There is an excitement in the air during the month of October in Tucson. The hot days are fewer and fewer which makes it possible for people to venture outside and enjoy nature. There are festivals, carnivals, outdoor markets, all the things we have missed during the past five or six months, have finally returned.
The weather this October was especially crazy, with rainstorms and hailstorms galore. Having missed the majority of the monsoons this summer due to our visit to Utah, we enjoyed every minute of moisture we received. Water rushed across streets, turned dry washes into flowing rivers, and hail piled up like snow.
Don't get me wrong, the weather was still toasty enough to swim and sell ice cream, but the cool night air gave us a hint of Fall.
This year we were so excited for Halloween we started dressing up WAY before the 31st. Lillian had Spirit Week at school and dressed up every day. I am ashamed to say I only remembered to take photos of her dressed up ONE day, the day she was late to school, but her teacher took photos of her with her class. See if you can find her!
She resurrected her BatGirl costume from last Halloween for Super Hero Day.
She made the cutest hippie for Throwback Thursday.
For Futuristic Friday I tried to get her to dress up as Marty McFly but she wouldn't have it so this is what we came up with.
We also dressed up as 80's aerobic queens for a fun High Fitness event we attended. We had a tubular time sweating to the oldies.
I am always so grateful for Fall Break. By October the excitement of beginning a new school year has worn off. The days are getting shorter and it gets harder to get out of bed when it is still dark outside. The break gives us the rest we need to push on until Christmas. We did our best to make the most of our time together that week.
We spent some much needed time with our pets, which includes Una, the world's best chicken. She comes when she is called and follows us all around. The girls pick her up and tote her here there and everywhere.
Daisy lives to bother Lillian and Freya. She drives them nuts with her constant nibbling, eating, jumping, and leaping.
The girls like slow mornings. Our weekday mornings are so rushed that when we get the chance to move slowly into our day I try to let them do their thing. During Fall Break I let them eat and play and craft and it made my heart happy to see them together.
I like to go on at least one big adventure over every school break. This time we spent the day in Phoenix with cousins. First, we went to Urban Jungle so the kids could get their wiggles out.
Then we had lunch at The Shake Shack.
Next, we hit up the Museum of Science.
We ended our day at Bahama Bucks where we tried a dill pickle snowcone. Yum right? Not really.
Our last big activity of the break was a tea party with Nana Sandy. The girls got dressed up and had fun acting like proper little ladies. Well, to be honest, they weren't very proper but that is OK because proper isn't very fun, now is it?
There was one thing on our Fall Break list we didn't get to do because of the rain, go to the ostrich farm. Our vacation didn't seem complete without it so we went ahead and went one day after school. I am so glad we did! It is now Lillian's favorite place. She asks every Saturday if we can go see her goat.
Freya got upset right away when a naughty donkey stole her treat cup and nibbled her finger. She rallied though and enjoyed her time with the other animals.
My favorite creatures were the rabbits and sheep. Both were soft and fluffy!
Freya loved the Goat Penthouse the best and cranked treat after treat up to the excited goats.
The next thing I knew Halloween was upon us and we were pumpkinless! We remedied that problem by visiting the Marana Pumpkin Patch for a day of fun in the sun.
We went with friends and that made the day even better.
I have learned over the years not to rush these two little girls when they are picking pumpkins. They take it very seriously. Sometimes tears are even shed because it seems as if none of the pumpkins is the right pumpkin. It can be tough. We are all overjoyed when the perfect pumpkins have been found.
We then took those pumpkins home to the Pumpkin King for carving.
Freya wasn't big on the carving part, just the mushing part.
And then finally Halloween was in full swing! Freya had to change her costume for each event we attended but she enjoys going to school in costume no matter what the day is. She is always coming up with something strange to wear!
First, she was a witch for her dance class.
Then she was a princess for her preschool class.
When we went to Lillian's school to help out with her class party, Freya decided to be Wonder Woman. Lillian chose to go as a witch to school because her real Halloween costume was not conducive to playing on the playground.
We had a great time doing crafts in her class and seeing her present her Halloween book report. She is a natural born teacher!
She worked hard helping me execute her ideas for her pumpkin and we had a great time getting it all together.
On Halloween night we put on our costumes and headed out to rid the neighbors of their candy. Ever since the movie Trolls came out the girls have been begging me to be Poppy, Branch, Satin, and Chenille. For years I have avoided making these costumes because I knew having the girls hooked together would be a disaster. Well, this year I caved, and guess what? I was right. It was a disaster. The wigs itched. Freya walked too slow and Lillian ran too fast. It was too cold. Oh, the complaining! At one point I said, "Nevermind! Let's change into something else!" But Josh, who had seen me literally fighting off cats and dogs to hand stitch these costumes said, "NO WAY! We are wearing these costumes. Now maybe they will learn that their mother is always right!"
Once the candy started pouring in all was right with the world again and the night was saved. Maybe now they will let me pick next years costume. I am thinking Scarlet Overkill and her minions or Goldielocks and the three bears...
No comments:
Post a Comment