As a family primarily populated by small children, we’re really just beginning to create holiday traditions. For a long time, it felt like we were the house of babies, then toddlers. And now that everyone is between the ages of two and three, we can actually say “we have three kids.” They are finally all able to understand Halloween – or at least the various decorations and activities that go along with it.
Now we have three very enthusiastic little people in our house who just LOVE PUMPKINS! So number one on the list of what we do to prepare for Halloween? We talk about pumpkins incessantly. The word “pumpkin” must be included in every other sentence – at least. And if we are driving in the car, there must be constant speculation about where the pumpkins are, how many there are and which direction should be taken to find them. Oh – and if there aren’t any to be seen? Get ready for some screaming.
We also make it our first order of business to purchase a hideous plastic light up pumpkin:
My three year old, Oliver felt that this was a “must have” on one of our trips to Harris Teeter – LAST MONTH. At the time, I thought, “what the hell? If an ugly light up pumpkin decoration adds to their Halloween experience, why not?” Why not? Because it’s now the most important feature of the house and must be plugged in at all times. Plugging that stupid pumpkin in is my first priority when we get up and when we come home in the evening. I’m starting to worry about what will happen when Halloween is over and the pumpkin is put away (hidden). How will they function without their tacky idol to worship? Will I have to buy them a plastic light up turkey?
The next Hood Halloween tradition is to buy our costumes early. And demand to wear them ALL THE TIME:
Unfortunately – George tired of his Yoda ears a couple of weeks ago and decided to hijack his brother’s costume:
If I don’t hide the Superman top, George will demand to wear it everywhere: to daycare, to bed, to the mall, in the tub (seriously – we’ve had some BIG fights about that). I’ve written before about George’s tendency to get attached to things. And I think that he would shatter all of the glass in the house with his screams if I dared to take that Superman costume away from him and let Oliver wear it. Luckily Target had more. So we’ll have two Supermen this year. I don’t care – at least Eleanor is happy as a ballerina. And I suppose I should be pleased that George isn’t demanding her costume.
But I think our most festive new Halloween tradition is “decorating the ceiling.” What – you’ve never tried this? Well let me tell you how it’s done!
It all started with one of my great ideas for kid friendly activities. I have these all the time – but they never turn out quite the way I have in mind. This particular gem was inspired by stickers. My kids love to put stickers on paper, but do tend to get frustrated when they can’t peel the stickers off the paper to re-stick them. So what could be more fun than reusable stickers? The answer? Halloween window clings! Have you ever heard of these? They’re like little gel stickers that you can put in your windows. I thought this could keep them busy for a long time while I made dinner, got lunches ready for the next day, changed out of my work clothes… And that it did.
While I put away dishes and Chris was on the computer, Oliver had the genius idea to rip the orange and black gel shapes into tiny pieces. Because shredding things is fun! Then he decided that if the pieces would stick to the window, they would stick just as well to ceiling!
I told Chris that I was running upstairs to change and caught Oliver in the act. He was mid-fling and obviously thrilled with the results of his work. We don’t have particularly high ceilings, but I had to be at least initially impressed by his skill. He had only gotten a few good throws in at that point, so I told him he had to stop, took away the pieces in his hands and called to Chris to make sure that nothing else happened until I came back downstairs. Assuming that my husband was in charge downstairs, I wasn’t in a rush. But apparently I should have been since my directions were not followed.
I came downstairs to find this:
Here is a close-up:
Now, I don’t usually take pictures of my children using their powers for evil. But this was just too outrageous. I needed proof. So before starting in on the husband evisceration, I grabbed my camera. That small detail out of the way, the whoop ass can was opened.
Unfortunately, no one was overly concerned with my rage. Chris thought the whole thing was hilarious and even tossed a few scraps himself. Just another example of men taking inappropriate pleasure in their sons’ misbehavior. It’s all about example setting at our house.
Anyway – the fun ended when we had to pull the pieces down later that evening and realized that they had stained our ceiling. But orange and black is festive for Halloween…and it makes the ceiling look old…like in a haunted house… Oh who am I kidding – it looks like crap. And I’m fairly certain that it won’t be re-painted until next Halloween. Chris is a bit of a project procrastinator. I mean, it takes him a year to make a dentist appointment (sorry honey – but it’s true).
So here it is October 30th, and we’re all ready for the big night! When darkness falls and the festivities begin, we’ll have our plastic pumpkin blazing, our children dressed as Supermen and ballerinas (costume wearers to be determined), and our ceiling stamped with the signs of much mischief. If you think about it, with the exception of costumes, it doesn’t deviate much from everyday life a “the house of kids” – where every day is Trick or Treat.
Happy Halloween!
Those little kids look like they’re having so much fun! So it cost you a greasy, stained ceiling – small price to pay. ;)
My Chris is a project procrastinator too. Just call a professional – that’s what I do. It often costs less!
Project procrastinator? Our husbands share more than a first initial! Well, on the bright side, Oliver was entertaining himself, right? In a creative, kind of artistic way, too! The stains give the ceiling character. Okay, that is all of my positive spin!
gonna lie, thats awesome. Mostly the fact that your husband joined in because i imagine my fiancé to do the same crap when we have kids and i tell him to get them out of mischief. I swear, he’s 5 sometimes bless his heart.
you = greatest “mommy blogger” ever. Seriously, I aspire to write like you do. You’re fabulous :) Just thought you should know. Your posts always make my day :)
I am totally blown away by Oliver’s strength! How could he possibly
throw something so hard and so far? Look at his height compared to the ceiling height! Unbelievable! And what about Eleanor’s hair?! Does she have a pony tail? I hope you got the second Superman suit in George’s size. He looks pretty comical with that big top and skinny little legs. Hope everyone has a great Halloween!!!
Your kids are adorable. Mine wore their costumes constantly for years at that age, and still dress up at least once a week now that they’re big kids (6 and 8). What a creative idea with the gel things!
So cute and funny. I love seeing pictures of the kids.
Again…when are they coming over? We need to set a date for them all to get together.
I’m with Chris – I think your kids are freaking hilarious…I am laughing out loud. And I love that line about being glad George doesn’t want to wear Eleanor’s outfit…hehe…be sure to take a pic tomorrow and post it.
1. We have 17 pumpkins, including those little gourd/pumpkin guys. Yeah, overkill.
2. At Christmas, we have a light up, white wire snowman. And I was eyeing an inflatable Santa at Lowes a few weeks ago. It is SO not about the adults in this house.
3. I just need to take pictures for the next post in my “we can’t have nice things” series: “unfinished projects.”
Porgie loves wearing her costume ALL the time too. In our house, we love looking at the blow up decorations around our neighborhood. I predict that there will be a few tantrums on Saturday.
hahah….the plastic pumpkin makes me laugh. And yes, you should wear costumes all month, just make sure you have back ups for all the crap they spill on them. :-) I go and buy them 1/2 off after Halloween…or now for all the time costumes.
That is so cute. I love how kids (big and small) get around Halloween. I can’t wait to see the pictures of all the kids in their costumes whatever they may be.
We have another trick or treat tomorrow and then mommy is stealing Bunny’s cat ears and tail for a party tomorrow night. We’ll see how that goes.
So awesome…I literally CANNOT wait for Maddie to be old enough to understand what is going on with the holidays!
i hope you guys have a great halloween!
Adorable pics! Have fun on the big night! I wish my kids would wear their costumes around prior to Halloween. Definitely cuts down on the cost per wear. M will don her Hannah Montana costume for the one and only time tonight– covered up w/ a coat.
When do you want to “do lunch?”
Eleanor went from being bald to having super long hair!
And George’s yoda ears are too cute—too bad he got tired of them.
My first halloween costume was a bear suit with mittens and feet that had a hood with little ears on it. I’m sure my mom still has it somewhere.
Aww, look how much fun they are having! Hahaha. They are so adorable.
OOoooohohhoooo. Black and orange spotted ceiling. Dang.
Also, is George simultaneously channeling the Man of Steel and … John Travolta? Just checking.
Hahahaha!
Oh, and the Yoda costume rocks. I tried to get Dylan to wear that this year. But he is boycotting all things costumey.
seriously i think Chris and Bryan are long lost brothers!!!
Can’t wait to hear about the effects of the sugar rush later! Should be quite entertaining (for us, lol) from your description of your kids.
Oh my it is funny though
Now you know you’re into a holiday when you start buying the plastic versions of the paraphernalia :)
My mouth dropped and I just started laughing when I saw the ceiling. I hope it isn’t popcorn style! And there’s no way I’d pick up a paint brush. Nope, it’d be up to hubby to do that since he allowed the mischief to continue. haha!
Oh my. Naughty naughty! In our house, hubby would have started it and the kids’ would have joined in.
And my hubby…doesn’t do projects. We have a handyman on speed dial.
Oh No! I would be a tad bit upset, because I would be the one re-painting the ceiling. I just know it.
I am realizing that only in colorado are we crazy enough to actually trick or treat on Oct 31. What is this Oct 30th thing and why is it ruining Halloween?!
Kids left to their own devices….never a good thing….and how do they come up with this stuff? I’ve had some experience with those gel things too – bad experiences.
Thanks for posting the pics of the aftermath. :)
Kids….love the pictures!! Looks like the kids had allot of fun throwing those on the ceiling..LOL…