Costume Countdown

Four weeks ago: a ghost. Three weeks ago: a horse. Two weeks ago and holding strong for two weeks solid: Snow White (contingent on Matt and I dressing up as dwarfs). But this week, as the costume countdown comes to a close with just five days left until trick-or-treating, I asked Ella, “Are you going to be Snow White for Halloween?” To my dismay, the answer was no.

She’s back to horse.

I don’t have a horse costume. I have a Snow White costume.

A child’s right to choose becomes every parent’s nightmare as the clock tick-tocks toward the witching hour – and we may have a “witching hour” of our own sort if Ella in fact chooses to be a horse and refuses to wear her Disney Princess costume. I know all too well that it’s a girl’s prerogative to change her mind, but when it comes to Halloween, this mummy’s going to go mad if I have to come up with a last-minute costume change. Luckily, Jaisa is still too little to make up her own mind. She’ll be a puppy by default, since that’s what Ella was three years ago. I know I won’t be able to get away with this for much longer, so I’m thankful that I only have one wishy-washy girl to deal with this year.

Aside from our latest costume conundrum, the girls and I have been having a “spooktacular” time getting ready for Halloween. We had our annual viewing of The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. We visited our favorite apple orchard and picked out pumpkins. We carved jack-o-lanterns and even roasted the seeds (which I normally don't take the time to do). We did a trial-run with our costumes and attended a special Halloween event held at our local zoo. We frolicked in the leaves. We’ve also been making treats like crazy ghouls—chocolate covered pretzel rods with orange and black sprinkles, pumpkin-shaped brownies for Ella to take to school, and we’re planning to make Halloween cereal balls yet, if time allows. If you’re still searching for something fun-n-festive to do with your kids, try out this recipe!

Halloween Cereal Balls

¼ cup margarine or butter

1 pkg (10 oz) marshmallows

2 Tbls orange-flavored gelatin

6 cups crisp rice cereal

½ cup candy corn

Combine margarine and marshmallows in 2-quart bowl. Microwave uncovered 2 ½-3 minutes or until marshmallows are puffed. Add orange gelatin; mix until combined. Stir in cereal until well coated. Mix in candy corn. Cool enough to handle. With buttered hands, form mixture into 24 balls. Place on waxed paper until cool. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap for storage.

Keeping it Safe

One thing I’m reminded as trick-or-treating approaches, is costume safety. Whatever Ella decides to be, I have to make sure she’ll be able to get around easily and comfortably, or the trip becomes a frightful nightmare for Matt and I. Some tips I recommend:

• Make sure the costume fits right and doesn’t cause a trip hazard.

• Dress for the weather—even if coats have to cover up parts of the costume.

• Leave the magic wand at home—or you’ll be the one carrying it.

• Stay visible—if trick-or-treating in the dark, put your child in reflective clothing and let her carry a glow stick or flashlight.

• Provide a backup mode of transportation—bring a stroller or wagon for tired little legs.

• Use makeup instead of a mask—kids get too hot and can’t breathe well with masks.

• No eating without inspection—check your kids’ candy before they start gorging themselves on it. Stick to wrapped candy and things they can easily chew and aren't choking hazards. Keep the hard candy and gum for yourself.

Have a safe and happy Halloween, whatever you’re little goblins decide to be!

To Fall, With Love

Ahhhh… Fall, why have you kept me waiting so long?

I love everything about you—the cool, crisp air you blow through my hair, how you make me smile just looking at your vivid beauty—the blazing oranges… bold, fiery reds… sunbursts of yellow and gold… You’re absolutely breathtaking. I want to embrace everything about you. It’s amazing what energy you give me as I breathe in the intoxicating smells of crumbling leaves, fireplaces ablaze, apples ripe and juicy, your comforting casseroles, chili, apple crisp and cinnamon stirred cider. Your natural sounds of crunching leaves and geese honking overhead provide the perfectly calming background melodies to my afternoon walks. The days of endless entertainment you bestow upon us...the festivals, visits to apple orchards and pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating, wine tasting, hay rides and bonfires… I’m forever thankful for your presence and wish you’d stay awhile longer. I don’t mean to disrespect, but tell Old Man Winter to stick it. It’s you I want, Fall, for just a month or two longer.

There are a lot of reason people like living in Wisconsin – the Badgers, the Packers, the cheese, the brats, the beer, family, good farmland, good schools, good paper, hard workers and friendly faces. For me, I suppose it’s a combination of all of those, but it’s the change of seasons, (and family of course) that keep me grounded here. Truth be told, as much as I bash winter, I’d miss it if I didn’t have it. But, seriously, why must you stick around so long? If you haven’t gathered from my ode to autumn, it’s the season I love most of all. Always have. It’s a time of year I look forward to with giddy anticipation after a hot, humid summer. And it’s a time I forget how much I’ve missed when that first cool breeze kisses my nose.

For my family, the month of October kicks off all kinds of fall-time fun. Ella has constantly been asking when she can jump into a pile of leaves. Our trees are still fully loaded so we have a few more weeks to go. But that little girl was so desperate for a frolic the other day that she took out her little rake and scrounged up every fallen leaf she could find and made one very pathetic heap. She didn’t care. She jumped right in with a huge smile on her face and threw those 20 or so leaves up in the air with the pure joy that autumn brings.

Jaisa is still taking it all in. We went for a walk on the Fox River Trail yesterday and I kept putting freshly fallen leaves in the tray on her stroller. She got all excited and started patriotically waving them about like little flags. It’s quite possible that both my girls got it bad for fall just like their mom.

In the weeks ahead, the family and I will be discussing (and hopefully deciding on) Halloween costumes, picking out pumpkins, visiting our absolute favorite apple orchard (it’s not just apples, folks), creating mountains of Halloween crafts, gorging ourselves on caramel apples and candy, and of course later giving thanks for every last bit of it.

Fall, I’m so crushing on you right now.

Got a favorite season? What are some of your favorite traditions?