Happy Halloween

Today, we decided to cross the River because the local TV Station advertised a Halloween Party and a Costume Contest in the early afternoon. The Party consisted of a few candy bars passed out and being on the afternoon TV Show "Show Me Five". Lil Orchid was one of the top 3 Costumed Kids chosen, then they had an applause meter for the favorite. Thank Goodness there was a Group of Craft Moms in the audience...Lil Orchid won 1st Place YEAH! (a $50 Mall Gift Certificate) 2nd & 3rd place were for $25 Ice Cream cert. She was so Excited that they gave her an envelope with a card ;) and they also sent home three pumpkins from the set. (Pumpkin bread here we come)Mmm-m-m-m-m

That evening we drove into town where several local service organizations threw a Halloween Party at the VFW. Lots of games, food and candy...and some scary guy statues. Lil Orchid won 1st Place ($5) Best Costume in the 0-5 yr category. Horray for Mom Mom and Mam Maw's Sewing and Creativity. And lets not forget that CUTE FACE of Lil Orchid. BIG WINNER!!!!

Check out Lil Orchids 1st (8 mos) and 2nd (20 mos) Halloween

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Found some old flat signs I had painted when my son was little. (over 20 years ago) We had fun decorating the front yard.

The weather was incredible today, in the 70's ?? So we drove over to the Pumpkin Farm and had a great time, Played in two corn mazes, went down the straw hill slide, talked to the animals and searched for that perfect pumpkin....Lil Orchid just couldn't make up her mind. Let the Pictures tell the story.

75, 76, 77....

too Tall ?

too short ?
funny stem ?
too Flat ?
not Orange enough ?
Can't Decide ?

Doesn't Match ?

Doesn't Fit ?

Pumpkin Coach ?

Does it Match my Outfit ?

One thing we do know is that
Lil Orchid is not afraid of the Unknown...

and not afraid to go her own way and leave the beaten path !

Keep on Smilin'

Another Halloween Card...can't wait til Christmas cards start coming.....lol

Surprise, Surprise

Monday & Tuesday had nice surprises in the Mail for Lil Orchid and family. Lil Orchid received a Halloween card from Ye Ye and Great Great with a special Jack O Lantern on the front. She received a sticker ABC Halloween book and a Halloween card with a gray striped kitty on it (surprise, it wasn't a black cat) from her Godmother Stephanie from Canada. Then her Mom Mom's SP sent her a Hello Kitty Halloween bucket and another Halloween book and some other wondeful things for the family. Thanks! We spent the evening reading the books over and over again. Lil Orchid Loves Books!

Tuesday was physical theraphy day for Lil Orchid so we surprised her with a nice warm fire in the fireplace to take the chill out of the air.

Still having fun wearing the Halloween shirts...Yeah for Halloween.

Sunday Funday

Still enjoying the Halloween Festivities with friends. We we were invited to a Trunk or Trick at a special friends Church. I have really come to enjoy this type of trick or treating, mainly the safety of it and also for the compact area. And most people really get into decorating their trunks for the kids. It seems like today the neighborhoods are not as friendly, or people are movong in and out and you don't really know them. When I was younger our neighborhood which actually consisted of the entire community stayed the same. All the moms felt safe enough to be at home and hand out treats while the children walked in groups for blocks and blocks with older siblings all night long. I regret that my children and granddaughter will never get to experience that kind of Halloween. But we have found unique ways to celebrate and still be with friends. The winds were not in our favor, they were gusting over 40 mi so Lil Orchid was not able to where her Bo Peep outfit as planned..all we could invision her turning into a little Mary Poppins and flying away. Dumbo's belly wouldn't fit into the carseat, so my Lil Orchid became our Lil Daisy for the evening. They had lots of games, hot dogs and chili. With friend Christie, she won a cake walk and got two little decorated cupcakes which really tickled her and later watched a B & W Casper cartoon while munching popcorn with friend, Brian. Christie gave her a mylar Jack O Lantern balloon when we left but before we could tie it up at home Lil Orchid released it to the cathedral ceiling. I was able to lift her up and rescue it.

Boo at the Zoo

Today we got up very early to Trick or Treat across the river at the STL Zoo. It was freezing before the sun came up so we thought this is good the crowd should be small. WRONG! It was already crowded by 9am and the lines through the Zoo were winding past the seals, bears, tigers and everywhere else. But it was fun, getting a last look at most of the animals before winter. No it would have been to hard for Lil Orchid to wear her Bo Peep costume so we dug into the attic and pulled out a tiny costume which we thought was good for the Zoo, "Dumbo, the elephant". She was so adoreable with her stuffed belly and big ears. Last year her Mom Mom took her and she was a lion. They took her picture by the "Big Cat Country" sign. This year we stood her by the "Asian Elephants" sign. Everyone just Ohh and Ahh'd. There is one photo where she wanted to stand in the elephant foot prints and of course, it wouldn't be Halloween without a Haunted House. It really warmed up probably in the first half hour which made it nice and comfortable because we were prepared and had dressed in layers. Heck, it was like Lil Orchid was in a snow suit. Ha Ha. We have a few more Halloween events we have been invited to through out the next week. Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Festivities.

Don't you just love the cute sign we saw in the gift shop. ;)

We also went to the Science Center which is not to far from there. She loved all the different exhibits and experiments that the different college student were doing.