Halloween

While Halloween was fun, I still feel cheated. I decorated the house in the rain on Halloween with ghosts that flapped and howled in the wind. I forgot to take pictures of our jack o lanterns and Katie and Cal together in their costumes. I have been so off my game lately, I spent the majority of the week dying  from muscle spasms in my neck, shoulders and skull. I over did it at bootcamp. Ever have a muscle spasm in your neck? So creepy

Callahan went as Dr Who (Eleventh Doctor) and Katie went as Amy Pond, Dr Who's sidekick. She looked just like the picture below. They were totally cute and wore their costumes to school Friday.

Such a Callahan thing to be

Every year I end up making a costume for Karrick, not because I'm crafty, but because he comes up with costumes that you cant buy. This years started with the mask, a really creepy bird mask.

I bought a brown curtain panel on clearance and many bags of feathers that I glued on with spray adhesive. I sewed the panel onto a black long sleeve shirt. It was really kind of scary.

Due to the rain, trick or treating with friends was put om hold. When it finally stopped and 2 of Karrick's girlfriends (friends that are girls) stopped by so he joined them.

We usually have a chairs and fire pit in the driveway and hang outside all night

We went to Stades farm a few weeks ago for pumpkins, it was pretty cool. I had an engagement photo shoot scheduled there so we made it a family event sans TJ...always working

Some of the shots, they really turned out cute and I can't wait to shoot their wedding next year

A fun Halloween in spite of Sandy

Another Halloween has come and gone. This year was a little different as Karrick didn't have his much anticipated annual Halloween party. With my photography business taking off and Karrick shooting a movie there just wasn't time.

Tim was stuck working all week due to hurricane Sandy taking out the East coast and shutting down the NYSE. Tim's favorite holiday is Halloween so he was pretty bummed.

All 3 boys went trick or treating. I love that Callahan and friends still dress up and hit the streets. They are a tight group...pals since 1st grade.

Karrick hit the streets with a few friends, then he and his bud Nick came back to our house to pass out candy and play tricks on the candy seekers

We have a hopping block when it comes to patrons...tons of kids. Above a large group of Karricks classmates showed up 

Jack and friends

Finally had time to carve our pumpkins

On a side note, Karrick has been in our bed 4 out of the last 5 nights. If Zombie's are stalking him from under the bed, the pecking on the roof terrifies him.Too much Halloween for him. Friday, the Creatures of the night at Brookfield Zoo was jammed packed full of Zombie's. Also what really got Karrick at the Zoo was the non-stop alarm that blared ..sounded like a tornado siren....freaked the weather conscious kid out.
His room is the 4th floor attic where our giant sycamore tree branches tap the roof in the wind.
He also watched "The Birds" late night with Callahan and Tim. Cal had to watch an Alfred Hitchcock movie for a LA homework assignment.
Thank God we have a King size bed
Tonight should be interesting when it gets dark...boohahaha

Creatures of the night

Tim and I rounded up all the teenagers + Karrick and headed to Brookfield Zoo's Creature's of the night. I just loved it!. The Zombie tram ride followed a dark path with unsuspecting creepy zombie's just suddenly creep up on you. What made it all the more fun was having teenage girls along....oh the screaming! They were all over Alexis and Katie. Thank God Callahan and TJ were there to save the damsels in distress

All the kids were off of school today. My poor TJ has some nasty flu like bug. He was in bed all day. He popped some Aleve, sucked it up and came along. By the end he he was 1/2 dead

 This guy was hilarious standing at a good 10ft tall. I was video taping him and he kept coming closer and closer...then proceeded to chase my as I ran away screaming. All of it is on video.

There was a really neat light show on the Swamp house where all kinds of Halloween images were displayed 

 Corn mazes....not a fan. I usually don't go in them as I don't like anything that entraps me. I feel like I'm starring in an episode of Criminal Minds. This one was kinda tough. Karrick kept running away from me, All I could think of was him getting lost for hours like we were in some 1000 acre remote farmland. Really!? we were at Brookfield Zoo smack dab in the Western suburbs! These damn things mess with with my mind and make my heart pound...again not a fan

Monster Bash

 Karrick's old man costume...love that mask

After one of the busiest few weeks of my life all I wanted to do was sleep! I put on my big girl panties so Tim and I could take Karrick to the annual Monster Bash at Pleasant Lane. I had to get shots for the yearbook too. It's really a great party for the kids...in place of a classroom party. Food, raffle's, DJ, dancing, games and just a lot of fun. It's usually held on a Friday, but the kids were off today, so it was held last night.

This little boys costume was awesome...the eye lit up...clearly his dad has some skills

^Tim and I with the old man mask ^

 Karrick picked out my mask...after swimming class we ran to party city so he could get a cape. I picked out a bright red short Vixen wig, but Karrick didn't care for it.

I could barely socialize I was so tired...which is unheard of for me.

I look mad in the picture but I wasn't. As karrick says "I'm just not using any facial muscles"

I am super busy at work, didn't even get my day off this week and had something every single night this week. Not to mention I was busy on the movie set all day Sat and Sun....very low on sleep. I am super excited to sleep in tomorrow!!!!

Halloween in pictures

family

last Saturday Tim and I brought Karrick and Callahan to Sunny Acres Farm in West Chicago. The weather was perfect high 70's low 80's and sunny. TJ didn't join us do to his concussion.

How sweet of Callahan to ride the elephant with Karrick who is hidden

Karrick loves his childrens Bible, anything to keep him reading !

 Tim and I attended my cousins wedding last night in Indiana. It was great seeing my dad, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles. I just don't get to see them as much as I would like. Plus I got to go out and buy a darling new dress

Photograph by TJ