Belated Halloween Poetry

Wow. I had forgotten how bad my digital video camera is.

But at least I captured Lily's favorite song/poem these days. She recites it ALL the time.

I also caught a teeny bit of our ugly kitchen. Hopefully this will be one of the last photos of before it is all torn DOWN!

Trick or Treat

In which craft projects get eaten...

Last year, the boys and I made these awesomely cool sugar skulls after a trip to the National Museum of Nexican Art in Chicago.



This year, the adorably cute puppy (who will turn 1 on Halloween), ate one of the awesomely cool sugar skulls...this one in particular:



Sadly, the sequins, frosting and sugar did not sit well with the adorably cute puppy's tummy, but I did not take a photo of that.

Happy Halloween!

My three little trick-or-treaters...

Lily as a kitty cat.

Sammy as a cardinal.

Joey as a vampire. Twenty seconds after putting on his makeup, he wiped it on the back of his hand and smeared it all over his face!

Mexican Day of the Dead

I LOVE the Mexican celebration of Day of the Dead (November 2nd). Many people think it's morbid and don't understand the calaveras (sugar skulls) used to represent the deceased. Actually, el Dia de los Muertos and the altars that commemorate loved ones who have passed away are a true celebration of peoples' lives.

Every year, I take the kids to see the Day of the Dead exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago. We enjoy the colorful artwork and the altars and then we head on over to one of our favorite Mexican Restaurants--Nuevo Leon. But before we leave the museum, I always let the kids pick out a calavera. These colorful skulls are used to decorate the altars throughout the exhibit. (You can learn more about el Dia de los Muertos here.)

This year, I ordered a skull making kit to make our own sugar skulls at home. At first, I was a bit intimidated by the whole process, but I quickly learned how easy it is to make a sugar skull. In fact, I let each of the boys decorate a calavera as well and I was pleased with the results...

Joey's calavera:

Sammy's Calavera (at least I think that's a sugar skull under there!)

BOO!

This was our first Halloween in a new house and a new neighborhood. Since Halloween in our old neighborhood was THE event of the year (600+ kids--you would actually get "stuck" in the whirlpool on the sidewalk), this year felt much more subdued. The kids were happy to trick or treat for a little while and then return home to eat chili and watch the movie Goonies.

Sammy started the day with a Halloween parade and party at preschool. (Lily joined in too!)

I think the following picture of Sam singing a Halloween song captures his 4 year old Halloween excitement.

Lily enjoyed Sammy's party and the accompanying sweets.

Ten minutes after slathering Joey with clown makeup, he complained that it was itchy and it bothered him. Perhaps this is the reason they didn't last too long trick-or-treating. He wanted to come home and wash his face.

I think the whole ensemble works though, doesn't it?

Lily looks like she's seen a ghost!