Halloween in the Weinstein household pretty much starts percolating in January. Talk of costumes. Reading Halloween books (Little Boo, Jerry Seinfeld's Halloween, Little Critter's Halloween, and Where's My Mummy? are year-round favorites). Candy consumption (that actually carries over into the fall..in fact, I think you guys still have Halloween 2016 candy as of this writing). Pumpkin/zombie/skeleton obsessions grow.
You guys went to the Arboretum (sorry I missed it!)
You both expressed your inner-pumpkins and spooky specters in art:
By Aidan
by Julia
By Aidan
By Julia, based on the Pumpkin exhibit we saw at the DMA
Aidan (L) and Julia (R): 2017 Jack-o-Lanterns
So...it was time to costume-up... who were you?
This year you guys watched "The Corpse Bride" for the first time...and Julia, you decided then and there- and never wavered- that you were going to be a 'Spoooooooooky Ghost Bride."
Mission Accomplished:
And Aidan, you had all sorts of big ideas of what you were going to be... a Tarantula... Sonic the Hedgehog. But, ultimately, when I took you to the Halloween store, you knew EXACTLY what you would choose to be the second you saw the costume:
In retrospect, it makes perfect sense. You have been going through a Pokemon thing!
Who was I?
Costumes- check!
Then it was time to GET THAT CANDY from those fools who are just GIVING it AWAY!!!!!!
Family Trick-or-Treating was on Sunday:
And then...the MAIN EVENT on Halloween EVE itself, with your buddies Zoe, Molly, and Kate!
And now... one more treat for you. I put together a little video!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!
I look forward to the discussions of Halloween '18 beginning in 3...2...1...
Julia, you have already displayed and embraced those amazing foundational crusts in your life, and your Mommy and me couldn't be more proud!
But, in order to expose you to those elements even more...and to expose you and me to the ACTUAL elements...and to have a little bit of awesome Daddy/Daughter time, you and me joined White Rock Montessori's YMCA Adventure Guide tribe, Rainbow Pizza.
You were in love with the idea of earning badges and camping and earning badges as soon as I presented the idea to you earlier in the fall.
And soon enough, our camping weekend was upon us!
It was amazing to be with you and your friends and learn all over again how brave, warm, and human you are. How you are up for any challenge. How funny you are. How fun you are. And how strong you are. I had a fantastic weekend camping with you, young lady. And I can't wait to do it again!
It was a COLD snap in late October, so you and I bundled up, packed up, I picked you up early from school, and we hit the road, heading north for Camp Classen in Oklahoma!
Our drive was peppered with sleet, and snacks, Disney music, and beautiful windmills. And before you knew it, the sun was out, there was a chill in the air, and we were at the campsite!
We unpacked and started decorating your spirit stick, which you and I cut together from a Crepe Myrtle in our front yard. It is cut exactly to your height at this very moment, so we can marvel and see how much you grow from camping trip to camping trip.
Friends arrived, other daughters and dads from school and beyond, and the sun went down. The children took a little bit longer to unwind. But after a sweaty, hot, snorey time sleeping in a cabin with 12 other dads and daughters, the entire Rainbow Pizza tribe had assembled and were ready to face the challenge of camping activities!
ARCHERY
You and I learned the ropes and you almost hit the target.
We snuck back later in the day and this time I didn't help you at all....and you NAILED IT! Look at those targets you hit!
HIKING
We rode a bus to the trail head and headed out on a 2 and half hour hike. We went through the woods, up on some cool white rocks near an empty waterfall, over several streams, up a steep hill, through the hilltops, and back down again. You were an amazing hiker, only needed banana chips and water to give your "feet some more energy" because they were almost "out of juice!"
ROCK CLIMBING
This was a STEEP cliff. You were not intimidated. You harnessed up and started climbing and although you didn't reach the bell this time, you attacked that wall with power and grace and bravery, and I am the MOST proud of you for this activity.
You were scared, but you kept going. You saw a challenge and you didn't quite reach your goal but...as you you can see...you didn't let it get you down.
....you just chose something else to climb instead!
HORSE BACK RIDING
Ty was a funny horse, and a big horse. He wanted me to lead him like a dog, and then he tried to push me off the trail! But you rode him like a champ...all by yourself!
CAMPSITE ANTICS
Chasing boys, boys stealing the girls' spirit sticks (and returning them), a 'wedding ceremony to plan for,' meals in the mess hall, warming up by the fire, making smores, an empty tree stump that all of you felt determined to fill with mud and water and sand... what is camping without campsite antics?
BONFIRE
All of the various tribes gathered that evening to celebrate with a big, beautiful, spirited bonfire!
That evening, all of the children and Dads fell asleep super duper easy!
And the next morning, Rainbow Pizza gathered round our morning fire to celebrate your accomplishments.
You earned bravery beads on your walking stick.
And badges...sweet, sweet badges ... for each challenge you faced with care, honesty, respect and responsibility.
What a slice of life it was, camping with you, Julia- badge-earning member of the Rainbow Pizza tribe!
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