Keeping It Real: Halloween 2010

Are you doing a double-take because it's June? Me, too. I discovered more pictures of events last year that haven't found it's way on my blog yet. Still playing catch up!

2010 was our first year experiencing Halloween at Hillcrest Elementary. Wow. That's the only word I had to really describe the occasion. I had no idea Halloween was such a big deal! I do have one memory of Halloween in Elementary school. It was when I was in 5th grade-- all the kindergarteners came through our classroom and had a little parade in their costumes. In fact, I remember that so clearly because that was the year my little sister was in Kindergarten. I remember a boy in her class, Henry, was the only kindergartener without a costume. I wasn't sure if it was because his parents elected him to not wear a costume, or simply weren't aware of this. They were from Vietnam and I don't think they had been in the States very long. I recall their accents being very thick and them not understanding much English. But his teacher made him a cute little jack-o-latern face out of construction paper that he held up with a popsicle stick. I remember my heart feeling so bad for him. Just not wanting him to feel out of place or left out. To this day I still cringe at the thought of the little kindergartener feeling left out. Breaks my heart. He did seem happy marching through our room with that little pumpkin face of his. You want to know what's ironic? I can't remember for the life of me what my little sister dressed up as, but I remember little Henry in his Levis and red long-sleeved shirt with his pumpkin face. Go figure.

Growing up in my household we were never huge into Halloween. We always dressed up and went trick-or-treating until we were too old, and if there was a ward party we would participate (my all-time favorite was the ward Halloween party at the Rainock's home. I was probably only 10, but I still remember having a blast-- they even had a Haunted walk through their woods. At that age, I LOVED getting scared. Now, not so much, but then I totally ate it up. They were always so great to open their home and their property to the ward for all sorts of activities}.

Kyle and I wouldn't consider ourselves huge fans of Halloween now. It's not that we detest the idea of Halloween, there's just other more fun holidays so we participate and it comes and goes. I don't decorate for it (I'm more of a simple Sept thru november "fall" decorations sort of person which includes about 4 gords and a ceramic pumpkin in my "fall decor" bin. And that's pretty much the extent of it. The dressing up in costumes is fun, and we're always up for a fun couples Halloween party, which we were thrilled about going to this year. But I don't care for the creepy-ness some like to express their Halloween spirit with.

I'd say easily one-third of the school day at Hillcrest was spent on Halloween festivities. There was the parade of costumes, then the assembly where the classes sang a bunch of autumn-y and Halloweenish songs, and then of course, the class party. Ohhhh the class party!

Cade in a sea of costumes at the assembly. I really enjoyed seeing the creativity that was in abundance. There are so many clever and talented people!

Michael Jackson and David Beckham

We were lucky enough to have our school's PTA president, Madam Edy, also double as the head room mom for Cade's class. She is nothing short of amazing. Lucky for us, she is also a caterer, so we were allowed to have our own healthy festive treats (Other classes had to have store-bought per school regulations).

This is what she had in store:

"pumpkin spiders" -- pumpkin mini muffins with legs out of licorice

"Monster mouths" --- little apples with almonds stuck into the "roof" of the apple for the tooth effect

"Witches fingers" -- string cheese with little squares of american cheese.

I didn't get a picture of the crock pot of little weiners in a delicious sauce-- she called them worms in blood or something like that. All the moms and teachers were going back for seconds and thirds...and fourths. They were delicious.

Christian A's Mom dressed up as a witch and hosted a witch's brew. Notice the dry ice making the brew smoke? The kids loved it.

Madam Edy also had a really fun game of bean bag toss in the class room and the children enjoyed going from activity to activity. It was a great party.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT.

The weather was pretty crummy, so who better to brave the weather than Mom? I believe there was some sort of game going on that night {World Series perhaps?} that all the husbands wanted to watch because I noticed most of the kids were being escorted by their Mothers from house to house. All of the homes were especially gracious to the Mothers and made sure we went home with our own stash of candy. My favorite was Karen Steineckert breaking out her secret "mom stash" of dark chocolate with mint candy bars. Oh so good!

Kyle was more than thrilled to stay home and pass out his tray. In fact, he told me weeks before Halloween that he was going to be in charge of the "treats." I however, had already purchased my offering. Play-doh. Turns out Kyle had a different idea...

Matchbox cars, full-sized candybars, bottle rockets, firecrackers and my play-doh. Kyle told his scouts he had something for them if they were taking younger siblings out trick-or-treating but were only allowed to take the firecrackers if they had their parent's permission. Some mothers of his scouts took some goods home to them. Can't have a boy feeling left out, now can we. Especially when it's a risky, noise-making contraption on the line.

All dressed up!!!! Savvy is giving us her best princess face. Notice her boots. She's not dressed for the ball-- just mostly the weather.

My dear friend Laurel knitted this for Ruby when she was born. SOOOO cute! I was excited she still fit in it for Halloween. What better costume for our sweet little Ruby to have than a ruby costume?!