And Now The Halloween Post.

Well... I have no real great excuse for not posting in a few days. Mostly, life just got a bit on the nutso side. I'm sure everyone can relate. So I'm just now getting around to writing The Halloween Post.

Let me start by saying that Monster had two costumes this year. He goes to a Montessori school that doesn't allow children to wear traditional Halloween costumes on the big day. They do, however, encourage kids to dress as their favorite book character. The class also picks a theme to decorate a pumpkin, which they will take with them on their big Pumpkin/Book parade. It all sounded super adorable in the form the teacher sent home.

But then came the bummer. I had already gotten him one Halloween costume and as any mother on a budget knows, having to buy two costumes was going to super suck. So I got my creative wheels a' turnin' and came up with a simple and cute idea for a Cat in the Hat costume with the added bonus of being able to use part of it in his regular wardrobe.

This is not a book character.
(Photo Credit: www.connect06.com)

When the big day came, I happily agreed to help out in the classroom with Roo in tow. I brought The Big Camera to make sure I got some great pictures for Mrs. Kindergarten as well as myself.

Some parents obviously didn't read the paper that was sent home about this. Either that, or they didn't care (aside from special needs situations). Because there were more vampires, ninjas, princesses and Sponge Bob's than I could count gathered in the kid holding area. (I totally don't count comic book characters, I mean, hello, it's still a book.)

I understand people have a budget. I do, too. I also understand that kids are picky. But really, do you want to be known as the parent who doesn't abide by the rules? Trust me when I say that if you are that parent, your kid's teacher hates you.

Over all, Monster's class looked great. There were a few not in costume, a few who had on traditional Halloween costumes, and then there were some who's parents had gone all-out.

Monster thought he was in this parade.
(Photo Credit: menmedia.co.uk)

Something you should know about my son? He's a total charmer. There's no way to meet him and not fall in love. I don't know if it's the big green eyes or the blond curls or his just-so-perfectly-imperfect speech. So imagine how every single teacher in that place swooned, yes swooned when my adorable Monster came trotting through in his Cat in the Hat gear. And naturally, him being him, he ate.it.up. Politicians can't wave and smile like my kid. Every classroom that the parade passed, kids would point and shout "CAT IN THE HAT!" and Monster would just wave and smile like he was Mr. America. At one point, Mrs. Kindergarten even leaned over to inform me that everyone loves him. "First they see him and he's just so cute. And then he starts talking and it's all over. They just fall in love." she said. I just nodded and laughed.

Once the festivities were over and Roo was officially ready for a nap, we headed home and did nothing exciting for a few hours. When Monster got out of school though, it was time to carve his pumpkin. He wanted a Cat in the Hat pumpkin. I searched all over the interwebz for a pattern, and I just couldn't find one. So he settled for The Lorax.

This is not The Lorax. And yes,
this is the actual pumpkin. We
decided it was Dr. Robotnick from
Sonic the Hedgehog. 

Jeep Momma and I knew this would not be easy within minutes of trying to just cut the top off. The pumpkin was quite possibly the hardest thing to cut, ever. It took three of us (Jeep Momma, Jeep Papa and myself) and five, yes five knives to cut through this thing. And that was just for the top! Once I had it gutted (and shaved quite a few layers from the inside to try and make it cut-able) the fun really began.

Cutting this thing just wasn't going to happen. The rind of it was a quarter of an inch thick. Not the meat, the rind. So I stuck it in the oven to soften it some, which really only made it smell good while attempting to cut it. By the end of it, four people (Jeep Man had joined in at that point) had attempted and it was definitely not The Lorax. Like, at all. Also? We had a couple of bent pumpkin carving knifes to show for our handy work.

After I finally got the pumpkin at least carved, albeit ugly, it was time to get the kids ready for trick-or-treat. Monster's costume for the evening was Fred from Scooby Doo. He's got the hair for it, or he did at the time, so we trashed the ridiculous yellow wig the costume came with. (Side note: we only threw it away after I put it on Roo. Because I'm that ridiculous.) 

Our niece was Angelina Ballerina. For those not in the know, Angelina Ballerina is a mouse ballerina. They do not make costumes of her. So Jeep Sister, Jeep Momma and I came up with the costume ourselves using a tutu I made, leotard and tights Jeep Sister bought and a mouse ear and tail set Jeep Momma bought. She was adorable. Roo was the cutest zebra in the history of zebras. But I could be biased.

Trick or treating with these three was awesome. Jeep Papa decided Monster needed a flashlight, which he proceeded to shine in everyone's eyes and aim at bushes while saying "I sink dewe's a monstew in dose bushes." Roo ran away from any door that an older man answered, and refused to let people put the candy in her bag. She wanted to hold it first. Jeep Niece seemed bewildered. She knew what was going on, she knew what to do. It just looked like she thought the whole thing was a dream. Jeep Sister and I hung back while Jeep Man and Jeep Brother-In-Law took the kids door to door. Because that's what good daddies do.

And at the end of the night? I had in my life been more thrilled to throw a pumpkin in the trash.

~ Dee

PS. What were your kids for Halloween?