Halloween 2016

The best part about Halloween was Gavin's obsession with wearing his BB8 costume. It was ALL him. We had been talking about Halloween since September and entertaining ideas for his costume, but I knew if I bought something that early he would change his mind. I can't even remember how it unfolded or how he knows who BB8 is (Dylan says they've watched plenty of R2 and BB8 videos on YouTube), but when he decided on BB8 I could tell he meant it. We've had the costume since the first week of October, and he hasn't stopped talking about it. Because Gavin was an Ewok last year, we decided to recycle the costume on Graham and sprung for Darth Vader and Stormtrooper outfits for us to round out the team.

When it was time to go to Gavin's school for his Halloween parade, he said that he was excited for it. But when we arrived, it was apparent that this was not the case at all. The longer Gavin spends in preschool, the more that I'm realizing he is actually a very SHY creature. There's so much out there about introversion/extroversion these days, and it's all been very interesting to read as a person who identifies as an introvert. The chaos of all the kids and costumes and parents really freaked him out, and he was the little crying robot in the parade. It was so sweet and sad. His teacher says that he is pretty quiet and keeps to himself by nature, but he does participate in class stuff, so that's good. But Gavin, I hear you buddy...the chaos of people is just too much sometimes, and nothing is worse than being forced out of your shell! Anyway, he loves going to school, and it's a relief that they just let him be who he is.

After the parade the kids went back to the classroom for their party. It was snacks and cookie decorating for them, and then they wrapped it up, and that was that.

Bed head

We checked out the Enchanted Pumpkin Garden on Sunday

Walking around the fountain was his biggest highlight

We went to Wal Mart in search of long tube socks...but we did not find them. If you can't get tube socks at Wal Mart, where can you get them?

Graham is like a puppy...so drawn to this window

Parade-goers

Our sad little robot

Miss Ali had her hands full. Gavin wasn't the only one with tears.

These two enjoyed Gavin's party the most, I think

Dylan stepped in to help with the cookies

After the parade, it was a round of haircuts for Gavin and the dogs. Everyone came out looking so fresh and clean that I was mad I didn't get in on the grooming day, myself. In my defense I've thought a lot about getting a haircut, but then I realize I have to make an appointment and then work around that appointment to get my kids taken care of, and it seems like a lot of effort to get everyone where they need to go and...well I just give up and would rather have disgusting hair. One of these days, though...

His new favorite past-time is launching his trucks off the "ramp"

For Halloween night, we went to the Fountain Hills street fair in lieu of trick-or-treating. At first, Gavin was shy about playing the games, but once he learned that he could win candy if he played, he was all about it. That boy has a serious love for sugar. It's no bueno. But, if he has candy for dinner one night a year, I guess we will all survive. Graham was a trooper, mostly because my mom carried him the whole time since he fussed in the stroller. My dad and I took Gavin into a haunted house, and he was super scared. Especially when a kid jumped out and screamed. He freaked out, we exited immediately, and then recovered shortly thereafter. There were fire engines, bounce castles, servicemen, and games galore. We all had a great time and closed out the night with a pretty sunset and El Encanto to-go. Next year, though, we agreed it would be fun to at least see the boys knock on a few doors for trick-or-treating. Maybe we will live in an actual neighborhood by then? (That's my goal...I'm sold on living in a small cookie-cutter track home two-story ugly 90's-southwestern-pink house to be closer into town, but don't anybody get your hopes up quite yet!)

These two together...nothing is sweeter.

He's got the fake smile down

Halloween was a success!

And just like that, we are already to Hump Day with another weekend in sight. Happy November friends. Here's to hopefully some cooler weather and the start of the Thanksgiving season!