Halloween Festivities

Our Halloween week was packed, and I mean packed, full of fun.  I actually didn't go anywhere in the mornings that entire week because our afternoons and evenings were so busy.  

Bridget kicked the week off on Monday with her dance class.  She was able to wear her costume to class which she was thrilled about.  Sadly, I forgot to take a picture.

Tuesday afternoon I picked the kids up from school and we went straight to MCW for their annual trick-or-treat.  We lucked out and Richard was able to meet us there shortly after we started.  Things are always better with Dad around.  

Cutest bunch of kids.

One of my favorite pictures of Bridget ever.  Hello.  Wonder Woman doesn't get any more darling.

We've been trick-or-treating here since Marshall was six weeks old.  :)

The next event was that night.  Our ward Halloween Party.  It consisted of a Trunk-or-Treat (our first ever) followed by donuts and cider in the gym.  These were the only pictures I got.  Rachel was a hoot and just followed around some older girls and pretended to be one of them.  This girl, so full of expression.

Thursday was the annual elementary school parade.  I love this little parade.  The kids dress in their costumes, walk around the outside of the school and they are led by the Wauwatosa West Marching Band.  It is just delightful.

I was also able to help with Bridget's class party after the parade.  Such cute kids.

Friday night we carved pumpkins.  Despite the pictures, Marshall really did enjoy himself and was pleased with the outcome.

I love Rachel's face in this picture.

And now I am just realizing I have ZERO pictures from actual Halloween and trick-or-treating!  Shameful!  This might have something to do with the fact that Marshall was a pill and had a meltdown right as we were getting ready to go.  We did not let him spoil our fun though and still had a great time.  We went with the Hassells and the kids did great.  We made it several blocks, people were so friendly, the weather was great, and it was a great, great evening.  

Major Haircut

Rachel had her first minor hair cut this spring.  I just had it evened up and kept it long.  This fall though she has been terrible at letting me do a thing with it.  Even if I talked her into a braid or pigtails, or anything, within minutes she would pull the elastics out.  We went on this way for a few weeks and finally I had had it!  It was so scraggly, full of food, and just looked terrible.  I took her to my friend and we said good-bye to six inches of hair.  

Before pictures:

After pictures:

Can you tell she is hard to photograph these days?  Always on the move.  :)

Not going to lie, I do miss her long hair.  But, this is SO easy to manage and it really just lays perfectly on her.  We wash her hair at night and she wakes up looking like this in the morning.  Perfect!

Discovery World With Friends

The kids had a Friday off of school the end of October.  Anna and I worked out a little arrangement for me to leave Rachel at her house and I took Max with us.  Marshall also invited his friend, Seoul, to come along.  So I ventured to Discovery World, with four kids in tow, on a very busy day and I didn't lose anyone!  I call that a major success.  On top of that, the kids had a grand time and fun was had by all.  

This was a brand new exhibit that was awesome.  It was all about the human body and all four kids loved it!

Life-size operation.  A huge hit.

A great morning!  Lucky for me, Marshall played at Seoul's house the rest of the afternoon, Rachel napped, I gave Bridget the ipad and I slept for 90 minutes on the couch!  Now that's a good Friday.  :)

First School Dance

A couple of weeks ago the elementary held their annual school dance.  We have never gone before and from all reports I had heard it was loud, stinky, and crazy.  I was not planning on going this year, especially since Richard would be working, and I didn't feel like tackling it alone.  

Well, Marshall came bounding out of school that afternoon begging me to go to the dance.  I told him if he could convince Bridget that we could go.  She did take some convincing, but once he mentioned glow sticks she was sold.  

We got to the dance after it had already started.  Marshall was seriously thrilled, and it was fun to see his excitement.  Before we left the house he asked me if he should wear his church shoes because they are like dancing shoes.  Loved it!  Anyway, we got to the dance when it was well underway.  The loud, stinky, and crazy was not underestimated.  Man, a gym full of elementary aged kids is not my cup of tea.  I helped Marshall find his friends, and then I took the girls to the back and set our stuff down.  I asked Bridget if she wanted to dance and she turned me down.  Instead, I watched her inch closer and closer to a boy in her class and within two minutes she was next to him with such a shy little grin on her face.  Seriously, look at this, these kids are four!  Ironically, by this point in time Marshall was back by my side.  

And so went the rest of our evening.  Bridget ran around with two boys in her class, they danced all over and even did the limbo.  :)  Marshall would spend two minutes with his friends and then he would come sit next to me until someone else dragged him out to the dance floor.  When all was said and done, Bridget had had the time of her life and Marshall was over the kids, music, and chaos.  Such different personalities they have.

Zoo Beauty

The zoo is one of my most favorite places in the fall.  We took my parents when they were here in early October, but the colors were not yet at their peak.  The middle of October though was SO warm, in the 70s, and the colors were gorgeous.  Spur of the moment I took the girls to the zoo for a morning of fun.  It was gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.  We love this place.  

Rachel seems to always be accessorized for the zoo.  

This grove of trees was completely golden.  Rachel was not really into a photo op.  

We love this baby giraffe!

Honestly, this train ride is in my top three of favorite things to do in MKE in the fall.