November

Wow November... how did you get here so fast??

October... definitely a blur this year. For the first time ever I didn't even get out the Halloween decorations!  There was an absence of the constant asking from the kiddos this year.. I guess that is usually the driving force to getting them out early.  It's just another reminder that they are getting older..(insert sad... sobbing... face).

Ainsley was on the fence this year about trick or treating... she definitely wanted to be with friends this year.  She made plans to head to a friends Halloween party... she planned a costume... only to find out the day before that the plans had changed... they would not be dressing up in a costume... just wearing all black because they were going to scare others.  So not what she had envisioned and was torn to go or stay home.

She's at that in-between age wanting the safety net of home but the pull towards friends and independence.  We talked to her about her choices and gave her some scenarios but told her ultimately it was her choice and she had to make a decision.  She did a happy compromise... dressed up to hand out candy at our house... skipped trick or treating with her brother... but begged for us to save some candy for her and went to the party with friends with the idea that if she felt uncomfortable she could sent us a text... say she didn't feel good and we'd pick her up.  I knew she'd have a fun time once she got there and the "doom and gloom" that she felt was highly over thought about.  They hung out... pretended they were Zombie statues in the front yard... ate junk food... laughed... handed out candy... went to a neighbor's haunted house and just had fun... all the things you should do when your in 7th grade.  She had a pretty rockin' costume... if I do say so myself...

Walker was a recycled costume from last year... Steve from Minecraft with an added prop this year the diamond sword.  He too is at that awkward age. He wanted to go to a sleepover at someone's house we didn't know... sorry Bug... we have to know people before we just let you go off to a new kid's house.  So they made plans to go trick or treating together but as kid plans go they didn't happen... I prepared him for this beforehand and so it was all good... he actually took over the handing out of candy while Ainsley was gone and thought it was fun... the highlight of the night... seeing all the costumes and having everyone comment on his costume.  (I later told him he did a great job helping... he replied... Wait... What!?! I was helping!!!")  I immediately said, "Scratch that... yep just having fun!"

He went with the parents around the neighborhood and it was a beautiful night... everyone was out in their yards handing out candy... fun times. We came back home an hour later... and all watched a movie while we waited to go and get Ainsley... definitely a different sort of halloween... fun times together nevertheless.