Harry Potter Library Event

We are getting our mileage out of the boys' Harry Potter costumes. Not only do they play with them at home with regularity, they used them to dress up for a Harry Potter event at our library last Thursday. My friend, Christina, had told me about the event, but what really sold it were the posters on the end caps at the library itself. Ethan spotted one on our last trip and asked if we could go. Our friends went as well.

Logan chose to wear his new Quiddich robes that the boys got for Christmas. And crocs for both of my boys. Sigh. Shoes are simply not something I will choose to argue with them about...unless a special pair is required for a certain activity. 

The library had several activities set up for the kids to do. One was a scavenger hunt - they had to go find things like a broomstick, etc. And mark it off their list. 

Give this child a checklist and he is a happy camper. He is my son for sure. 

They also had Professor Trelawney handing out fortunes to the kids. 

Inside another room there were several tables with activities. There was also a Butterbeer station. The younger boys decided to give it a try. Looks like Brennan was not a fan! 

And Logan wasn't either! Haha! At least they gave it a try - the big boys didn't even want to do that. 

The younger boys also designed and colored their own crests. Logan did a section for each of the Hogwarts houses. 

They all made their way back to the tables and played with some blocks at one point. I think some of the activities were too crowded and they just wanted to play with each other anyway. 

Christina took a photo of the boys and me for us. The boys barely stopped playing and running around long enough to do this. 

While you're in the library, you might as well have a look at some books...

They cannot resist playing with an iPad. Christina and I (thankfully) had the presence of mind to check what they had done on the iPad and we deleted three videos they had made. 

In all honestly, this was a wild night. The event started at 6:30 on a weeknight. That's right about when we winding down for the night on a school night. Logan is usually in bed around 7:15 and Ethan has lights out at 8. And this time of night is not known as their best time of the day, especially after a full day of school. Friends and fun activities keep them from melting down completely, but they only amp up the craziness factor. So, while Christina and I were struggling to keep these four from feeding on each other's energy and going totally rogue in the middle of the library, we did all have fun. 

There were quite a few people at the event, which added to the chaos. At least our children were not the only crazy ones. And ours were not the loudest and rowdiest either!

Trick or Treat! | Halloween 2016

We were able to trick or treat with friends again this year, which was so much fun...for the boys and for the adults. One big improvement this year, though...the boys did not RUN the whole time. They actually walked from house to house.

How cute are these four?

We got them to take a few photos before we got started by telling them we wouldn't go trick or treating until we got our photos! Ha! We are mean moms!

Christina and I were both witches...although I like her costume a lot more. I just wore all black and my witch hat (which kept blowing off ALL night). 

This year we didn't have to do any reminding about what they were supposed to say after the door was answered...or after they received their treat. They all knew the drill. 

It was fun when the boys would talk to the other neighborhood kids about their costumes or which houses were answering their doors.

One of the houses was giving out glow necklaces instead of candy and those were a big hit! Right after this photo we went back to our house and the boys dug into their candy. We handed out some candy to the few kids who were still out and about. And then we all called it a night and the adults started the really fun task of getting excited and sugar-filled kids into bed. Because this is a school night. (Boo.) 

Trunk or Treat 2016

This year Trunk or Treat at church fell the night before Halloween. And it was one of the best Trunk or Treats in years. They added a fall festival to it and the kids really loved it. It helped that it was organized really well, so everyone had fun...not frustration.

This year, since the boys were Star Wars characters, we did a "Star Wars" trunk. I put that in quotations because it barely qualifies as a Star Wars theme...or a decorated trunk. But hey, we came, we had a trunk, and we passed out candy. I just did not have the drive to do anything spectacular with our trunk this year, so I made the sign, bought the starry backdrop and gathered up our Star Wars plush and toys. Done. Moving on...

Casey and I usually do not dress up. We've only done it a couple of times, but this year, we already had the makings of Leia (on Hoth) and Han Solo costumes, so we did it. The boys were SO excited, so it was worth it. We were a Star Wars family last night. 

Mimi and Pop were there and saved us a parking spot right next to them...in the shade. That was a huge plus because it was actually really HOT that night. Oh, Texas. 

When two or more of your friends dress up at the same time, you take a photo. Actually, I don't need an excuse to take a photo with these ladies...they are my people. We missed getting Christina in the photo, but she was there later!

Ethan was so proud to get candy from Mimi to start his trick or treating. Logan actually had a bit of a melt down at this point and said he did not want to go. So, I went around with Ethan and left him behind. Casey said he followed behind us a few minutes later...on his own. So I have literally no photos of him getting candy. That kid. 

Casey stayed behind at our trunk to hand out candy. He is fantastic at this job...he loves the kids and they love him. 

After making their rounds at the trunks, the boys dug into their treasures. I am wondering who thought it was a fun idea to hand out whistles. I know the event was outside (thank goodness), but they brought those things home. (Except after they went to bed last night, I confiscated them.)

We rounded up the boys' friends so the moms could get a photo...they've been attending Trunk or Treat together since they were babies!

Ethan decided he wanted to hand out candy for a short time. When the festival part of the event opened up, he took off to do that. 

I thought the planners did a great job of organizing the festival part. They had a card for each kid that had a checklist of treats and activities for them to do. This ensured that they didn't do anything twice and that they knew what they had left to do. It was brilliant and our boys loved it.

They had several carnival-type games and each kid got a tiny prize when they were done, which thrilled them. (I was less thrilled about all the little trinkets coming into our home, but there are ways of dealing with that too...) There was also a bouncy house and cotton candy machine.

And a snow cone station. Our boys are still wary of snow cones because they are too cold. Seriously. But, they each got one and kind of waited for it to melt a little. (Insert eye roll.)

How do you think that pristine white karate shirt held up against that purple snow cone? Yeah, not very well. And with Halloween one day away...we just wrapped it around him the other way tonight for trick or treating in the neighborhood. Sigh. 

As the evening came on and the sun set, the weather became really pleasant...and that's about when the event ended! But it was a really fun night...everyone had a blast. 

Splash Park Play Date

Yesterday (Ethan's 8th Birthday) we were lucky enough to meet up with friends at a new-to-us (but very close) splash park. Ethan couldn't have asked for a better way to spend the hour between swim lessons and baseball practice on any day...let alone his birthday.

It was overcast and not particularly hot, but that did not stop the boys from getting soaked and loving it.