Happy Halloween 2012!

Happy Halloween!!

First we carved pumpkins...

Nick is the real pumpkin carver in the family. He always has a creative idea and is able to execute it as well.

This year, Ellie wanted a scary pumpkin and a not scary pumpkin. So Nick made a scary pumpkin and a pumpkin afraid of the scary pumpkin. Clever! Ellie loved it.

Today was the big day. The big Halloween day. Ellie was so excited this morning. She dressed up in costume to go to school where they had a big party, parade, and all sorts of fun. There was a balloon twister, a pinata, a feast for lunch, a costume parade...she was so happy. Ellie went to school as Sleeping Beauty...

...however, due to excitement she came home a regular kid wearing pants that were too big and not hers because she had a potty accident at school. Too much excitement I think. So, she had a quick change and dressed up as Snow White for evening festivities. She's still a princess.

Now, we knew when we moved that our street was not a big trick or treating street. We don't have sidewalks or streetlights. We had planned on going to a nearby park where there was a festival, as an alternative for trick or treating with Ellie However, after Nick and I both drove by the park, we decided it was meant for older kids. Great concept and idea, and it looked like a lot of fun, just not for kids Ellie's age. So we scrambled for a plan B. Turns out there is a mall (Paseo Colorado) where the stores were doing trick or treating.

 

Hey, can't fault a kid and her dad for heading to the high-end stores first!

 

Ellie got plenty of candy from all the generous businesses at the mall. We had dinner. We had fun. Ellie was happy. We came home, she changed into pajamas. Then, Ellie got to have her (1) piece of Halloween candy. I think Nick had more than 1 piece though...

Happy Halloween everyone! We hope you had as much fun as we did!

Mickey's Halloween Party

This past weekend, we went to Disneyland. But it wasn't just any day at Disneyland. It was Mickey's Halloween Party! So on Friday night, we celebrated Halloween with Mickey and all his friends (and foes).

Ellie went in costume as a princess (as if anyone was surprised what she wanted to be). She dressed up a Snow White, but not just any Snow White princess dress...oh no! If its not going to be homemade this year, it is at least going to be recycled! Grandma Pam saved a Snow White dress that Aunt Susu wore when she was Ellie's age for Halloween. Aunt Susu was nice enough to let Ellie borrow it. So Ellie went classic 1980s Disney character fashions before there was such a thing as the "Disney Princesses". Ellie got lots of compliments on her dress, some from princesses.

We started off the evening with a visit to Mickey and then watching the parade. I don't know what it is about Ellie and parades, but she LOVES them. But doesn't every little kid...I mean, its a Disney parade, they are pretty spectacular. This trip to Disneyland, we brought an autograph book which we got last time we went to Disneyland. Ellie got some pretty special autographs this time around.

Ellie didn't just wave to the princesses this evening...she got some special private meet and greet time with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. A friend was able to hook us up and Ellie was so excited! She got to dance with the princesses, got their autograph, got to hold their hands and walk with them, she even got a kiss from Snow White! Ellie was so excited and felt so special.

There were also rides, trick and treating, and a Halloween themed parade.

How do you keep a 3 year old up till midnight?

Probably Nick and my favorite part of the evening was seeing the villians. Yes, all the major villians came out to Disneyland during the Halloween Party. We saw Captain Hook, Queen of Hearts, Cruella da Ville, Cinderella's evil step mom and step sisters, the evil queen from Snow White, and even Maleficent! They were a lot of fun to pose for pictures with and really interacted with each person.

It was an awesome evening. We all had a blast and it was a great experience. So, we took a quick nap and turned around and went back to Disneyland the next day! However, this time...Ellie dressed up as Sleeping Beauty!

We were able to go on a lot of rides, and we learned that Ellie is a bit of a adreneliene junky (like her parents). She wanted to go on the roller coaster in Toon Town and loved it! She wanted to go faster and faster in the Tea Cups. We even went over to California Adventure and were able to explore the new Cars Land and go on some new rides. Ellie had a blast!

We also were able to visit Minnie Mouse, and Ellie got yet another autograph for her book.

This trip to Disneyland, like all the others truely was special and a lot of fun. Our little princess, really felt like a princess. Nick and I even had a blast meeting the villians.

It was so special and amazing...

...that even the family got a little cooky! Maybe its Halloween getting to us!