I balanced these two Halloween posts poorly, I forgot how much we did this year! It was probably too much, but it really is my favorite time of year and taking the boys out on adventures where they get to run around outside is often easier than staying home.
One evening after school we went over to the pumpkin patch and handful of carnival rides that we can see from the highway. It’s expensive for what it is, with the rides all being pretty quick and forgettable, but I kept our activities within some clear parameters as we all had a good time, even if I still hate bumper cars.
A week before Halloween was the Halloween carnival at the elementary school. This is always a fun one for the boys, and it was the first year that it was Aaron’s school too! As usual, they had lots of little activities set up around the schoolyard to play and win prizes at. I really enjoyed the photographer who got a great picture of the boys and I (rare, since I’m usually holding the camera!) and I’m grateful that the pumpkins the boys picked out from the little pumpkin patch there weren’t too big for the walk back to the car.
Over the weekend we met up with my friend James at Hiller Aviation Museum. With MJ traveling throughout a chunk of October, it was nice to have another adult join me on a Halloween-themed adventure! In this case, it was a pumpkin drop from a helicopter, because, why not?
They had kids sign their name on the pumpkin that would be dropped, which was fun until Aaron realized the pumpkin would be completely smashed upon landing, along with his name. Oops.
They had Halloween-themed games and crafts set up throughout the space, and then a “Haunted Hanger” with a TON of spooky decorations throughout their exhibit space. We enjoyed making our way through the exhibits before the pumpkin drop, but we wasted no time getting outside in time to see the pumpkin get loaded into the helicopter and take off.
They had everyone stand behind a temporary fence and look away as little rocks and dust were kicked up during take-off, and then we all got to go over to the runway fence to see the helicopter actually drop the pumpkin. It did a couple loops before the drop and I have to admit, the actual drop was a little anticlimactic. We were close, but a pumpkin compared to a runway is quite small! Still, it was an amusing activity, and if nothing else the boys LOVED being so close to a running helicopter. Me too.
See that little dot? That’s the pumpkin.
The next day the boys and I glimpsed outside to see some gloom and potential rain, but there was another Halloween activity to get to! The park next to the school the boys go to was hosting a Halloween Make-a-thon where kids got to go to various tables to do crafts. It’s the first year they did it, and all of the volunteers seemed pretty overwhelmed with the constant flow of kids clamoring to do the crafts – even with the threatening weather! I suspect they need a bit more organization and volunteers next year, but I see a lot of potential.
As the event wound down, we went to the indoor space where I enjoyed making Halloween-themed magic wands more than anyone else, but Adam got to finish his scavenger hunt, which was quite satisfying for him. When we went to leave, the rain had finally showed up, so we waited a few minutes for it to calm down before our soggy walk back to the car, but thankfully we didn’t get too wet.
The final activity before Halloween was pumpkin carving. After work on Thursday, the day before Halloween, was the time we chose for it because of how quickly the pumpkins grow mold here, even when outside in the shade. We had someone over who has been helping with the boys, and she was delighted to help Adam carve his giant pumpkin into a cat, and Aaron and I got to work on the bat design he picked.
The both came out beautifully, but I’m glad I didn’t give in to their request to carve any more, because as expected, the adults did the vast majority of the work. Still, we had fun and the boys were enthusiastic throughout the whole process.
And then it was Halloween! MJ was home for Halloween and donned a Zoo Keeper costume, since he’d be herding around a cat and a bat all evening as we trick-or-treated. I went with a witch costume, and joked we were going with the classics this year. Our old au pair and current au pair joined us for the evening as well, which was really nice. We stay always stay in our neighborhood for Halloween, which gives us an opportunity to see and meet neighbors.
We also have several neighbors who go all out with Halloween decorations and activities, some of which are scarier than others. And enough of our neighbors in general participate in the holiday so the walking:candy ratio is perfect for us.
The boys got to bed much later than expected as they raided their candy bowls, enjoyed handing out candy to other kids who came later, and generally got to enjoy spending time with Gaby and Rebeca. It was a great night.