We hope everyone had a spooktacular Halloween! There wasn’t much spook to our Halloween, but it was a happy one. Err, well, other than Jack breaking a few toes, his Fighting Irish losing and him leaving for business travel on Halloween day, it was a happy one.
I’ll start with the first broken toe and later I’ll get the other (possible) broken toes. Yes, you read that right, there’s more to come. Anyway, the first incident happened on Friday evening after Jack got home from work and just before we went to grab dinner. I don’t know exactly what he was doing at the time, but somehow he slammed his foot right into the leg of one of our bar stools. It bent three of his toes back, but thankfully only one broke. Unfortunately, those that didn't break wouldn’t be safe for long. It was pretty obvious that the one that did break was a pretty bad break; swelling and turning purple almost immediately.
After that unfortunate incident we went to grab dinner then came home to relax, get Jack off his feet and wait on our nephew, Jason, to be dropped off. We were lucky enough to have him stay with us for the whole weekend. This is always a treat! My sister and our soon-to-be brother-in-law, Andy, came out to drop him off and stayed for a short visit.
On Saturday morning, Jack and Jason went to the computer repair shop (we continue to have issues with two of our computers– it’s getting pretty frustrating!) while Madi and I went to pick up some last minute supplies for our Halloween cookies.
By the time Jack and Jason got back home, Madi and I had started the cookies and the Notre Dame game had started. Because he cannot watch the game without a beer, of course, Jack went out into to garage to grab one and that's when it happened! On his way back in he slammed the same foot, with the already broken toe, into a big 22 pound dry dog food storage container. Oh. My. Goodness. He was SO mad! He yelled out in pain and anger and threw the container down. I was thinking (and he admitted later that he was too) “Seriously? Twice to the same foot in less than 24 hours!???” But, in his defense, he was distracted when Madi met him at the door to tell him his phone had been ringing. He looked down to grab the phone and BAM! Poor guy! Because the three toes were already bruised and swollen, it was hard to tell if he finished them off/broke them or not, but he said it felt like a second one was for sure broken and maybe a third. Yikes!
So, Jack was pretty much done for already and when Notre Dame gave up a win later that afternoon, I thought he would seriously lose it. I think throwing his hat around and yelling at the TV for several minutes helped him get his anger about the toes and the game out. Then, it was time for him to pack for his six day business trip to Virginia. So, honestly, I don’t think his weekend was all that happy after all! :(
The trick-or-treat Confusion: Belton and our surrounding cities; Temple, Harker Heights and Killeen, were not on the same page when it came to trick-or-treating. Some had it on Saturday and some had it on Sunday. We thought (mostly because Madi told us and because we didn’t check the cities web-site. Hello!) that trick-or-treating was on Saturday night for Belton. Jack’s Mom knew that Harker Heights was having it on Saturday and that Killeen was having it on Sunday evening. So, our plan was to hand out candy at our house on Saturday and then hand out candy at the Johnston’s on Sunday. The kids were super excited about this plan! They love to hand out candy and are really good at it, especially Jason. He chats with the trick-or-treader's and always tells the little ones how great they look in their costumes.
So, at five o’clock on Saturday, the kids are ready. They were setting in their lawn chairs with a big bucket of candy, ready. Bella was also ready. I dressed her up as a sort of fairy, it was a cute little get-up! You'll see. Anyway, Bella hated it! She was so embarrassed and she still hasn’t forgiven me; you should see the way she looks at me! AND she’s been rebelling ever since by pulling trash out of the bath room trash cans and slinging it all over the place! She’s trying to get back at me, I know.
So anyway, the kids and Bella were ready! Here they are…
Their pretty happy (the sun was in their eyes, so they don't look happy, but they were!)
Fifteen minutes later, there were still no trick-or-treader's. Jason and Madi weren't so happy anymore! Madi texted her friend, Maggie, and found out that Belton was doing trick-or-treating on SUNDAY! Ugh, boy did we look silly out there! I joked with the kids that it was just a practice run. I don't think that made them feel any better.
Madi, Jason and I finished up the cookies late Saturday night. They turned out pretty good. We forgot to use our sanding sugars during the outlining process, as we had planned, but they turned out pretty good without it.
The kids are so creative and I’m always surprised by their ideas. Good job Jason and Madi! I had so much fun making cookies with you both! :)
On Sunday (Halloween day), Jason, Madi and I reluctantly drove Jack to the airport. After a quick drop off and sappy goodbye, I drove the kids out to my Mom and Dad’s for a visit. I wanted to check out their newly remodeled kitchen and the four room additions which are just about completed. Their house is really looking great and after three (or maybe it’s been four) long months of construction, I know they are happy it’s just about over! Our visit was short but it was nice.
Then it was time for the Trick-or-treader's. For real this time! So we headed to the Johnston’s for some Halloween candy givin' good times. Because my cut off age for Madison to actually go out and trick-or-treat was ten, she has been handing out candy for the last few years. I just don’t agree with big kids trick-or-treating and if they come knocking on my door, I tell ‘um. Jack isn’t so cold hearted and so he’d rather I leave the candy giving to him and the kids. But, I love to see the little ones in their costumes, so I have to get involved! So anyway, usually we try to find Madi a costume for her to have while handing out candy, but this year she just didn't seem interested in it. I asked her several times and even asked her one final time on Saturday while we were out if she wanted to look for one and she said no. I should have known better! Just hours before it was time to for the trick-or-treating to begin, she decided that she needed to have a costume. You know, because Jason andBella had costumes. So, she improvised – she tucked her shirt into her pants, put on a pair of three D glasses without the lenses and with purple tape on the nose piece and put on a bow tie. She claimed she was being herself; just bring out her nerdy side. Haha!
Sammy was a super cute pumpkin for Halloween. He didn't act like it bothered him in the least. He wasn't embarrassed and was just as wild and crazy as ever!
See? 
Bella thinks that if she shakes hard enough, she might get rid of her silly costume!
I thought Bella looked adorable in her costume. So did the trick-or-treader's! I loved the colors and I took way too many pictures of her in it! It's serioulsy like having a toddler!
And we can't forget Max! He didn't really want to be outside with us though, he wanted to watch the Rangers with Johnny. I don't blame him!
So, that's our Halloween weekend. Jack should be home from Virginia on Saturday morning, but he leaves again on Sunday morning and will be gone for a few more days. So, he'll be traveling and away from home for the next 8 days. Please keep him in your prayers for safe travels and for his poor little toes! :) Thank you!
