Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! It feels like this holiday has been dragged out for many, many days so I'm a little relieved to have it wrap up even though it is one of my favorite holidays.

Since the zombie costume was too bloody and inappropriate, Leo embraced his other dark side and went as Darth Vader.  Shortly after class started, the kids headed out for the parade.

Conveniently, we walked right by the speech therapist's office so Serafina could go into her session.

Leo continued on to the parade.

Waiting for his turn to march.

Making the rounds.

The kindergartens when first so they sat and watched all the other classes parade by.  

The principal was the master of ceremonies and dressed like Cinderella, of course.  

There were a lot of great costumes by the older kids.

Sumo wrestler.

Awesome homemade box robot.

Ostrich rider?

There were a lot of Minions, but I liked this one best.

I fetched Serafina from speech while the parade was still going on.  The kids reached out to touch each other because they really love each other even though they are almost always at the other's throat.

Shark.

Lovely carrot girl.

I'm can't decide which is my favorite... R2D2...

Or Kip from "Napoleon Dynamite".  

After the parade, we went back to the classroom for a pictures and a party.

Posing for a class picture.

Serafina was lucky enough to join the party.

I made a batch of pumpkin snicker doodle cookies.  They were a huge hit with the kids and parents.  I was happy with how they turned out.

After school, we carved pumpkins.  Daddy is usually involved in this process but we didn't get a chance to do it before today, so he had to miss it.  The kids let me know that daddy was better at it, but I was doing an acceptable job.

Serafina's pumpkin

Leo's pumpkin

After dinner, it was time for the zombie to return.  Since Leo had more than one costume, Serafina needed a second costume too.  Today she was the butterfly.  Her hair had nothing to do with butterflies; I just thought it looked kinda funny and she let me do it.

They came to our door to trick-or-treat and I didn't give them any candy until they smiled for a picture. Our neighbor Colleen is in the police uniform with some school friends, including a pretty awesome Oopma Loompa.

The kids returned with quite a loot, including giant pixie sticks.  They are leaving most of it out for the Halloween Fairy who will replace it with a toy.

Shew.  It's been a fun Halloween but I'm ready for it to be over.

Preschool Halloween Party

Since Serafina class doesn't meet on Thursdays, they had their Halloween Party today.  I ended up switching work days and was "Recess Parent" today.  I figured I would have been there for the parade and passing out the treats, so I might as well just work.  That wasn't my best idea.

Can you spot Serafina in the sea of princesses?

She had a moment of sadness and said she wanted to be a beautiful princess too.  I told her she was beautiful and it was better to be the one and only Dorothy instead of just one of the gaggle of princesses.  She cheered up after that.

During circle time, each kid got to stand up and show off his/her costume.  

Next was a parade.  She was a little whiney during it until we headed towards Mrs. Robinson's class.  Check out "Linus" behind her.  His mom made that out of paper mache and is my hero.

Seeing her brother.

So excited.

He played it cool.

This is blurry but it illustrates how thrilled she was.

Group shot with their substitute teacher, who happens to be Mrs. Mouritsen's daughter.

Just the kids.

Each kid posed for a picture for the yearbook.

I decided to get a picture with her since I had on part of a costume too.

Bride of Frankenstein and Dorothy.

Party days are always a little hectic in class.  I started the morning by having to break a huge brick of dry ice into pieces so it could be used to make a "witch's brew".  The kids were also suppose to make a rice crispy pumpkin.  As soon as I laid eyes on the marshmallows and food coloring, I yelled "not it".  The death stare I received from my dear friend and fellow working parent Aida was pretty frightening.  I ended up providing help because it really was a horrible experience.  The kids got a heaping handful of orange colored rice crispy treat and needed to mold it into a ball.  

Once it was a ball, they stuck a tootsie roll on the top for a stem.  Aida added the leaf since there was no way we were going to set the kids loose with green icing.

The other activity was making a banana ghost.

At the end of the day the kids passed out treats.  

Then we went home, Serafina ate some candy and watched TV while I took migraine medicine and crawled into bed fully clothed.  I only had a few minutes before we had to pick up Leo and continue our afternoon.  Tomorrow will be another round of Halloween party fun and, of course, trick-or-treating.