Big Fat Halloween Post

This post is entirely too long, but what is Halloween without a little over-indulgence?  October has been a beautiful month in Salt Lake,  so warm on some days, I cursed my landlord for covering up our swamp cooler.  We did as many fun, harvesty things as we could fit in.  We watched the old Silly Symphonies shorts on Youtube, with the dancing skeletons and I finally found a copy of Disney's Legend Of Sleepy Hollow, thanks to my brother in-law who mentioned they had released it as a double feature called Ichabod and Mr. Toad... in case you are trying to find one too.

We went to Gardner Village again this year.  I love the ambiance, but honestly, it was more fun when River was little.  Kids his age are stuck in their strollers without much to do.  Last year he was fine with people watching, but this year he wanted to run and explore and it was way too crowded.  Even in this picture, there were seven people waiting to take pictures in this same spot, so I had to get him down and he was so frustrated, because he wanted to  climb.

If you ask River to smile, you get this face.

But if you ask him to make a funny face, you get this...

Big eyes, no smile, No eyes, big smile.... watcha going to do?

We also trekked down to Provo for a Halloween River Cruise.  I had a groupon for my ticket and River was under two, so he was free.  I'm glad it was cheap, because I was not all that impressed.  It was pretty much floating down a river in the freezing cold, looking at Jack-O-Lanterns aglow on the bank, but you were too far away to really appreciate any craftsmanship.  Our pirate captain wasn't very piratey and when we got boarded by another pirate (who rowed up in a canoe) he told Laffy Taffy style pirate jokes and handed out off-brand tootsie rolls.  River was so cold, he buried his head in my chest and never looked up once.

Disclaimer: I had a hat and gloves for him, but he wouldn't wear them.

All was not lost, because he had a blast running around with his friend Hutch, while we waited in line.  I am grateful for groupons, because I get to hear about things not on my radar and try them out, without spending too much money.  BTW... we sang the ABC song all the way back to Salt Lake... all the way... I'm not kidding...  I lost my voice.  The things we do for these little guys.

My ward didn't do a Trunk Or Treat this year, so we went to my old ward's and it was super fun.  It was a good trick or treat prep for River, getting him to go car to car was a snap and so he wasn't too shy about going house to house on Halloween.

There were a ton of kids in that ward all born around the same time as River and we've been able to stay in touch with them through different activities.  It was so cute to see them all in costume, even if this photo was not going to happen.  They were not all on board... Get It?

River even managed to find a slide.

Everyone thought he was a puppy and I was mouse.  That's what I get for not buying the more expensive dark brown bear costume.

I love the end of that video.  Anyway, he was in super good spirits, so the day was really fun.

Halloween was about as perfect weather wise as it gets.  River instinctively knew it was Halloween and signed candy all day long.  He usually gets one M&M a day, but that was not cutting it anymore.  I think the trunk or treat ruined him for life and then we reinforced the bad behavior by taking him trick or treating that night.  He was a little shy talking to strangers, but not at all shy reaching for the candy bowl.

Here's our first timer (since last year we went out and not another living soul was out because it was a Sunday)...



After Trick or Treating, we went to a ward member's house that was throwing a backyard party.  It was the perfect way to end the night.  Hot apple cider, freshly made donuts, more candy and to River's delight... a slide.



We went as the three bears and my friend Selissa at Forever And A Day, saved my weak costume planning self by sending us adorable crotchet bear hats.

Hopefully by next Halloween we won't just be the three Bears anymore, so we had to take advantage.  If I were to do it again, I'd lose the black nose.  It didn't make us look more like bears and with a thumb-sucker, it just gets all over his face.

I love a good costume theme and these were my favorite from this year...

The Basketball Family

The Organic Hippie Farmers with their delish and oh so cute produce.

and 

The Cheshire Cat and The Mad Hatter 

I'm still amazed a toddler wore that hat all night.  I hope this post didn't give you a tummy ache.  Happy Halloween... Love The Three Bears.