Its the real Deal... Happy Halloween!!!

As the girls are getting older we are trying to develop holiday traditions that they can remember later on. I have so much fun looking back and reflecting on all the fun that my parents and my brother had during the fall months and I want my girls to be able to do the same. When Kyra was young we were lucky enough to be able to have her every year for trick or treating. Last year she wanted to give it a try with her stepbrothers and although I was disappointed (and jealous) I took a deep breath and conceded. This year I was all excited that she was going to be with us and the little girls. The bambinos are at the age were they are getting to be so much fun- sheer joy on those little faces- its priceless. But as fate would have it, Kyra decided this was the year (of all years!!!) that she was too old to go with her family anymore and it was time to go with her girlfriends. Harumph* So I pouted and moped around the house until Timmy helped me remember what I did for Halloween when I was 13… fair enough. I still wanted to help her get her costume together though and she let me take the lead on that one- woot woot! Miss Kyra Jean chose to go as a minion from the Disney movie Despicable Me (most likely the largest minion on record). It wasn’t that hard to find the denim overhauls and I got lucky finding a bright yellow sweatshirt and stocking hat (I have good luck at the thrift shops in town). But could I find a pair of yellow tights/ leggings or stockings??? Hell no. Argh. I spent a whole day searching around the city until I finally found some. By the end of the day it would have been far more cost effective to have just gone on Amazon and ordered some with express shipping. However, it would also mean that I would have missed out on a few fabulous finds… I guess its all how you look at it. It wasn’t time wasted because it was fun :)

For the past few years we have taken the girls trick or treating with Tim’s parents and his brother the afternoon of Halloween. This year Timmy was able to get the day off so that he could come along too. So remember a while back when I mentioned that this year just felt off? Well the day’s weather just topped that horrible feeling off and sent it through the roof. It rained all day. And not just a sweet, gentle misting either. Full on fat rain. Darnit! We tried to make the best of it and did our pumpkin carving as a family. Timmy gets to cut the top off while the girls and I dig out all the guts. It’s gross and awesome. Because the rain foiled our plans to get out there and beg door to door for candy I figured it best to go visiting the family. My parents live literally 12 minutes from my house and had indicated earlier that day that they would love for the girls to stop by and see them. Now here is a little peek into my brain: when it comes to Halloween I continue to have the mindset of a 10 year old. Bring home as much candy as humanly possible. If I run out to my parents house that will take a huge chunk out of my candy hoarding capability. What’s a girl to do? Well as fate would have it, the rain came down and there was no end in sight. So out to Grammie and Baba’s we go. They were so happy. We stayed for a short visit, hit up the neighbors for full size candy bars and then headed into town to swing past and surprise AJ and Anna at their house. They were thrilled to see the girls and AJ had even taken then screen out of the screen door like people used to do when we were kids- it was awesome. Anna liked Katie’s Raggedy Ann outfit and Via was adorable as a tiny orange crayon. We didn’t stay long because I didn’t want the girls to get too wet so we gave a few high fives, grabbed some candy and kisses and loaded back into the car to meet Tim’s family for supper at out favorite new buffet PIZZA RANCH. It’s so yummy. I had my reservations about the establishment as they are a fully engrossed Christian restaurant (and how does that work) but they don’t make you pray and then don’t say anything like go in peace so as long as they keep their love of God out of my face… its all good. That’s not to say I don’t love me some Jesus, cause I sure do. I just don’t like to be told what to do (some things never change). We were able to fill our bellies with some delicious food and then after some hugs and kisses made our way home to watch the nightmare before Christmas as a family. No matter how crappy the weather… it was still our favorite day of the year.

Dressin Up

I am glad that I checked Katie’s backpack when I did because it appears that she needs to attend 4 K in formal attire today. I typically will check her bag every night but because I get done at 11pm sometimes if Tim has it already put away I totally space the chore. Well this would have been embarrassing for her- wheew! However because it was so last second I had literally 6 minutes to get creative so she was still dressed up but didn’t miss the bus. Because I honestly have no interest in driving her that far unless I have to. Next year will be interesting though as she will be in full day Kindergarten right up the street yaaahhhh!!! (That school bus is pretty handy though I must say) So Miss Kaitlynn Bella wore one of her favorite dress up princess gowns for her big costume day at school. She desperately wanted to wear her glass slippers to show all her friends (the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree) but I just couldn’t let her. Not that I cared if she took them. That was not the problem. I just didn’t want to seem like an idiot parent. Isn’t that funny… it’s the social stigma I worry about- sheesh Trina.

Practice makes perfect

2013 has been an odd year for many reasons and I have more to add to the list. Halloween is usually such a huge deal for us- like enormous. And this year it just feels blah. I am not sure if it’s because I have to work this weekend before and wont be participating in all the action or what. I just feel off. Oh well… At least the girls had fun with my parents and got out to trick or treat twice. Saturday they were Pegasuses (not sure of the pleural on that one hahaha) in Appleton and then again on Sunday, they were cute little Elmos in Luxemburg. We called it “practice” trick or treating and as far as the girls were concerned it was the real deal. There was candy- that’s all they cared about.  And I guess in reality it was REAL because they did everything they would have if it was Halloween just on a different day. Mom was sure to reinforce the Ps&Qs and kept the majority of the candy out at her place (thank you by the way).  I felt bad because half the fun of the holiday for me is to get all dressed up with the girls and figure out the various outfits that we will all wear. And we are talking multiple costumes. I hope I didn’t spoil the magic for them by being less than enthused however it just feels wrong. Maybe I will find the magic in the next week here. 

Scared... Who Me?

Who you callin a scaredy cat? Certainly not Kyra as she has assured me that she isn’t bothered by “all that Halloween junk.” Hmmmm… the last time she said that I took it upon myself to give her a little spook that has scarred her for life. And although this seems to be a challenge with a certain win on my end, I am still learning how to be a parent and I assume this is one of those moments. Argh. So I settled for taking her to a haunted house instead. She wanted to bring a friend or two which turned into a group of 8 I think (lost count for a while-whoops!) And I had to pick two of them up on the way… which didn’t end up being all that bad. So the three girls jammed in the back seat to the music I was blasting off my MP3 player. Luckily I am not THAT old that not all my music sucked. We found a few jewels we could all agree on. I told the girls that I would take them through the drive thru at McDonalds and they could each get something to eat as none of them had had supper before leaving (typical). Thanks to you Dollar Menu. So we grabbed a bite to eat and  scooted off to meet her friends at the fairgrounds which also happened to be the parking lot for the haunted house we were going to… bum bum buuummmm Terror on the Fox…oooohhhhh it makes me shiver just thinking about it (no not really). I don’t like to toot my own horn (which is a total lie) but I am pretty much the queen of haunted houses. So knowing this, Kyra begged me to take her and a few buddies to one in town and to chaperone. 20 bucks a pop mind you... I would only cover the two of us--- the others were on their own.  She sure knows how to butter me up though- flattery will get you everywhere my dear. So we met her friends at the ticket booth and one of my girlfriends from work (Miss Jaclyn Fuller) met us out too so that I wouldn’t be lonely (or feel alienated more like it). No matter how you look at it,  we all had a blast and I thought it was going really well. They all did their own thing and joked around without being too loud (and annoying). Or so I thought, until I noticed they were chugging “soda” out of cans while I wasn’t watching!!! What??? Oh hell no!!! I am not going to be THAT mom (albeit cool for them) I marched over and demanded to see the can- Monster… eehh- no biggie. Until I realized that monster is in fact an energy drink and the various other parents would probably not appreciate me caffinating their children so late at night. Darn it!!! Missed that one… I am going to have to think like a grown up more I guess.The nice thing about going earlier in the month is that it is a bit warmer (it rained though) and there are not tons of people which means shorter lines. now on one hand it is fun to wait atleast a little while so you can hangout and build up the anticipation. Runing through quick is not that great. But having to wait hours and hours in the cold sux too. SO tonight was a perfect balance of the two. Success in my book!

Apple Orchard

I realized recently that I don’t care for apples. Weird right? Its nothing against any individual or situation, it’s just the simple fact that the fruit is just not that good to me. Who knew? Now don’t get me wrong--- I love me a good hot apple pie just as much as the next guy. But the idea of going out to the apple orchard, picking a big juicy apple off the tree and biting right into it really doesn’t do anything for me. Once in a while during the fall I get the inkling to slice a few up and dip them in caramel. And I suppose I am in luck because that particular situation is at hand. Viva October!!! Every year since Tim and I have been married we have gone out to Luxemburg and picked apples at the (not so local) orchard. There is also a giant pumpkin patch out there with tons of different types sizes and colors. My favorite, of course being the ugliest and most colorful ones possible… the more warts… the better. Timmy always finds one for each of the girls and brings them by for me to check out before tossing them into the trunk (what a peach). Its not like I am this Halloween Nazi and everything has to be just so… but ummm… yes that’s exactly true. Anyhoo--- We especially had fun this year with Tim’s parents because his brother, sister in law and their two daughters joined us out there too. I think I took roughly a hundred pictures and could have taken even more had the rain held off. The visit was a little rushed because of the weather but we still got to take a wagon ride behind the tractor and walk the grounds a bit. Typically Kyra would be along for this type of trip but as she gets older both her mom’s side and her dad’s sides are finding it hard to do family things. Her involvement in school activities and clubs is wonderful but it totally cuts into our family time. So because this event was taking place on her mom’s weekend, we were not able to include her in with the rest of us. That’s one of the bummers when it comes to split households. But I think she was okay with it because the following weekend she got to hang out with his parents for a whole day. Is it exactly the same? Well no. But I think she was definitely okay with the special treatment lol. When we got back to town (in the pouring rain mind you) we stopped at Tim’s parents for a bit to visit. The rain had stopped but the water was still running quickly in the ditches so we threw on our rain boots and headed outside to play… I love having kids!

Prepping for the Big Day

The countdown to Halloween has started and those of us in the Bronander house are super excited. It has always been a big deal for me. Even when I was a kid I would start getting ready for the big day as soon as possible. My parents made me wait until after October 1^st to start decorating and that has stuck with me into adulthood.  When I married Tim I was so excited that my traditions continued with the two of us and Kyra for the longest time. Once the girls were born I thought the enthusiasm was going to die down a bit, but just the opposite happened! It got totally magnified!!! Like concentrated awesome. I am finding my days are a bit busier this year though so we shall see just how festive Halloween 2013 turns out to be.

The girls really have no fear when it comes to all the spooky holiday décor. It used to make Kyra crazy when she was a babe because she was excited by it but it terrified her (still does shhhh). These girls really are not scared by anything… even the super gory faces. Which I am sure is in part because they have been exposed in large does since birth (this makes me sound crazy when I put it into words lol). But honestly, Halloween is no different for me than a Christmas enthusiast. I just plain ‘ol love it.

Every year we set up a pretty elaborate cemetery in the front yard with various gravestones and severed heads (scary masks) on wooden stakes. Not to mention the giant mummy and deformed witch person surrounded by a million pumpkins and ghosts throughout the property. Last year we dealt with some crazy winds in October and found that a few of our headstones were breaking (the Styrofoam kind). The looked super cool but were not very durable. So we planned to make our own more stable stones out of wood and write spooky and ironic sayings on them. Kyra didn’t like my jokes so I only got to paint a few but there is always next year. I was happy to see her participate in a family endeavor and Timmy was thrilled to use the new power tool we bought especially for the project. I never would have pegged him for a “tool-man” but I guess there is always room for change in us all. I am certainly not complaining by any means… exactly the opposite--- what else can he make for me??? Hmmm…

 Bella donned one of many Halloween costumes that her Nana bought her in the hardware store when we bought the supplies for our cemetery. Awesome kid number two? Check!

Watch Your Back

No not really. Although I do frequently remind Bella that mommies' have eyes in the back of their heads and she better watch out. Mothers always know when their children are being sassy... and then Katie will pause briefly, consider it, and  follow up with questions like "doesn't your hair scratch your eye balls back there?" or "do you need glasses on those eyes too?" She is very bright this one (and it sorta freaks me out) but I do love when I have sufficiently answered to all her curiosities because she will turn to Via and say something along the lines of "you better check yourself sis." Love it! So this is a picture of my very first pintrest project. I know!!! And it was so easy. Although I have to mention that I spent far too much time locating the various components and after all was said and done it cost me far too much money. I would NEVER pay that much for this. But that's not the point (I hope). You may think that I would have done something like this years ago but I have always been so worried that I was going to become addicted to Pintrest that I just put it off and left it alone. Well not anymore. I am going full bore. Ever since my cousin Theresa showed me all the cool stuff on there, I have vowed to give it another go (soon). I guess I am worried about the fact that I am full-on addicted to Facebook and my online rummage sales so that if I get attached to another social media activity, my head will pretty much just implode. I have no proof to back this up, but its like going out of your way to become an addict... just doesn't make sense. But we shall see. New Years Resolution 2014: GO to the dark side... Pintrest I am all yours :)