TrIcK oR tReAt, SmElL mY fEeT...

GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT!

Another Halloween has come and gone and I absolutely can't believe this was Adi's 3rd year to experience Halloween festivities. Time goes by so fast!

Her first Halloween (2007) she was Nemo the fish! I know Nemo is a boy, but when I saw this costume, I just couldn't pass it up. We took her to St. Stephen UMC Fall Festival. Of course she couldn't do much at this point and had no idea what was going on around her. However, it was a fun beginning of a family tradition.

Her second Halloween (2008) she was a Squiggly Pig. For some odd reason people kept saying, "Oh look at that cute lamb!" Really??? Are lambs pink? Do they have a snout and curly tail? NO!!!!! Anyways, it was a cute costume and she looked adorable! We took her to SSUMC again and also to our church for their "Trunk-or-Treat" event. Nana and Granddad came up to Amarillo to join us and Adi had a blast with them while she got lots and lots of goodies.

And finally, her 3rd Halloween (2009) she was the prettiest princess of all! She got this 'Belle' princess dress at Disney World when we went last Christmas. Funny thing is, she has never seen the movie 'Beauty and the Beast' but she loves to dress up as a princess. The wig was my favorite part and I'm really not sure how I got her to keep it on.

This year was different because she had more knowledge of what Halloween was about and actually got to go 'Trick-or-Treating" with some of her friends. We still went to SSUMC and a couple of other festivals, but I think she had the most fun going door to door with her friends. I wasn't sure if she would actually say, "Trick-or-Treat" when strangers would open the door, but she did. Actually, she tried to go in a few of the houses to see their pets. She is a animal fanatic and when she saw that some had dogs or cats, she thought she should go and see them. So, we had to have a little chat about walking into strangers' homes.

When we returned home, we turned on our porch lights so she could hand out candy to some of the other trick-or-treaters. She had just as much fun handing out candy as she did getting it!

I love Halloween for some reason as a Mom. I enjoy finding her a cute costume and allowing her to experience the festivities that come along with Halloween. When I was little, I don't remember Halloween activities being a fun family tradition. I don't remember ever dressing up, carving pumpkins, or going to festivals. I'm sure I did, but it just wasn't a big deal to my family. So, I like creating family traditions that we can take part in each year. Hopefully, when Adi is older, she will remember these times of us as a family and also the memories she creates with friends.

I'm not sure who had more fun, me or her?!?!

Next year, we will have two little ones to dress up and experience all the fun!! Can't wait!

Little Miss Piggy

My parents came up to visit from Abilene on Friday, Halloween.  By the time they arrived, I had cleaned the house, done like 5 loads of laundry, got Adi and myself dressed, and took her outside to play and take pictures.  She is at the age where everything we do is so enjoyable.  I had her costume laid out all day waiting for the time to put it on.  I couldn't wait.  I was so excited.  Why?  Not real sure.  Later on in the evening, we went to St. Stephen's Fall Festival and ate some Frito pie and Adi walked around to the different rooms trick-or-treating.  The look on her face never changed the entire time.  She had no idea what was going on.  I'm sure she was thinking, "You dressed me in this silly costume and now I'm getting all kinds of candy from strangers!?"  But she looked adorable!  Although, apparently some folks don't know their animals because she was called a poodle and lamb all night.  Hello people!  Do you see the squiggly tail and pig nose? 

 So, then we went from there to our church, Hillside's Trunk or Treat!  There were so many people that the line to get in was ridiculously long!  Church members took their cars and put candy in the trunks, there was a hay maze, hot chocolate, music which Adi loved, and of course Elmo was even there.  I didn't think we would ever get to leave after she spotted Elmo.  If you don't know my daughter, then you don't know her obcession with this furry creature from Sesame Street!  She was terrified of him at first, but then she eventually was brave enough to sit in his lap for a picture. 

We had to tell her that Elmo had to go "night night" so she would let us make our way to the car.  We were all exhausted by the time we left and got home.  We had a big day ahead of us because we had tickets to the Tech game in Lubbock.  More on that adventure to come!