in their favorite team colors, we had a grill with hot dogs, crock pots of chili and Rotel dip, chips, rolls, and cookies.  

We also had over 10,000 pieces of candy!  I think that the children in our group liked handing out candy as much as getting it.

The little doctor is Taft.  

And Brian made a goal post.

Trunk or Treat | Trick or Treat

On Halloween, Taft's Preschool had there Trunk or Treat.  We did this last year and it was a lot of fun so I was excited to participate again.  This year we decided on a "Snack Bar" theme.   I had said it was to be a concession stand but Taft could say "concession" very well and it made him made.  So we changed it.

 My die cut machine got a workout working on the signs.  We used pretend food from Taft's kitchen to glue on the sign and also made sure to add Taft's name to the display.  He really loved it and we decided to let him have the signs to decorate his play room.

 Gran (my MIL) was her to visit so she got to be the mustard to my ketchup.   I have to say that it is about the most comfortable costume I have ever worn.  It barely touches you and I work a black turtleneck and leggings underneath.  Don't we look cute?
Before the Truck or Treat started, Gran and I help Mrs. Linda get the children in their costumes.  It was a lot of fun but a lot of work.  All the kids looked great.  Gran even read them a story while they all got dressed.

 To go along with our theme, I made treat bags for Taft's friends, using Popcorn bags from Dollar Tree.  He picked the candy that went inside and we stamped some quick little tags to go on them.  Mrs. Lynda (Taft's teacher),  put all the gifts on top of each child's cubby.  I think that was just brilliant.  On holidays, we often forget treat bags and gifts with all the confusion and excitement.  This made sure that we got them all.

 Gran and I took down our car decor and heading in with the class to help with getting the party together.  I am so glad to have Taft in a class this year where the parents take part.  We had some issues with that last year.  I know that not every parent works for a place that allows them to be at the school for special events. But the class would have a sign up sheet for things to bring to for a party.  We would have people sign up for things and then not bring them.  Not just one person but even half the parents at a time.  Taft's Pre-K is so far from this and I hope that Halloween set the bar for the coming holidays.
They had a fruit bowl, cheese, crackers, cheese puffs, vegetable tray, dip, juice boxes, and cupcakes.  It seems that everyone brought what was on their list and more.  The kids had a great little buffet and loved it!  And the fact that they had Snoopy plates is just awesome.

 After the party, I took Gran home and I went to work for the afternoon.  Later, Shane and I got Taft from school and he wanted to go to the Haunted House at one of our fire stations.  He was very brave outside and talked to the zombies and monsters and the fire fighter that was cooking parts of people and even offered him an ear right off the grill.  But once we got inside, he was ready to go home.  He said that the monsters were too scary.  But by the next day, he said he wants to go back next year.
When we got home from the Haunted House, we put on our costume and headed out to trick or treat to in our neighborhood.  We only made it to about five houses before we found a scared, cold, puppy.  A chihuahua.  We carried him around trying to find his home.  We called Shane to come pick us up to get to people faster and we were able to get the sweet little dog back to his owner.  That made Taft very happy.

Enchanted Ravines

On Sunday the 21st, Taft and I met our friends, Casey and Stran, for a little Halloween fun at the Ravine Gardens.  It is a great little State Park and a lot of cheap fun.  It is $3 per person by all the carnival games and arts and crafts are free.  And of course - the hayride around the Ravines is also included.

This was the first time that the boys had worn their costumes and also the first time that they had seen each other since June.  Stran was very happy to see his friend Taft.

 Stran was also the first person that Taft handcuffed and took to jail.  After we got into the craft room, he handcuffed random people to chairs.  Lucky for us, they didn't seem to mind.

A School Memory | Day 1 of Fall Back Into Blogging

Today is Day 1 of the SITS Girls Fall Back Into Blogging Event.  You can see more about that here and even join in.
This came at a great time since I have not blogged in almost a month.  And as you can tell, I didn't do so well with Day 1 since I didn't get this post done until after 10 pm.  Hopefully I will have more luck with the remainder of the week.
We were given a writing prompt today.  It was to write about a school memory or story that you have not shared on your blog in the past. I wasn't sure what to write about.  I have a lot of school memories that I love.  I started to look through the few photos of my childhood that I have at my home.  I was hoping that I could find a photo to go with a story and when I saw this photo I knew that it was perfect.

Yep - that is me.  I was five years old and this was the clown costume that was made for my Kindergarten class play.  My mother and grandmother made the costume and I only just now noticed that my "hair" and accents match the lovely gold color of home decor.  You really have to love the colors of the late 70's.
Every child in my Kindergarten class wore a clown costume.  It is hard for me to believe that every parent made or bought a clown outfit for a play that was at night and not during school hours.  It's hard for to believe because I don't think that it would happen in today's world.  In thirty years, parents have changed.  I see it with Taft's classes and with those of friends.  Parents don't participate like they did once.  I know that there are lost of reasons why.  More families have two parents working than in the past and the economy is different.  I just never remember my parents not being active in what I was doing.
Back to the costume - I remember watching my grandmother and mother work on my costume.  What I don't remember is what the play was about.  I remember being on the stage that night but not what we did.  I do remember that at the end of the program, each child walked across the stage, alone, on the way to the tunnel.  (We had an awesome tunnel that was a half circle.  It lead from the main part of the school to the side entrance to the stage. Perfect for getting kids to the stage without anyone in the audience seeing.)  When we walked across, we were supposed to do a little trick.  I remember stressing about this a A LOT.  Some of the kids were doing cartwheels.  I believed that cartwheels were amazing, but I could not do one.  I walked across the stage and jumped on one foot.  Yes - I was totally lame but I had a rocking costume.
I also wore this for the next Halloween.  It still fit and we were frugal.  If I still had it I was so put Taft in it.
I wonder if there are any videos of that play?

Walk Down Costume Lane

It's almost Halloween again.  The years are flying by.  And, Thanksgiving will be here in less than one month and Christmas in less than two.  I need to get busy.

I was reminded today of all the past Halloween costumes that Taft has worn and there seems to be a theme.  Professions.  See what you think....

2008:  Golfer

2009:  Fisherman

2010:  Boxer

And although we have not taken any "formal posed" photos of his costume this year, he is the UPS man.  I am sure that you have figured that out by the earlier posts and there are more to come in this keeper.

This is the first time that he picked out a costume all on his own.  He said he wanted to be a pirate until we got to Party City and then picked this darling costume out.  I love it!  It has been a real hit with people and I have not seen another child in it at any function we have attended. 

**If you are here from Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life, WELCOME!  As you see, Taft is my only child.  He turned 3 in June.  At this time there are no plans for another.  Be sure to click on the "Home" button  and have a look around.



Taft's Halloween Costume

Since finding this adorable fisherman costume on the internet and placing the order, the idea of where to take cute pictures of Taft in it has been swimming around in my head. I finally remembered that Washington Oaks State Park had a very shallow stream and bridge in the gardens. We packed up our fishing gear, camera, and lots of extra water and juice since it is still in the 90's here. Washington Oaks is another place that on weekdays there aren't a lot of people. There was one nice older gentleman that offered to take a family photo for us and of course we said yes. We were lucky to get all the photos in about 15 minutes so we could take the hot costume off, get back in shorts, and head to the playground at the park to swing and have some refreshing juice.
Here he is. Fisherman Taft.

Trick Or Treat

As we all know, Taft is too little to eat candy so the Trick Or Treat thing is just not a great idea. We did want to get him out some so we walked over to his "girlfriends" house. Peyton was doing the same kind of Trick Or Treating that he was. She looked so cute in her poodle costume that we took advantage of the photo op. Taft did help me pass out candy to the kiddies that came to our house and bless his heart, he fell asleep in his stroller. It's hard being a little baby!

Taft's ride to Trick Or Treat

Taft and the cutest poodle ever, Peyton!

A lot of meat on those bones!

We bought this outfit as a backup plan in case Taft's "real" costume didn't make it here on time (as it was on backorder). I have to admit that I really forgot about it being in his closet. We have to leave the house over these next few days and I thought that he needed to wear it as much as possible so don't be surprised if it shows up in a few more photos. I know that he will happy one day to see what a chubby little skeleton he made.

Fun at Silver Springs!

On Saturday the 25th, we packed and left for Taft's first road trip and overnight stay that was not to see family. We, along with friends Wes, Shelly, Jordan, Emma, and Alex, left for Silver Springs, Florida. Taft stayed at a hotel for the first time and didn't seem to mind at all. I'm not sure that he understood why he had to take a bath in the sink since but the room only had a shower.
On Saturday night, Wes and Shane kept Emma and Taft so that us older girls could go to the night time Halloween activities at Silver Springs. We went to the not so Haunted River Boat tour and the Haunted House. It was fun and the longest that I have been away from Taft since his birth. When I got back to the hotel he was sleeping well and didn't seem to miss mommy at all.
On Sunday, all of us went to the Springs for the children to have fall fun. Everything was decorated and set up for children to have a great time. They gave them Treat Or Treat bags and a scavenger hunt map. At each location they got cute little gifts like cups and photo albums. Emma enjoyed it and we all helped Taft with his. We went on two glass bottom boat tours, feed the giraffes, and looked at all the animals before time to come home.

Taft and Emma in the hotel

Emma and Taft

In the Hay Maze

Taftenstein

Shelly, Emma, Wes, and Jordan

Taft and Daddy

Taft flirting with Alex

Taft back at home with his new turtle.