Halloween by Instagram

I love instagram.  It helps my Iphone pics look good (thereby making it okay that I hardly remember to take the expensive Nikon with us anywhere).  If you want, you can follow me on Instagram:  I'm EJPhillips.  

Ah, the pumpkins.  

In a parent's mind, this is such a fun family activity.  In reality, it holds a preschooler's attention for about 30 seconds. And I'd have better luck asking my kids to touch fire than to touch the goopy innards of the pumpkin.  Probably because their father gags several times as he scrapes it out. So instead of it being something that everyone enjoys, it becomes an exercise in teaching your child how to micromanage.  And, in our case, an exercise in Mommy being okay with cutting out a Jack-O-Lantern face EXACTLY how the 4 year old drew it, not matter that it's all scrunched up in the middle of the pumpkin.  I also ended up painting the last two pumpkins because I was just tired of carving.  And one of them looks like an easter egg.

Or as I like to call it, Failed Pinterest Project.

Calling All Super Readers!

Henry picked out his costume last November 1st.  Most 4-year-olds are capricious by nature.  Not Henry; he is methodical.  So when he says that he wants to be Super Why in a year, I believed him.  He never wavered. So I knew I was going to end up like this:

Yeah, I'm Wonder Red and Sloan is Alpha Pig.  The bummer about being Super Why for Halloween is that it is an obscure PBS cartoon, so unless you currently have a preschooler, you don't know it.  So we spent the entire Trunk and Treat explaining that he wasn't the green lantern and that she was more than just a princess.  That Henry had the power to read, Gracie the power to spell, Daddy had alphabet power, and that, fittingly, I had Word Power.  And when you have to explain your costume, it kinda detracts from its awesomeness.  As does having to periodically drain the condensation from your pig nose.  It also does not add to the cool factor if you are doubled up and trying not to pee your pants because your spouse has issues with his snout sweat.

Super Why on parade at school.  Cutest. Thing.  Ever.  My boy was even excited this year to go into the middle and do the "Hooky Spooky."

And because the roof opened up and it rained buckets, I got no photos of us actually trick or treating.  But it was great.  Each kid was armed with their flashlight and bucket, while Sloan and I tried to cover them with the umbrellas.  Part of the time we used the double stroller, but we ended up ditching it at a neighbor's house.  Despite the rain, we still trick or treated for about an hour.  I wanted to stay out longer, but Sloan made us come in when Henry was literally crying and begging to go home because he was wet and f-f-freeeeeezing.  I may or may not have called them all babies.  I may or may not have said, "We're the Phillips family!  We go big or go home!"  To which Sloan said, "Yes, we'd like to go home now."  

Then came home and watched a Spooky Thomas and ate some candy.  I tried to explain that we were supposed to watch Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin, but this notion also made my son cry.  I may or may not have said, "Well, just so you know, this Thomas thing isn't gonna fly next year, because you are supposed to watch the Great Pumpkin while you eat your candy after trick or treating.  It's just what you do.  It's tradition."

The stash.  And the Phillips family rule is the house gets 10%.  And also, don't be too shocked when you find that Santa often "shops" for candy in the leftovers of kids trick or treat buckets.

Why I Love Fall (also Photographic Evidence that I'm a Really Good Parent seasonally)

I love Fall because I don't have to shave my legs as often.

I love Fall because of three words: Pumpkin Spice Latte.

I love Fall because orange and brown and red look fabulous on me.  

I love Fall because I love college football.  

I love Fall because the air is crisp and I can finally wear a jacket.

I love Fall because it starts to get dark earlier and I can convince my kids it is bedtime an hour earlier.

But mainly, I love Fall because Fall weekends mean festivities.  It is pretty easy to be a good parent in the Fall.  Saturdays are full of free carnivals replete with snow cones and bounce houses.  Oh, and did I mention that I love Fall because of all the candy?  Cause I love candy, too.

So here...in no certain order, is photographic evidence for my children that I'm a fun parent (at least for one season) and that I love them (all the time, but sometimes Mommy just can't sit outside when it is 90 degrees outside or she will melt and she can't breathe in the Spring).

  Field Day of the Past.  You know, where there are roller coasters and pony rides, tractor pulls, and dump trucks full of corn.  And also where they have historical displays of things from days gone by--like wagons, tee-pees, and typewriters.

 

Miniature train displays at the NC Transportation Museum when we went to a Day out with Thomas.  Why we got no pics with the actual Thomas train detracts from my good parenting as I was too lazy to wait in the line when it was raining.  Also, I may have been stressed out from yelling at my husband for being unable to read my mind.  But clearly, I am a fun mom who takes her kids fun (and educational!) places.

The State Fair of Virginia.  I'm fairly certain that our 18 hours in 2 days visit to the State Fair qualifies us for some type of parenting award.  I mean, I didn't even let my shoes falling apart ruin our fun.  For realz, yo.

And then there was the weekend leading up to my surgery where I was a REALLY fun parent.  All of the following pics took place on the same weekend.  It's gonna blow your mind.

FRIDAY NIGHT:

3rd Annual cookout in our driveway for the Monacan High School Homecoming Parade.

 The Crowd:  The Perrys and their neighbors, us, and the Longs.

 The parade.  Yeah, at the end of our driveway.

The adorable candy catchers: from L-R: Nathan, Anna holding Emily, Abigail, Cooper, Gunner, Henry, Gracie, and Katherine.  (Katherine clearly is too cool for parades in her bucket seat.  We'll give it time.)

SATURDAY:

And because a weekend is not complete without two parades:

I give you the Midlothian Day Parade and Festival.

And because we're fools popular, we followed up the parade with a Monkey Joe's birthday party.

SUNDAY:

After church, we of course went to Chesterfield Berry Farm, where we picked pumpkins, panned for gems, played in more corn, rode the barrel train, shot paint guns, and played king of the mountain.

 (Because nothing says I'm a good parent quite like a 4 year old with a weapon.)

Are you tired yet?  

This weekend is perhaps why I was so looking forward to the time off my surgery afforded me.  Because nothing helps you nap quite like anesthesia...

Grace's birthday.  Outside our traditional Dunkin Donuts birthday breakfast.  

Opening her sit and spin.

Stoked about her scooter.  

The time we learned that Gracie is afraid of candles on cakes combined with people singing to her.  

So like any good parent, I took one for the team and ate the cake myself while letting the birthday girl eat as many Oreos as she wanted. 

And then this past weekend, we also had her Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday.  I'll post about that later.  I'm kinda overwhelmed by my parenting awesomeness.  And also, the two Thomas shows that I allowed Henry to watch while I did this post are over.  So I gotta get back to the actual parenting. 

Happy Halloween!

To Infinity and Beyond!!!

On parade at Preschool. 

(Whattcha want to bet he had to hold the teacher's hand because he wanted to go to the playground instead of parade around the gym?)

Woody and Buzz.

Best friends for life.

 Can  you tell her brother picked her costume? 

Henry digging into his candy bucket. 

 In my mind, this was a good idea.  In my mind, I looked super cute with a red yarn wig.  In reality, it was super itchy and not really all that cute.  Also in my mind it was a lot easier to make a cow print vest for Sloan.  Also, in my mind, I bought a costume for Gracie that fit.  In reality, it fit a month ago. 

First things first--Halloween

No More Sour Pickle

Henry is doing well. He is back into everything. So much for my grand plans of watching Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang yesterday. Our house smells like a hospital as I've Lysoled everything. He was excited today to finally have food that wasn't beige--macaroni and cheese. He wore it all over his face. Thanks so much for all of your prayers and well wishes.

Also, I'm thinking of going on Halloween Candy diet. The only thing I ate on Friday was Fun Size Milky Ways and Snickers Bars. Apparently, this helped me to lose 6 pounds.

THAT JUST HAPPENED!!

So three little pirates just came up to the door. We answer the door and I ask, "Does anyone have any allergies? Because I have peanut free stuff in addition to all this chocolately stuff." The little brother, with a very sweet lisp says, "Yes. I'm allergic to smoke."

I'm telling you it was only the power of Jesus in me that kept me from laughing in the kid's face. "Well, you're in luck. We're not handing out any smoke tonight, so you can have some of everything."

Pocket Full of Kryptonite

The saddest Superman ever. But I think we're on the mend as he moved from Papa's chair to the couch (to be by me) and picked up a tractor on the way. 'Cause when you're watching The Sound of Music with your Mom and your bunny, you need a tractor to butch it up a bit.

The Book of Awesome

Saturday we set out to carve our Methodist pumpkins. I was certain Henry would be totally into it. Pulling out the gooey insides. Squishing the pumpkin pulp. But apparently, Henry did not get this memo. Mom, I'm still not getting why you put this yucky stuff at my place if I'm not allowed to eat it. It smells pretty good--but it is kind of yucky.

So I'm just going to return some voicemails and shoot out a few text messages while you and Daddy carve these things up. Let me know when you need me.
Great Mom. An H. That's my name don't wear it out. I can't believe you made me put my phone down just so you could take a picture of me with the pumpkin.
And Holy Cow, woman! Why did you turn off the lights and take away my phone. And you won't even let me touch the candle. AAAAAUGH! (Sorry for the grainy photo, I had to "auto correct" it a lot so you could see the pickle's dismay at his cell phone being taken away.)

So while Henry was not into the pumpkin carving process, Sloan made up for it in spades. He decided to carve a batman symbol. (Pattern courtesy of Mommy's time spent teaching PreK to a bunch of boys and her awesome Batman coloring skills.) While carving it, Sloan kept saying, "I'm serious. This may just be the best pumpkin ever. Just look at it. Are you freaking kidding me?" But post carving it, Sloan decided to tidy up the inside a bit (despite my warnings of damaging the bat) and broke off part of the upper wing. I almost cried. Seriously. I think if it had been my pumpkin, I would've. Right before I made us go to Wal-Mart to get a pumpkin to replace it. But Sloan just grab some toothpicks and patched it up. But he wasn't as excited about it. I said, "Are you sure you're alright about the pumpkin?" "Yeah," he said. "There hasn't been a perfectly carved pumpkin since Jesus carved pumpkins. And then all he had to do was just stare the pumpkin down and then BAM! it was carved. You know that's where Emeril gets the Bam from right. It's from Jesus carving pumpkins."

I didn't quite know what to say. He wasn't laughing at all when he said this. He didn't even look up from his pumpkin-toothpickectomy. "Where exactly in the Bible is this pumpkin carving incident?" (I was expecting him to say, "Duh! In the Book of Awesome.") Instead, he said, "Well, if you don't know I think you should just read the Bible again. It's obviously in the New Testament!"

Sloan's awesome pumpkin.

The Phillips pumpkin patch. (Notice my boring smiley face pumpkin in the middle.)

The Great (Methodist) Pumpkin

We had thought about taking Henry to the Chesterfield Berry Farm to get a pumpkin so he could do the corn maze, ride a pony, and have a hay ride. It's $40 a person. So we set out to find something a little more "current economic situation" friendly. And as I was looking around, I realized that it is only the Methodist churches that have pumpkin patches. When I was a kid, it was Centenary Methodist Church. For Henry, it was Huguenot Methodist. Do the Methodists control some sort of pumpkin racket? Are there no Baptist Pumpkins--easy for dunking? Presbyterian Pumpkins--or have they already been chosen? And, while we're thinking about this--are pumpkins always Christian? Couldn't there be Jewish pumpkins? (Well, I guess Halloween did start off as a Christian holiday. So maybe not.)

Henry surveys the patch.
Daddy tries to explain to Henry that this pretty much a perfect pumpkin, but Mommy is a bit touched in the head, so we have to get three and they have to coordinate nicely together. She's making some sort of Jack-O-Lantern arrangement.
Woo Hoo! Henry loves being able to scream at the top of his lungs without being told to use his "inside voice."
Henry loves the little pumpkins.
Hey Mommy, I was wondering, why are pumpkins always Methodists? We'll have to take them home and carve them up--you know, Reform them a bit. Then they'll be Presbyterian.

Henry's GGGGGREAT!!

Had a blast last night at our friends John and Kaden Reece's house. It is what I am going to begin calling the "2nd Annual Fish Stew Halloween Bash." It was great to be able to have a little one this year to snag some candy for us. Awesome! Check out our cute little tiger...

Yes--Mommy and Henry like to coordinate their outfits.

What good parenting looks like. (Or proof things have changed since college.)

The Gaggle of Kids--There's two seventies kids, Bob the Builder (who also carries a sword), Henry the Tiger, Dora the Explorer, Two Star Wars Storm Troopers, Jengo Fett, a Pirate, and a witch.

Daddy and Mommy took turns trotting Henry up to people's doors to Trick or Treat. We totally scored on yummy candy. Heck Yeah!!

No tricks, Just treats...

Oh my goodness. Our telephone and Internet was down for two days and I realized how addicted I am to technology. I told Sloan, "Thank God we still have our cable TV, otherwise we'd have to actually talk to one another or read a book." Thank goodness it never came to that! Ha!

Yesterday we took treats to the nurses that took care of me while I was on bed rest, the NICU nurses, and my OB/GYN. They were very excited to see Henry and my OB was curious as to when we'd be up for another kid. I told her to ask our perinatologist(Dr. Troyer) and fertility doc (Dr. Tidey)--who happen to be married to one another--to let us know when they need another boost in the Troyer/Tidey trust fund. We figure we've sent their boys to private school for at least a year. The treats, I must say, were very cute. Even if I did come up with the idea myself. I filled these little jack-o-lantern bowls with Hershey kisses and attached a sign with Henry's picture in his Hershey Kiss costume and wrote on it "No tricks. Just treats! Love, Henry, Elizabeth, and Sloan Phillips." Henry was going to be a Hershey's kiss for Halloween but after the photo shoot I decided it was too difficult to struggle with a hat all night long and so Henry is now going to be a Tiger. He looks so cute in his little Tiger costume and the thing looks so cozy, I may just use it as his winter coat. I'll be sure to post pics of Henry on Halloween.