Halloween is over

While I say that with some sense of relief, I am also a bit sad. Halloween is a pure kids' holiday (at least the way we celebrate it). The anticipation, the excitement, the costuming, the partying, aaah... what fun it all is.

We had a really full week, though, so I'm a really tired mom and I think my kids are feeling it, too. (I'm glad I'm not a teacher tomorrow). We trunk-or-treated Saturday evening. The kids decorated pumpkins (with minimal assistance) and turned them all into royalty, so Derek and I built a cardboard/aluminum foil castle, which the kids also decorated, for our trunk. It turned out so cute. It's now in our garage, where the children spend a lot of time playing with it. I don't know how much longer it will hold out, but it has surely been well loved.

Today was simply crazy (in a fun, though exhausting, kind of way). Nina's party was this morning and Jon's this afternoon, so I got to go to both of them. I loved it! Though I can't imagine not staying home with my kids, I do miss teaching. It's been great to spend so much time in the schools this year. (Especially for fun stuff, like birthdays, field trips and Halloween parties.)

Nina went to Jon's party with me and then we stayed for their assembly. (Since Nina is in morning Pre-K at her school, she misses all the fun assemblies.) We waited around for Jon afterwards, because it was so near pick-up time. Then we rushed home, straightened up the house (and examined the party loot), put costumes back on and headed out to a carnival at a friend's house. It was so much fun (and a much better alternative than trick-or-treating, in my opinion). Of course, two hours into it, as we were nearing time to go home, Michael told me, "Mom, we better go to the Halloween party now." He was excited (fortunately, since you never know with Michael) to find out he was at the party.

Well, I'd best stop rambling and get some sleep -- I can definitely use it -- since tomorrow is another crazy day. I'll put together some Halloween photos one of these days, so you can see our fun.