Halloween

So this was our 10^th Halloween.  Boy have these kids grown. This year “T” dressed as Wario…not to be confused with Mario.  This was a $5 clearance costume I bought a week after Halloween last year.  Bless his sweet heart for loving it and wearing it.  “J” was a “delinquent devil”.  She saw a similar costume at Halloween City…it was the only costume out of 1000’s that she found acceptable.  Of course we had several costumes at home that she could have worn but apparently none were "right" for her.  Well, being a cheapskate, I refused to shell out 36 dollars for a costume….When will I learn.  Home-made costume ALWAYS costs more…whether it is time or money….they always costs more.  But “J” was happy and her friends though she looked “so awesome” and that’ all that really matters.

 

 

2012

 

2006

The many faces of Wario.

Halloween Pre-Game

 

Hello, I am a cheap skate...it's true.  Perhaps I should elevate my status by calling myself a bargain hunter or a deal seeker...but no...I'm cheap.  My husband is trying to help me recover...I am doing better but I will always have an apple in my purse so I don't have to pay for lunch...and I will always stress myself out by taking advantages of opportunities like...

 

KIDS IN  COSTUMES GET IN FREE ON HALLOWEEN. 

 

So we went to the aquarium.. The kids went last year but I hadn't been in two years. 
It is a top notch facility.  We should visit more often.

My son in Wario....NOT Mario-which I keep calling him.

This is just fantastic...it never gets old. One day when my children move away....
I'm going to sit in here for hours and watch the whale sharks.

 We got a lot of one-on-one attention from the staff. 

I learned a lot.  I hope the kids did too.

This costume is a "teenage delinquent devil"....someone please help me....

 



The kids crawling through the penguin tunnel.

These are weedy sea dragons.  I love these guys..their camouflage is epic.

 

A wolf eel....a face only a mother could love.

I love the Halloween spirit....actually there was some crab in the pumpkin.  They were trying to entice the octopus to come out and play.

 The whale slide is always a favorite.

 

I might be cheap...but a snack break was in order.  I item per person please.

OK-this was funny.  We ran into Mario and Luigi in the Aquarium.

Dolphin mask at the gift shop.

 

It was an unexpectedly great day. 

Now we have to head home and rest up for Trick-or-Treating.

Girl Scout Camping

My daughter and I went Girl Scout camping this past weekend. It was a really great camp (if you like that sort of thing). The girls had a blast. And the troop leader (who is a hard core outdoors woman) took mercy on us moms and let us register for cabins vs. tents. Each year I am more and more impressed with Girl Scouts…It’s a great organization. Although I still wish we went to Camp Marriott instead of camp Happy Acres.

 

I haven’t enjoyed camping since I was in my 20’s.  It’s always fun to get together with friends and camp…when you are young.  These days I prefer my own bed…with its special orthopedic mattress.  Not to mention clean clothing, cooking INSIDE, and NOT sleeping with 19 other people…10 of whom are under the age of 10 and think shining flashlights at each other until midnight is great fun…did I mention bunk beds…at least it wasn’t platform tents again. 

Daddy Longlegs don't bother me a bit...but the huge hairy black and orange spider's around the cabins did....

Getting ready for horseback riding....the main reason we are here.

"J" would do this all day if they would let her. 

Brownies only get to be led around the ring.

 

I couldn't get "J" to leave...looks like we might have summer horse camp in our future. 

There were more activities available than we could fit in....here "J" is making earrings.

Basket Weaving.

 

This was apparently "Who Hair" -I don't think I did it right.

Canoeing....notice who isn't paddling...

But thinks to my summer camp days in Ore, MN I can do enough paddling for both of us.

The best part of camping is being with your friends.

Randomness

Just a few things over the past few weeks...

 

Brownie Scouts Investiture

"J" finally got to ride this....it was our last visit to Six Flags for the year.

I will always hate Six Flags...but we WILL go often enough to get our Season Pass moneys worth!  I think I have it down to $12.73 per visit.

 They seem to remove a favorite ride each year.

 

So much for my "we aren't paying to play any (everyone's a winner) games this time" rule....

We are now the proud owners of two squid hats and a sea turtle.

They were pretty excited about those squid hats!  Winning prizes at Six Flags is sorta like that scene from "The Jerk" with Steve Martin...the part where he works as a weight guesser at the carnival - check it out...pretty funny....

 Dad getting in on the squid action.

And we went to the Fox Theater to see a play.  Homeschool field trips ROCK!