Halloween parade

As a kid I looked forward to celebrating Halloween in school, specifically the costume parade. I loved being dressed up in my costume at school. (My favorite was the year I was a fairy princess...oh my goodness, I'd never felt so beautiful.) I loved seeing everyone else's costumes. I loved parading through all the other classrooms and the gym where the parents congregated. I loved watching for my mom who'd walked up to the school to see us. I loved the class party afterwards. I have such vivid and happy memories of those elementary school Halloween experiences. It was all just great fun. So I was sad when my own children went to elementary schools where costumes and parades were not allowed. Oh, I'm sure they still quite enjoyed the Halloween parties and art projects and various festivities. And since they didn't know any different, they didn't miss the costume parade. But I knew, and I missed it vicariously for them.

When Lilian reached the 3rd grade, a new principle came to her elementary school. She decided that with a few guidelines and boundaries, she would be amenable to Halloween costume parades. Oh hey...did you hear that? That is the sound of joy and rejoicing throughout the land! Excitement abounded and a glorious Halloween celebration was had by all! {I might be getting just the slightest bit carried away now...} The next year a new elementary school was built nearby and we found ourselves included in the boundaries. Would that one year of Halloween costume parade goodness be our only year? Believe it or not, the principle of our new school also agreed to hold a parade! There was more joy and rejoicing, because now the kids knew what wonderful fun that parade truly was. They'd actually miss it now if it was discontinued. 

The Halloween costume parade is a different experience for me as a parent, clearly. I sit in the gym or the main hallway to watch the parade of kids come through...but still such enjoyable fun! What a feast for the eyes! It is so fascinating to see what costumes these kids come up with. Scary, cute, pop culture, pretty, creativity, color...but one thing that seems to be a standard with each kid: such joy on those little faces. There is no doubt that they love this Halloween parade tradition. {And now I'm feeling sad again that Rebekah, Julianne and Brandon never got to experience it. Lilian is the only one.}

All of this leading into pictures of Lilian's costume parade this year as a 5th grader. Unicorns were popular this year. While her costume was a little on the overly cozy side inside the school, it did keep her pretty warm while outside trick-or-treating Halloween night. But more on that a little later...

Coach Cade, also clearly a fan of Halloween, decided to have the last practice before the big day be a a combined one with both his girls and boys teams...and he encouraged them to wear their Halloween costumes. Deciding that it might be hard to run around in a bulky and hot fuzzy suit with a horn on your head while trying to make soccer goals, Lilian pulled out an old costume of Julianne's to wear that evening. But I tell you what, it was pretty funny watching Big Bird as goalie...

 A stop at Fiiz after practice with besties Lilian, Julie and Sophie.

Pumpkin adventures

Our resident lovebirds, Rebekah and Tanner, had never spent a Halloween together. Indeed, last year Tanner was newly home from Taiwan and Rebekah was still in London. So this year, while home from USU on Fall Break, we decided a trip to the pumpkin patch was in order.

Later that evening the pumpkin carving began. Tanner found a music design that he decided to carve into his pumpkin. Rebekah asked her Dad for his drill to make circular designs in her pumpkin. Brandon decided the drill was also the way to go, while Bryan helped Lilian carve a cat design. I had so much fun last year painting my pumpkins that I pulled out the paints again, and in honor of Julianne's mission, painted the shape of the state of New Jersey. (Trust me, the state flag was going to be way beyond my abilities.)

A few days later I pulled out my paints (and markers) again. Over Fall Break we also watched the new Disney movie, "Coco"...all about Mexican culture and Day of the Dead. Though Julianne is serving her mission in New Jersey, she is a Spanish speaking hermana and after spending 6 weeks in the Mexico MTC, is now teaching many hispanic and latino cultures. I decided that maybe it would be fun to try my hand at some Day of the Dead sugar skull pumpkins. I had so much fun that I think I'll make it tradition for future years to come. {Ah, how we miss our Hermana Croft!}