Halloween 2008 - it was a great celebration for all. Eli is so totally in love with and excited about Halloween, he would announce first thing every morning for the past couple of weeks how many days until Halloween. I seriously doubt he slept much on Halloween Eve. The weekend before, Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham had their "traditional" Halloween Party. It's only been a tradition for three years now, but it is so wonderful it is the topic of discussion throughout the year. The traditions include jack-o-lantern shaped pizzas from Papa Murphys; a large cauldron of Witches Brew (homemade rootbeer) smoking in the center of the table; touching all of the scary items placed in bowls under a towel- things like Goblin eyeballs (peeled grapes), dead mans veins (spaghetti noodles), witches hair (cooked Ramen noodles), etc.; and everyone coming in costume. This year we were in charge of the games and decided on Halloween bingo, the Mummy game, bean bag toss, and bobbing for apples. The funniest part of the games was Asher's insistence in playing all of the them. He has no doubt that he is able to do everything his big brothers do. Yes, he did bob for apples and did actually get one without drowning himself. He was quite proud. When we started the Mummy game, where two teams are wrapping up their "mummy" with toilet paper, he started into a major tantrum until I finally figured out he wanted a roll of toilet paper of his own to start wrapping up Dad with. Once I supplied him with his own roll, he was so happy and felt like a major contributor to the team. Lesson learned = don't forget the little guy, who has no idea he's the little guy and is positive he's just as capable as the big guys.
Grandma Fotheringham - Creator of the much-anticipated Halloween Party
"Look what I won playing Bingo!"
Asher was a major contributor to Mummy Team #2 after he finally got his own roll of T.P.
Uncle Colt as Mummy #1 with his team, who claimed victory.
Dad as Mummy #2
On Halloween day, Oakley and Eli both dressed up for school and had party's with their classes. That afternoon, Grandma Fotheringham and I braved the crowds at the Pleasant Grove Park where there was trick-or-treating with many of the local businesses setting up tables and handing out candy. All Oakley wanted to do was play at the playground and couldn't have cared less about obtaining any candy. Because it was crowded enough I couldn't have seen him at the playground from the trick-or-treating line, I told him he had to stay with us. He was not too happy and continued to pout until we finally reached the end of the line and he could go and play. I think all three of the boys would have much preferred the playground equipment to the trick-or-treating. Oh well, another lesson learned.
After the park, we went back to the house where Great Grandma Moore and Grandpa Fotheringham joined us for a quick dinner before we headed out for the neighborhood Halloween activities. Many families in the neighborhood had signed up to have specific activities at their houses and Eli was especially looking forward to the Weaver's spook alley. Oakley did not want to go. He wanted to go home with Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham and sleep over at their house, which he does every Friday. Scott was trying to insist that he go with us. Oakley doesn't eat candy, so he doesn't care about trick-or-treating. Oakley doesn't like scary things, he gets way too freaked out. Oakley doesn't like wearing costumes, and he'd been wearing his since 8:00 that morning. Why did he want to force Oakley to go out in the cold, wearing an uncomfortable costume, begging for candy from neighbors, all when it was late and all he wanted to do was go to sleep? Lesson learned= you can't force people to like something they don't. Just like we can't convince Eli NOT to totally love everything associated with Halloween, we can't force Oakley TO love it.
The trick-or-treat gang ready to hit the trail.
A lot of life lessons to be learned every day, including Halloween.
Asher is amazed at all the candy he got trick-or-treating.
Eli is quite pleased with his bowl full of candy.
Asher is giving Dad strict instructions that the candy in this bowl is his and no one is to touch it, including Dad.
