Halloween!

Thomas was a football player for Halloween this year.  We sort of came upon this costume by default, as Party City was out of his other top three in his size (pirate, Woody, & Buzz), and mama ain't the creative type to make a costume.  Who has time for this?

But he seemed to take to this idea of being a football player pretty well, and it actually was great for him, since right now, he's really into throwing balls, playing ball and catch, complete with "Ready, set, go!"  In fact, just last night, we were throwing the little football in his room, and I threw it to him from completely across the room, and guess what?  He caught it!  Then he threw the mess out of  that thing.

So yes, he was all for wearing his "football costume," as he liked to call it. 

The Halloween weekend kicked off first with T's Harvest Day party at his school.  My, oh my, was he pumped for this thing.  I was one of the party moms, so I was there that day.  He came BOLTING out of his room at party time yelling, "party! party! party!"  In fact, he was so excited, he ran right past me, then noticed me and mustered a little, "hi, mama!" before he ran to sit down to his party table.  It was, I must say, simply adorable.

You can't tell, but this is his extremely happy/shy face

Saying 'cheese!' over and over again

Thomas loving his football 'costume'

VERY excited about the pumpkin cupcake

Football Player!

Thomas & Chloe at the Harvest Day Parade

These two are TOO cute.

More Harvest Day Parade!

Sunday afternoon, we finally carved our pumpkin.  It had been sitting in our kitchen since we got it from the pumpkin patch two weeks ago, so I think it was happy to finally fulfill its destiny.  Thomas did a great job helping, and was so proud of the results.

Helping spoon out the junk

Seasonally confused (T is very into Santa these days--not sure where it came from...)

My favorite part: roasting the pumpkin seeds.

Since T is still a bit too young for trick or treating (or more since we deemed this the last year we could get away with not trick or treating :), I left work early on Monday, and went to pick T up for his halloween suprise. He was so excited when I told him I was taking him to the Halloween parade. We had such a great afternoon together, and he had a blast!

Getting used to this parade thing

First Loot

Storing loot in the stroller, as mom forgot a bag

Happy Kid

First taste of a tootsie roll.  I think he's hooked now

Beads on person; tootsie roll in mouth.

One of the Halloween Floats

So excited that he caught a football

T and all his loot

I think I had more fun this year for Halloween than I've ever had before.  Kids' excitement is so contagious. 

And now, all of a sudden, just like that, it's November.  Before we know it, it'll be Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. 

I'll be honest: the holidays are going to be bittersweet for us all this year, on both sides of our families.  We're going to be missing two very special people a whole, whole lot.  And while we know we have much to celebrate, appreciate, and be thankful for, it still won't take away the void.  2011 has been tough, rough, excrutiating, and yet, never has there been a year where I have learned more, grown more, and experienced more joy amid the ache in my heart.

I know I've been lazy on the blog lately. 

But yall, there's just so much livin to do...