Halloween is Coming! Halloween is Coming!!

In terms of holidays, Halloween comes second only to Christmas for me. Since I was a kid, I have loved everything about it - the decorations, the scary stories, the trick or treating. And becoming a parent makes it even cooler, because now I have two kidlings to enjoy the holiday with. Because it really is a kids' holiday; enjoying it as much as I do just assures that at least sometimes, I still get to retain that childlike sense of joy and wonder that can sadly go missing once we head into the 'real world', which is nowhere near as much fun most of the time.

The decorating process has begun - big glow in the dark skull on the front door? Check. Hanging spooky artwork done by the kids? In place. This weekend, we'll be getting the rest of the Halloween decorations out and putting them up. The egg carton spiders will once again decorate my ceiling, driving the cat insane. And the jack-o-lanterns, both real and electric, will be in full force. I can't wait. The costumes? Purchased.

Many of you know my heartbreaking story of the pirate costume. For those who don't, it's a sad, sad tale. When Heartbreaker was born, the Disney store released a costume - the cutest Captain Hook costume you've ever seen in your life. Complete with hook and wig. Seriously, what is cuter than a kid dressed as a pirate? There were no infant sizes, so I waited. And waited. And when Heartbreaker was old enough to fit a size... he didn't want to be Captain Hook. Ever. Every blasted year.

Cutie Pie was born, and my hope renewed afresh. But yes, you got it - he ain't into it either. When Pirates of the Caribbean hit the movies, they released costumes. I figured, sold! They LOVE Pirates of the Caribbean! Heartbreaker wants to BE Johnny Depp when he grows up - at last, I can dress them like pirates!

No.

It's become a running joke every Halloween. We wander by the Disney store, only to have both Heartbreaker and Cutie Pie laugh and mock, "Look, Mom! Pirate Costumes! Ahahahahahahaha..." I swear, I'm going to ground them.

This year, Cutie Pie has decided to be a ninja - the archnemesis of the pirate. And Heartbreaker? At least he's going to be a zombie.

Pumpkin Picking!

So today Mike surprised us and went to Jersey, picked up my mom, and took us all to Demarest Farms in New Jersey so the boys could go pumpkin picking. The kids had a great time, and thanks to the amazing bakery they had, so did I. Just when I thought I was getting back on track, foodwise...

Will and Alex see how they measure up

Alex and a little furry friend (no, the rat from the train adventure last night was smaller)

The inside of the bakery was all done up for Halloween, with skulls, giant, hairy bats and spiders descending from the ceiling, skulls and witches aplenty, and TONS of Halloween-y goodness from sticky body part things that grow in water to Halloween cookies and cakes. They had homemade donuts and apple cider, both of which we bought in quantity. (Taste a homemade donut and see if you go Dunkin' again. I dare you.) It was all just so much fun, I forgot that I was raging with PMS for a little while.

That bakery ROCKS. I think I need to add Demarest Farms to my list of places to visit on an obsessive basis. We had ice cream, hung around outside and let the kids run around a corn maze (not that much of a maze where I couldn't see the kids), and then went on the hayride to the pumpkin patch.

Mom and the boys on the hayride line

The boys running free, looking for the perfect pumpkin

Alex, who's recently read Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin, ran all over the field looking for "the perfect pumpkin: not too fat, not too tall, not too short, not too big, not too little." He finally found one (after some coaching, I think, from Mike and Mom, who really wanted to get back home) and Will not only found his but proceeded to help Mom find hers. He even painted the face on it when he got back. Whatta kid!