Halloween/ Ryans birthday

Halloween just hasnt been the same since we moved to this place. Each year they do trick-or-treating on the Sunday before Halloween, in the broad daylight at the set time of 3-6 pm. Where we are from we did like it should be done...on Halloween. You start out as soon as it gets dark, and go until you get tired, cold or everyone turns out their lights on you. Of course this philosophy doesnt work as well with young children, but they too will grow and also discover the correct method of trick-or-treating.

This year however, the county decided that since Halloween was on a Saturday, they might as well trick-or-treat on a Saturday. Why whoever thought of such a novel idea!? They didnt quite hit the mark of going out at dusk time. We still had to head out at our appointed time of 3:00 in the afternoon; but maybe over time they will realize that this too is preposterous and should be changed. Even with what seems to be an obvious change to me, the people who have lived here and done that forever, could not be persuaded that going in search of candy on Halloween was a good idea. Maybe over time, they too will realize that this is the best way, if for any other reason than just because- I...said so! I mean, why trick-or-treat permanently on a school night?

Anyway, with this wonderful news, we thought it was appropriate to celebrate. We sent out some invites, and starting planning for a Halloween party. As time grew closer however, and I realized I had 18+ kids coming with their parents, I started wondering what I was thinking and began to panic. Halloween this year turned out to be the busiest, and most stressful yet. Ryan and I started off the morning the way anyone would on the day of the year that you eat the most candy...with a dentist appointment. Can you believe, I didnt eat one piece of candy all day? Its true. As soon as I got home from the dentist, I began making enough cookies, cupcakes, popcorn hands, and soup to feed 36 people. It was non-stop until the guests started arriving at 3:00 and I knew it was time to finally get the kids costumes on. Then, off trick-or-treating they went, while I prepared Mummy Dogs with the help of one of the gracious guests who must have sensed my level of stress. The kids all came back too soon, and I continued to run around like crazy trying to make sure everyone was being entertained and having a good time. After all, I invited them here, and it was my job to make it worth their while. I dont want to be known as the person who throws a lame party! So the kids decorated their cookies first which clearly wasnt very well thought out since they all wanted to eat them right away...right before dinner. Then they decorated treat bags to put their popcorn hands and already eaten cookies in. Thank goodness I also has ghost suckers and activity pages to put inside them. By then, the mummy dogs were through for anyone who still had the appetite to eat them.

As the kids ran off to create a tornado throughout the house, (which was expected) the adults got to sit down and eat. Yay, my first seat all day besides the dentist chair! Too bad Ryan opened an aggravated liter of soda pop and it sprayed all over the kitchen, and the food. Sitting is over rated anyway. After dinner the adults were led down to the basement to walk through the haunted house the kids put together, while I lit the candles on Ryans Birthday cake. Half way through the candle, Ryan finally came back up and we sang a quick version of Happy Birthday to salvage what was left of the candles. Lastly, we tried to scatter the children so we could play Halloween charades/pictionary. 30 minutes later, with noise and kids running everywhere, the game started. It was pretty simple...I guess those online clues may have been for kids, so they joined in on that game as well. After everyone had finally had enough, they all packed up and left. Now all thats left is the lingering hope that everyone else didnt feel as chaotic as I did, and actually had a good time.

In the midst of all the craziness, I neglected to even take pictures of the kids in their costumes, so I made them put them back on and pose. This also gave us the opportunity to finally pull Ryans birthday present out of the closet for him to open. Sorry babe. Clean-up, baths and bed couldnt come fast enough, since we had to wake up for 8:30 church in the morning. Thank you for the hour time change! And thank you for days of rest!

Finally what you've all been waiting for, the kids in their costumes:

The Devil

The Witch
The Dalmation
The Tiger
The chicken
Napoleon Dynamite

I couldnt get the slide to post here, so its posted before.

ps. Ryan just read through this and made the comment that it sounds like I didnt want everyone to come to the party. I just had to clarify, that although I was a basket case and stressed out, I am glad that we were able to have a party and most people were able to come. I just like things to be perfect, and thats nobodies fault but my own! I just have hopes that it was fun for all! Thanks for coming...if you came!