Halloween~Disneyland style

Yesterday Traci & I took the kids to D-land because Lauren didn't have school. It turned out to be such a great day...the weather was perfect, it wasn't crowded, ran into some good friends, the place was "decked out" for Halloween & Fall. I missed seening it last year because there wasn't any time, so I was excited. Only sad thing was that we missed a celeb sighting...Seal & Heidi Klume.
Leave it to Disney to make a holiday like Halloween so special. This weekend they start working on changing everything over to Christmas, since it will be November 1 (yikes!).

Main Street decorations...made me want to start baking and light a fire in the 80 degree weather


Giant Halloween Mickey pumpkin on Main Street

entrance to the Haunted Mansion Holiday~ done up like the movie "Nightmare Before Christmas". Halloween meets Christmas


This is just the outside~ inside is really something

New Pixie Hollow...we waited for awhile, but the line was too long, it just opened

A "brew" in the area "Woody's Halloween RoundupHalloween Cookie decorating...yumLauren & her Halloween friend. Note, her face painting is to go with her Halloween costumeJack reading the map, so he can tell me where all the "boy rides" are

Happy Halloween and Happy Haunting

Cousins

I've observed something these last few days when Grey has been at Traci's with the other kids. This is the importance of having older cousins. If you don't have an older sibling, the closest thing would be older cousins. Here are a few of my observations through Grey's eyes:

A cousin can show you how to run your car around and around the table

A cousin can show to how to pretend "cook"

A cousin can show you where to put the "gas" or whatever in the car

A cousin can show you how~

to wear a conductor hat the right wayA cousin can chase bubbles with you and show you how to catch them in your mouth

best of all...a cousin can read you the most interesting story, and you'll love to listen!

Cousins Are The Best!

Early Halloween

We took Jack and Lauren to an early Hallowen party at the church last night. It was a chili, cornbread dinner (yum) and all types of apple desserts. There were games for the kids to play, prizes for different types of chili, and finally a trick-or-treating around the gym. The kids had a great time. Lauren was so excited to get to wear her costume more than once. She made some new friends and we got to see some longtime friends. Good time.

Jack loved this fake pumpkin. He wasn't so much into eating the candy, but loved filling his bag.

Lauren and her new friend, the butterfly fairy

Lauren, the good witch, getting ready to fly off into the night.

dry, dry, dry

these have become my friends, I use them several times a day. Sleep with them slathered on my body! It's so dry here. Today was better. I know this because today was the first day I didn't have a bloody nose...gross I know. Swam in the warm, salt water pool today and that seemed to help. I forget that So. Cali is actually considered a desert region, but weather like this helps me remember.

these are the reason...

Jack my #1 helper

Greyson my little love man

Lauren the best helper, "little mom" there is

these little loves are all the reason I'm here in the OC. I've had all 3 of them because Bri's mom had some surgery and can't lift anything over the weight of a milk carton. Traci is in Dallas then NYC. So I get to spend hours and hours with these guys! This has been a great way to spend some time with Greyson. He LOVES his cousins! He's fearless to say the least. Thinks he can do everything the big kids do. Jack has been such a HUGE help. He says that "we're" babysitting Greyson. Lauren is Lauren, her sweet, helpful self. She's like a little mother with him.

The weather has been really nice, so the kids have played outside all the time. I'm not sure Grey can get over how much in-n-out of the car there is. Today both older kids had school and it was early dismissal for Lauren...lots of car time.

these are my loves

Welcome to Orange County

Please note the temp in the car the first morning I was here.

Today it was 84 and Santa Ana winds in San Clemente. Lips cracked already and all moisture sucked out of our bodies! the bright side is that at least I can take off my sweatshirt!

Up, Up & Away (again)

I'm off again to the mainland to babysit the grandkiddos tomorrow. Hubby and I are actually going to travel together...now that's a change. It will be good to see all the kids, hear about Ireland from Geoff, watch Lauren's soccer, take Jack to school and watch Grey play with his cousins. Looking forward to it.

aloha, a hui hou
Jane