Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts

Monday, October 31, 2011

Sharing a Memory -- Preschool

It's been four full years since I owned/taught preschool, but there are just times every year that I think back and figure out what we would be doing.

Today is Halloween.  I won't lie.  It's not my favorite holiday; in fact, it's probably my LEAST favorite holiday.  But children's excitement is contagious, children in costumes are adorable, and I know at least two Halloween rhymes (for your reading pleasure):

***
Halloween cat! Halloween cat,
Why do you meow and meow like that?
Neither I nor the moon likes your tune,
So, scat! Scat, Halloween cat!

***
Five little pumpkins sitting on the gate:
The first one said:  Oh, my, it's getting late!
The second one said:  There are witches in the air!
The third one said: We don't care!
The fourth one said: Let's run!  Let's run!
The fifth one said:  Isn't Halloween fun?
Oooo, went the wind and OUT went the light.
Those five little pumpkins rolled fast out of sight!

***

You're welcome.  And Happy Halloween!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

This has been a good weekend.  When I left work on Friday afternoon, I was wishing it was Monday so I didn't have to face it all; but it's been a lot of fun.

Friday Landon cleaned up the house so he could have his friends over for a Halloween party that night.  We provided treats, and they entertained themselves.  I finally got home at midnight after taking everyone home.  I don't remember the last time I was up till midnight.  I must be getting old.

We awoke to toilet paper in our trees again.  Man!  Those people were up LATE!  When I went to clean up, the kids across the street came over and said, "I don't know why some keeps TP-ing you.  Do you want us to rake your leaves?"  I told them they were fine, and thanks for the offer.  Then--seeing their faces--I said, "You're welcome to come over and rake and play all you want."  The boy yelled, "She said yes!"  And pretty soon there were 5 or 6 children in our front yard, playing in the leaves.  It was adorable.  (Just a few years ago, our children did the exact same thing in our neighbors' yard.  Where is the time going?)

I got a lot of laundry done and cleaned our bathroom and my side of the bedroom, including changing the sheets on the bed.  I finished putting together final touches on prizes, etc. for the ward Halloween party.

At 3:00 Landon and I headed to the church to set up the party.  Three and a half hours later I got home with a lot of stuff and another successful party under my belt.  Many, many thanks to everyone who brought food, helped with clean-up, did games, and just participated.  Kayle and Kaitlyn manned the cake walk, which was organized by Mandy, who also provided some fun Halloween music.  There were some darling, darling costumes, and they were not just limited to the children.  There was plenty of food (my biggest worry).  And Jen had the hit of the night with the donut-eating contest. My hero was Spencer, who was at the store until after the party started (it's hard to eat chili and stew when there are no bowls!). 

Ashtyn had spent the day (about 4 or 5 hours) working on a ceramics project to make up for her attendance in that class.  Within 1/2 hour after she finished, the pot had cracked.  She was devastated.  So Spencer stayed home from the party set-up to help Ashie throw another pot.  After they shopped for me and dropped things off at the church, they left again to go to Dylan's, where Ashtyn asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance.  She also got texted on Friday night, when Zach asked her to go out with him.  Her first date is on Friday night--they're going to a movie and Jamba.  :)  Once they got back, they came to the church.  Spencer picked up Landon, and they went to get Taylor from work.  Ashie helped me clean up.  Except for Lando, my family missed the party entirely.

I came home and got cute, and Spencer took me to dinner and a movie.  I had gotten to have a bowl of stew at the party, so I just got a milkshake while he had his dinner.  We were both pretty quiet during dinner, but it is a blessing to simply hang out with my sweetheart. We did some quiet visiting and some laughing together.  How I love him!  We saw "Hereafter," with Matt Damon.  It was slow and very long and not at all what I expected.  We were glad to get home and climb into our beds.

Going out meant we missed all of the trick-or-treating this year.  That's the first time EVER for me.  We don't get many t-o-t-ers at our house, so Ashtyn was willing to take care of it. Megan was going to come over and "help." When I left, Logan and Landon were watching a scary movie on Netflix, pausing it to pass out candy.  Taylor worked till 6:00 and then went to the WJHS choir Halloween party.  Briana had gone to a party with friends in Logan. 

Today is church (of course), visiting teaching (no, we DIDN'T procrastinate till the last day of the month), and a choirside with Sterling Singers.

Happy Halloween!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Best. Halloween. Ever

I do not like Halloween. Each year I resent having to buy stupid costumes (or at least accessories). I hate the creepy, scary teenagers who come trick or treating after I should be in bed. I hate the blood, guts, gore, and scariness. I hate the sugered-up kids (especially our own) who need no reason to inhale that much sugar in such a short amount of time. I seriously hate Halloween.

Now I am the activities committee chairman. Can you say "Simplify?"

We put orange plastic on the serving tables. We put purple plastic on the eating tables. We set out cups, bowls, spoons, knives, napkins, water, margarine, and salt and pepper. The young women set out a few scarecrows. People brought either chili or rolls. Not even any dessert, because really? Who needs more of something sweet on Halloween?

Then we played pop-the-balloon, crab walk, and fill-the-cup-with-candy-corn relays with the kids.

I wore Taylor's referee shirt and whistle, which was great for getting everyone's attention.

We threw everything away. Everyone took their dishes home. We put all the "stuff" back in the closet. We swept the gym floor thoroughly. We put tables and chairs back. We locked the church. We were home by 6:00.

Briana went to a friends' home. Taylor and Ashtyn went to a choir party. Landon and a friend went trick or treating. Spencer went to the temple.

I did not do makeup. I did not have to go out in the cold or snow (which we only have on my years to go trick-or-treating. This year, of course, warm and glorious). I answered the doorbell about 4 times. I didn't have to hide candy from our kids. At 8:00 I turned the lights out upstairs and went to the basement to read.

You can call me a humbug, and I won't even care. It was peaceful and lovely. And I didn't have to take anyone trick-or-treating for the first time in 18 years. It's a beautiful thing.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The "Sweet" Things People Do

Karleen's daughter made these adorable bags (yeah, Cricut!).

Babe send this adorable gift to work for me.
They either really love me, or they're trying to undermine my health kick. :)