We don't usually go trick-or-treating. For one thing, I despise most Halloween decorations, and the kids are scared of them. I get tired of explaining that scary costumes are just costumes and the tombstones and dummies hanging from trees are fake. For another, do they really need candy? No.
So we have been going to Ft Bliss's Hallelujah Festival the last few years. Our Protestant Director of Religious Education works hard to make the evening a fun alternative to trick-or-treating. The kids play carnival games and get prizes--real prizes, not candy. Bouncy houses and slides are set up outside our chapel--right next to the food tent where supper is free.
What I dread, though, is taking all 4 kids some place where all 4 will want to do individual activities. Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to taking them this year. But Syd & Bryce insisted, and I definitely didn't want to trick-or-treat, so we went.
The evening started off rough. Bryan had taken a nap, and of course, was quite cranky. "I NOT be Diego!" he screamed at me over and over. I dressed him anyway (mean mommy, I know) and told him he didn't have to be Diego. He could just be Bryan. He wasn't buying it (the kid's smart). So I offered to buy them small fries from McDonald's. Bryan stopped screaming long enough to say he wanted fries. All the McDonald's employees were dressed up, and the guy who gave us our food was in a purple striped suit with a matching hat & a few bracelets. "Who's he?" Bryce asked. I thought the guy looked like Elton John, but I wasn't sure. When he gave me our order, I asked him who he was dressed up as. He lowered his voice and said, "A pimp, ma'am." Allrighty, then. Never mind. He must've been embarassed a little--he found cookies to give the kids. Fortunately Bryce didn't ask about the costume again!
Cranky children fed, we headed to chapel.
The festival always starts with praise & worship geared toward kids. Brady screamed the entire time. When we broke for games, I found out (after wrestling with him outside while trying to watch the other 3 run through the crowd--not fun) that Miss Sara, Miss Wanda & Miss Raquel were in the nursery. I love these ladies--they are Watchcare providers (ministry partners, really) and work with me on Wednesday mornings at PWOC. As soon as Brady saw them, he stopped crying. I think Wanda & Raquel spoil him. "Ah, come here, my Brahhdy," Wanda always says. And Brady runs to her without question. Every time.
With Brady taken care of, the remaining 3 and I played a few games and ate supper. Then the kids discovered the bouncy houses and slide. We spent the rest of the evening there. Bryan had a blast! And bonus for Mom: they slept very well last night!
The festival always ends with praise & worship, too. This time the HOPE Chapel praise band led us in several upbeat, fun songs--like "Big House" and "Pharoah, Pharoah." Bryce & Syd just sat and played with their prizes. But Bryan, who earlier had been determined to not have fun, sang and bounced and clapped the whole time. He yelled "Whoo-hoo!" and even waved his arms--no one else was. It was so cute and made my night. As we left, each child received a bag of candy. Not too much, though--just the right amount.
Afterwards, we stopped at Wal-Mart. And the greeter was in costume. "He a monster, Mommy!" Bryan yelled. Again, we managed to embarass a well-meaning employee. He said, "Sorry, ma'am." I just told the kids he was pretending, but the looks they gave the guy successfully communicated they did not approve of his costume choice. This told me that we have done a good job handling Halloween. Costumes don't have to be scary, and dressing up is always fun. And the night isn't even about candy. For my kids, Halloween means they get to pick out new dress-up outfits (that they'll wear every day from now on until they're too small) and go play games with their friends.
So we had a great night. My only question is this: When is it too early to put up the Christmas tree? *
* This is a rhetorical question. :)
Our naked cowboy is much cuter than NYC's!
Brady wouldn't stand up because I was sitting on the floor. I stood up to get him to stand up, then squatted to take the picture. He sat down with me. Oh well.
When we take pictures, the kids insist they get to see the shots immediately. When Brady saw this one, he said, "Look! Baby go!"
Bryce was thrilled to be James this year. But everyone at chapel called him "Thomas." He was quite offended and proceeded to educate people: "NOO, I'm NOT THOMAS! Thomas is blue! I'm JAMES, see? James is red!"
Our characters sit still long enough for one picture: Hannah Montana, Cowboy BT, Diego, and James.
Here is Hannah Montana minus the wig. Syd took the wig to Miss Wanda to put in Brady's backpack. Instead, Miss Wanda, a Latino, wore the wig and posed for a picture that Miss Sara took. Wanda showed me the picture, saying, "Don't I look like Britney Spears?" in her heavy Mexican accent. I wish I had a copy of it!
The Slippery Slope was Bryan's favorite activity. Miss Cindy had to help him up the rope ladder and catch him. She works in Bryce's PWOC class as a ministry partner and co-teaches Bryan's Sunday school class.
Miss Carrie, one of Bryce's Watchcare ministry partners (aka teachers), came as a grandma.
Miss Jennifer (another of Bryce's ministry partners) dressed up as a can of worms, name brand: Mischief.
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