Everyday Matters: October review

It's been a whirlwind of a month. There was a lot we wanted to do and despite running ourselves ragged, we still didn't get to it all.

Our annual trek to Edaville's cranberry festival. I've been bringing my babies on this train since they were actual babies and it still entrances them.

Who doesn't love a ride on the Tilt-a-whirl?

This year we were bought what a local parent's paper wrote about Roger Williams Zoo's Spooktacular. Excited to stroll through the zoo and view the thousands of pumpkins we were in for a rude awakening. We stood in line, quite literally, from the moment we got there until we drove out of the park. Nearly three hours of standing in a line. It was exhausting. This picture was taken after being in line for about an hour. Notice the sign? And Teresa's face? Her disgust at her cousins touching the trashcan is priceless.

One of the very cool Peanuts pumpkins.

We had a much better time at a Halloween carnival we attended at the Heritage Gardens. There were games and prizes.

Crafts were crafted with great care.

There were rides on the carousel. And of course, one must sing when riding on the carousel.

There were spectacular spooky ghost eye trees.

My niece plays in the marching band at UMASS and we cheered her on at the Colonial Clash football game. The kids first experience with tailgating and big time football games. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves. What's not to love...cousins, junk food, playing football in a parking lot, more junkfood, staying up late, and some really really cool music.

It wouldn't be Halloween without some pumpkin decorating, now would it? Sadly we never got around to actually carving our pumpkins. On a Wednesday evening Sam and Teresa informed me they needed to bring decorated pumpkins to school for a pumpkin parade. When? Why the very next morning, of course! We went with the faux pumpkins and used what we had on hand. Not too shabby considering.

I figured this was probably going to be it for pumpkin related decorating in our house this year so got Kate one to decorate as well.

My little poet described her finished pumpkin as "a girl looking through a stained glass window at the falling leaves."

The month ended with a bang of costumes and trick or treating. Teresa is still very much in Superheroine mode and created a batgirl costume. My kids insist on getting into their roles for these pictures...it cracks me up.

I think Sam's days of dressing up as something fun and interesting are behind him. He embraced the macabre spirit of Halloween and went as the grim reaper.