Happy Halloween

We had quite the busy Halloween and Halloween Eve. I hosted a play date with a few of Evan's friends on Friday morning. Saturday morning we went to downtown Windermere for a Halloween party and then that evening off to another party and trick or treating. It was all a lot of fun and great to see the kids all dressed up. They did amazing, especially with the temperature reaching almost 90 both days. I was really curious to see what Evan would do when it was time to dress up since he told me that he wanted to be everything under the sun BUT Captain Hook for Halloween. But both days, when I told him it was time to dress up and actually gave him 3 options (Cowboy's football player, Peter Pan and Captain), he told me that this year he was going to be Captain Hook. I think Evan gained a few pounds in the last few months b/c that costume barely fit him, but he looked adorable, as did all of his friends!

Ellie the adorable pumpkin

Woody, Buzz & Captain Hook-quite the Disney theme!

We did a "trick or treat" throughout the downstairs of my house, where the kids went door to door and practiced. Here they are checking out their loot, round 1.

At the Halloween party in Windermere around 10am-Yasmine, Evan & Kaila

Around 5pm, we went to a friend's neighborhood party. The kids had a great time running around, but it was crazy hot. The boys ended up stripping down to other clothes because they were soaked and their faces were bright red. With most of his costume off, Evan looked like either Aladdin or MC Hammer. Wish I had thought to bring some gold chains!

After the party and getting the kids back into their costumes, we were off to Trick or Treat!

A super unflattering picture that I only include to show how giant my belly is. I think it was this big at Halloween 3 years ago. Only difference, I was about 3 months FURTHER along in my pregnancy. What a girl does to your body!!

We went to this one street that really gets into the Halloween spirit. The decorations were amazing.

a skeleton inside a mirror saying "let me out, let me out"

These people had 5 bowls to pick from plus juice boxes, they were so nice. They had some creepy decorations too-those are rats along the carpet and a giant centipede to the right.

Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the highlight of Evan's evening-Grass Guy. This boy about 9, dressed up like grass and was laying on the grass of this house. When we came up, yes you guessed it, he jumped up. The other kids could have cared less. Evan was terrified for a minute and then just mesmerized. When grass guy saw that Evan was scared, he took off his mask to show him that he was just a kid like Evan. Evan will NOT stop talking about him and how he wants to be him for Halloween next year and how we must add him to our prayer list. Don't worry, we prayed for him twice tonight. Whoever you are grass guy, you are in our prayers!!


And finally the loot! Evan had the best time trick or treating. After we left our friends, we went to see Shannon and Audrey (Charlie was working) and did a few houses by them. Then it was off to our house where we stopped by a few neighbors. Evan LOVED it and kept running after each house was done to the next one yelling MORE CANDY!! At that point I was over the picture taking, so sadly no pics.

He was so well behaved too. He asked to eat his candy like some of his friends while we were out, but I told him no, it would make his belly hurt. It worked, he never asked again. Here he is with his candy, after parental inspection. Looks like that's enough candy to last him a year at the rate I allow him to eat candy!

Happy Halloween everyone! It was another great one for the Nevilles. We hope it was for you as well!

Pumpkin Carving/Painting

Charlie and I had these high hopes to get Evan and Maxwell together to carve pumpkins. Little did we know that they would have NO interest in it at all. Notice, no pics of the boys near these pumpkins. They were having way too much fun chasing each other around.



I must have had an idea that they wouldn't be into it because I brought along paints with me in case they wanted to paint the pumpkins instead. That was a hit! They had a great time doing that while Charlie & I carved. I cleaned out two pumpkins and carved one. I was pretty impressed by the one I did carve. I cheated, I used a template, but I thought it turned out pretty great for the 1st pumpkin I have carved in about 15 years.

Here is Evan with his finished product.

The spider pumpkin is the one I carved. Not too hard to figure that out since it's the only carved one :).

Pumpkin Train Ride

our family :)

Next to the train

getting his balloon sword from a very tall scarecrow

on the train

the three & a half of us

standing by his pumpkin picks

skeleton

A few weeks ago we went on a pumpkin train ride. It was Evan's first real train ride. We took it to a pumpkin patch where we got to pick our own pumpkins and kids got their faces painted and got a balloon animal/toy. Evan chose to get a skeleton on his face and a sword balloon. The train ride was pretty cute for what it was and the weather was just beautiful for it!

Green Meadows Farm

Not sure they recommend climbing through them like this

Sea of pumpkins

Riding the tractor

Pony Rides

Chasing the ducks

Goats

Petting the sheep

On the hayride

Last week we went to Green Meadows Farm to see some animals and to ride on a train, hay ride and a pony. And then the grand finale of picking a pumpkin. This year it was much better weather than last year! It was in the low 70s. That weather lasted for about 2 days, but we thoroughly enjoyed it while it was here! It was a lot of fun seeing all the animals and enjoying such a beautiful day.

Our First Pet

Proud winner and proud dad

The game

Ainsley at home

Wilson & Evan with their fish!

Last Thursday, we went to one of many fall festivals we've been frequenting lately. They had all kinds of rides for kids that we weren't allowed on. So, Evan rode his first roller coaster without an adult. He loves roller coasters (esp. the Goofy Barn Burner one at Disney), so he could have cared less that he was riding with one of his friends, instead of Daddy. Anyway, at the end of the night, Joe broke down and paid $1 for 8 balls to throw into a bunch of cups to win a goldfish. Joe gave Evan the balls and he threw it in the cup on his first try. I could not believe it! So, we won a fish and Evan named her Ainsley (the name he wanted to name the baby). We brought her home, put her in a bowl and having been enjoying her ever since. However, on Sunday night, we came home from a party to find Ainsley had jumped right out of her bowl and onto the floor. As I prepared myself to talk to Evan about death, Joe came in and said "She's still breathing". Back in the bowl she went and she's still alive today. We'll see how many more escape attempts she makes. She is pretty skiddish and freaks out when we come near the bowl. Should be interesting......

Can I, please?

Foggy because it was so HUMID in October

You can see this hot air balloon from our house all the time. Evan loves Peter Pan, so he gets so excited when he sees it "flying" in the air (in quotes b/c it doesn't really fly, it's tethered down and is a ride at Downtown Disney). The other day I took Evan to downtown Disney to see his first movie in the theatre-Toy Story in 3D. He loved it and did a WONDERFUL job sitting quietly throughout the movie. He was in heaven with his popcorn and juice box! This balloon is right outside of the theatre so he ran right up to it and asked if he can ride. I'm terrified of heights, so doubtful I'll be taking him anytime soon. Maybe dad can get suckered in sometime soon.

Face Painting Bonanza

A Skeleton from the Pumpkin Train Ride

A bat at the Celebration Octoberfest

Evan has wanted to get his face painted at Disney forever. But it's been SO HOT. I knew he would hate it when it started melting every where. Anyway, we've been to so many fall festivals lately and he has rushed to get his face painted there. Thankfully it's either been night time or cooler and he's done great. I think I should figure out how to do this. He would be happy if he could have his face painted every day.