A Very Curious Halloween!

Well, hello there November. When did you creep up on us?

Another Halloween has come and gone. You may remember last year's debacle....(Screaming Zebra) where Oliver was just too overwhelmed by everything to function normally (read: breakdown city). This year went much more smoothly. He decided to be Curious George in early October and never looked back. We packed in quite a few festivities leading up to the big night: We went to Boo At The Zoo in Kansas City with our friends the Roberts family a couple weekends ago, where Oliver made a beeline for...who else - the monkeys. We had Stepping Stones Halloween Carnival this past Sunday. I picked Oliver up from school early yesterday and we trick-or-treated around my office building, and then last night was THE night to end all nights - especially when you're 3.5 years old and your best buds are with you and there's an endless supply of candy being thrown around.

This year, same as last year, we headed over to the Griffith family's house for pre-haunt pizza and photos, then it was off in the wagons, down their street, which is seriously Halloween Central, where Oliver, Charlie and Noah pretty much maintained a slow sprint from house to house. The girls of the group, as usual, took their lady-like time and reminded us all to stop and smell the chocolate. Then, it was off to Mike and Tara Zerr's ( (Tara almost Zerr - T-minus 2 weeks to wedding) for their annual Halloween party. Holy chaos, Batman! Our George was having so much fun, we had to drag him kicking and screaming from their house - where he sobbed the entire way home blubbering "I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave. I don't want to...Hey Mom, can I have a piece of candy?"

Halloween as a parent is, of course, way more stressful than pre-kid, but I think we are slowly but surely getting the hang of it. Next year we may even, gasp! decorate our house! Here's to many more Happy Halloweens in Lawrence, USA.

At the zoo - in his natural element

Fun with Nory Roberts

Almost go time!

Game faces on? 

Why look! It's the Man In The Yellow Hat. Here to claim his monkey!

Griffith neighbors set up a dance floor in their driveway, prompting Oliver/George to show his moves.

Obligatory family pic!

Um, this is what happens when you attempt a group boy pic.

And, this is what happens when you take a group girl pic. Sigh.

Memories!

When Mom's Away The GP's Play!

The other weekend I flew off for a whirlwind visit to Colorado so I could catch up with some dear old college friends. While I was gone, Grammy & Grandpa came to Kansas to spend some QT with Oliver. And it sounds like they had just the best time! Oliver had a birthday party at the pumpkin patch that G&G got to experience, they got to see the KU Homecoming Parade, they got to see Oliver's complete domination at bowling (I think this was b/c he refused to let anyone else have a turn), and they got to cheer on Dad at his soccer game.

Looking stylish at the patch!

Cheering on Dad. Hmm, notice the difference b/w Oliver's attire and Jerry's????

This past weekend, Matt, Oliver and myself had our first trip to the Great Wolf Lodge. It is only a 30 minute drive down I-70, but it is definitely a different world inside! Oliver loves anything to do with water, and combine this with two of his favorite friends on the planet (Charlie Griffith and Noah Clothier) and he was in heaven. I think Matt enjoyed the water slides more than he expected to. As for me and the other moms, well, we tried to spend as much time in the family-friendly hot tub as possible! Oliver really likes going to hotels in general, so I plan to be peppered with requests to go back for a long time. I'm sure we will enjoy more stays at the GWL, but I'm hoping he will be big enough next time to go on all the rides himself, and then I really will be spending the entire time in the hot tub (the adults-only one at that)!

O is a big fan of all the bear-related decor at the GWL.

Action shot shooting out of the slide tunnel. Oliver LOVES fast slides that go through pitch-black tunnels. WHO is this kid???

The Wrecking Crew.

The just warm "Hot Tub".

And last but not least, Oliver commits 2 rule violations in under 10 seconds. 1. Cuts off the poor little girl moving too slow in front of him, and 2. Goes down on his stomach (not allowed per GWL lifeguards)!

Next update will likely be Halloween related. Fingers crossed the screaming zebra from last year will not make another appearance! See 2012 Halloween Blog Post for those enjoyable details.