Papa Skip Trip

We had my Father-In-Law here from Oct. 25th to last Thursday for a visit.  We always love it when Skip comes!  The kids are always excited for weeks before he comes and then sad for weeks after, asking if and when he can come back and they can go over to Papa Skip's hotel!

It was a lot of fun- we went swimming, shopping for fall clothes for the kids, out to eat, Trick-or-Treating, Halloween partying, went to the kid's classes, and we did a lot of playing at home or jumping on Papa's bed at the hotel.  We had wanted to do more, including going to church and Trunk-or-Treating but plans were interrupted by the crazy out of season snowstorm we had on the Saturday of Halloween weekend.  Church and Trunk-or-Treat were both canceled, local cities canceled Trick-or-Treating and up to FOUR days of school (due to downed power lines and tree branches) and traveling anywhere but locally was difficult for a few days.  Still, we were able to do a LOT, and I am still playing "catch-up" with the everyday stuff that went by the wayside, like laundry and grocery shopping.

On our way to Trick-or-Treat- Mykelle changed her costume again and chose to be Princess Belle.  Evan was content with being a "mean" pirate.  

We met John and Kate to go Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood.  

Mykelle and Evan were more interested in looking at the decorations of people's houses than hitting as many houses as they could.  They had a hard time keeping up with John and Kate because they were so distracted by everything to see!

Mykelle and Evan had a great time filling their bags with candy!  They were able to eat quite a bit the night of Halloween and were allowed to keep ten pieces the next day before the "Halloween Witch" came to take their candy away on the night after Halloween.  I heard of the idea from a friend and I LOVED it!  We let the kids choose their ten pieces, which they could eat as fast or as slow as they wanted (both had finished all ten before the day was out).  The rest of the candy was placed into a bowl for the Halloween Witch to take and trade with presents- Mykelle was given a green dress-up wig and fairy wings, Evan was given two swords with a shield and a cape and mask (of course all 50% off the day after Halloween!).  Evan cried and kept asking why the witch would take his candy but he got over it quickly enough.  And now my kids aren't asking for candy every day!  But I still have this huge stash of candy to get rid of before I end up eating it all... I think I'll have Adam take it to work with him and let the students eat it.

Yeah, Evan with his hands down his pants during Creative Movement class :) 

Evan has some really cool moves where he spins on the floor and even goes up onto his shoulders- I think he could be a really great break dancer!

Music class- Music for Aardvarks- the kids and I all have so much fun!  This song they're dancing to is about "Tess" dancing with her scarf in the air.  Mykelle calls it the "Beautiful, Beautiful" song that is her fave.  

Mykelle in one of her three costumes- the Nice Witch.  

Papa Skip with the kids during the cuddle time closing song.  

Holiday Sweets & Treats class- making mud and worms.

Evan's "mud" mustache

Creepy popcorn hands

We went to IHOP for lunch- they were giving away free scary face pancakes for children under 12- it was a fun activity for the kids!

Mykee and Evan have been saving their money for a Pillow Pet ever since the gas station attendant showed Mykelle a butterfly while we were waiting for the car to fill.  The attendant kindly offered them to us for 2 for $20 rather than the $15 each he was asking (right, and he bought them for what, $2 a piece??).  Mykelle has been saving her dollars and coins for a few weeks.  She had received some money in her Halloween cards and packages from grandparents but was still $2 short when Papa Skip was here.  Through a few days of collecting coins and getting an extra dollar from Papa both her and Evan made it to $10!  We went to the gas station (of all places...) and each kid gave the attendant their $10.  Evan bought a monkey (yeah, we just got rid of his old monkey pillow pet because he NEVER used it) and Mykelle got her butterfly.  They've been inseparable ever since.  Except most of the time, when they're separated... :)

Messy kids!

Thought I'd add these pics of us playing in the rain in August- I don't think I put them on the blog... and it was too fun to leave out!   And a couple videos of Evan and his baby talking with each other...