Remember and Respect

We started a new tradition in our home this year. I got the idea from Nie Nie. Every year she has a special Back-to-School dinner for her kids. They have a theme for the year. I think it is a wonderful idea and helps the kids get excited for school.

Our theme this year is "Remember and Respect." I wanted to emphasize the fact that they need to remember what WE have taught in our home. That we might make different choices than our friends. That we have different rules and expectations. I also wanted them to remember to respect their classmates and teachers and themselves.

We invited all the cousins (and Grandparents on both sides and aunts and uncles). We had apples as our centerpieces, we had a big poster with the theme that they helped decorate and hats with the theme and their names. We ate dinner, had the grown-ups tell stories from their school days and talked about the theme. We all ate at one long table. No "kids' table" for this party. Even though it was a little crazy with 11 kids I think they still got some good out of it.

After dinner (Indian Food--homemade, of course!)--we had a fashion show with some of their new outfits, and then dessert--A rice krispie treat school bus and some chocolate cream puffs and coconut-creme cream puffs. We decided to do the party that morning so Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike could come, too, so there aren't many pictures since I was running around doing things. But the table looked really cute!

Trick or Treat Smell My

Happy Halloween!! We've had lots of events this Halloween season (that's right, it's not just a day, it's a WHOLE SEASON)! Starting with an adult-only Halloween party, 2 parades, 1 school party, 1 school function cancelled because of too many sick kids at the school (sick with what, you ask? H1N1 and other flu-fun), 1 church Trunk-or-Treat, 1 trip to Elevation Burger in costume to get free milkshakes, and one night of Trick-or-Treating + Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. Here are some pictures to prove it all.

S and I decided to be Mary Poppins and Bert instead of JFK and Marilyn or Jackie O so the kids would know who we were.

The kids? Star Wars. Why? Because they are OBSESSED with Star Wars Wii. It's going to kill me. At least we have a 30 minute a day limit (plus none on Sunday). Hopefully that will keep me out of the funny farm. S. dressed up as Darth Vadar for Little Man's b-day (I'll eventually post pictures of that) and I was Leia, but we liked our Mary Poppins and Bert better.

The costume low-down: I love saving moolah on costumes!

Mary Poppins: total cost $3.75 for flowers and berries on hat + black spray paint. Had shirt, skirt, ribbon for bow tie, used my 101-year-old gma's hat and spray painted it and glued flowers and berries. I had S.'s g-ma's white gloves and the parrot umbrella from Mary Poppin's on Broadway that was my sister's (this isn't pictured).

Bert: Total cost: $2.
Had jacket, shirt, pants, boots. Spray painted wooden bar we had around the house and cut cardboard for the chimney sweeper. Bought face paint and red material for scarf. Used my dad's hat.

Princess Leia: Total cost $1.49. Made the dress from an old kitchen curtain that had shrunk in the wash. Used no pattern. Found belt at a second-hand store. Used her real hair.

Luke Skywalker: Total cost $0. My mom made his vest for his birthday party a month ago (Carrie--I got the idea from you!). Had pants, shoes and light saber.

Yoda: $0 Borrowed hat and jacket from a friend. Had green face paint.

And there you have it! You can do Halloween for 5 people under $10!


Little Man's school parade



A picture with all the cousins after piano lessons.




Mary, Bert and the Star Wars gang.



After our Adult-only Halloween party. I think this might be a tradition! I'll do a separate post on this--oooh, maybe even on the FLOG that hasn't been touched in over a year!