Halloween 2008

Our Halloween festivities this year began on Wednesday night, carving pumpkins with the Rowley clan. Our pumpkins turned out pretty good, but I didn't get any pictures. They got wrinkled and old looking before Halloween night, and we got back really late from our partying tonight, so I decided not to take any pictures. They looked cute enough, but there will be many more years of carving pumpkins, so we'll get more pictures then. Vincente wasn't really into the carving thing anyway. He hasn't been feeling very well, so all the partying and to-do has made him more ornery than excited. As you can see from these pictures, he didn't really like the idea of sticking his hand in the gooey pumpkin. He was mostly okay with observing until Brady "helped" him stick his hand in the pumpkin. Then he decided he'd had it with Halloween and wanted to go to bed. Oh well. I'm sure he'll get into it more the older he gets. I don't think he really understands the dressing up and excitement, so it's just confusing for him.

Festivities continued Thursday night at the BYU Alumni party for BYU students, faculty, and alumni's children. There was story-telling, all sorts of carnival-like games (complete with candy prizes), a bounce house, coloring, popcorn, jesters, and of course a costume parade and contest. Vincente was mostly only interested in the candy, popcorn, and of course

the bounce house (although I didn't think to get pictures of him in the bounce house - mostly because he held my hand the whole time!). He got some candy, and caught a fish. Vince has been getting over some bug or other, and so I had given him Tylenol right before we went, which put him in a good mood, but made him a little lethargic for partying. There were so many people there, and I think that might have been a little overwhelming as well.

Friday evening we dropped by our ward's Trunk-or-Treat. I took decorations for my car and everything, but I forgot that I am a single mom right now, so I have to make sacrifices. So I sacrificed handing out candy at my own car so Vincente could go around and trick or treat at all the other cars. He got a good load of candy for a toddler (which will have to be carefully rationed to him over the next 5 years... ha ha, just kidding, between me and him, we'll probably have it eaten by next weekend!)

Everyone loved his little cowboy outfit. It's Russ' costume from when he was little. Russ' mom made the vest, the bandana, and the chaps. Super cute! And it's kind of fun that Vincente got to wear the same costume Russ wore once upon a time. Kind of sentimental, you know.

After the ward shindig, we hopped over to the Coyne's for their Halloween party-pot-luck. Vincente had fun for the most part, but I think he was done with so many people. Ever since living in a house with so many people here almost ALL the time, I think he's kind of sick of being around lots of people. Anyway, he did have fun with Bella toward the end of the evening. They were climbing up the Lovesac together. Vincente kept saying "Climb up" - of course, it mostly sounded like "Kine up." They played pretty well together, until Vince decided that he didn't want Bella to be climbing with him. He kind of pushed her face away (not shoving, like he usually does, just a little "get away" push). I could tell it didn't hurt her physically, because for a minute she just stood there. Then I think she realized that Vince was saying he didn't want to play with her, and her little lip started quivering, and then the tears... oh the crying and tears, it broke my heart! She was so hurt that he didn't want her to play, too! What a sensitive little sweetheart! Vincente said "Shorry" a few times, which didn't really make her feel better, but eventually when she came back over to play, he kept telling her "Shorry." It was adorable. Kids are so innocent and loving and sensitive. It reminds you of how you should be.

Oh yes, and here is the Army Scarecrow we made over at our neighbor's house a few weeks before Halloween. We used Russ' old fatigues (the BDU's they don't use anymore). I thought it looked great, and I had to get pictures for Russ. I thought he would enjoy it!