Halloween 2024

October 30 was Haunted Refrigerated Night. We had leftovers for dinner then headed to the ward/neighborhood Trunk or Treat. Jeremy brought the sugar skulls and a balloon puppet home from Thanksgiving Point's Dia de Muertos Celebration and suggested I use those to decorate our trunk for the festivities. It worked well.

When I asked Jet a week or two before Halloween what he wanted to be for Halloween, he told me a dinosaur. Perfect. He had green clothes, pteranodon wings, and Jeremy the night before the Trunk or Treat made him a balloon pteranodon hat to wear on his head. Perfect. (Again, we are using the word dinosaur as a general term for prehistoric creatures, including flying reptiles)

So as we were getting ready for the Trunk or Treat, Jet told me he was a vampire bat. O.K. Great. He was a vampire bat that some people would mistake for a pteranodon (and a lot of other things as that is how costumes go).

 

Lucky was Flowey, a character from the video game, "Undertale."

Jr. Jr. went as himself but with an "inflated ego." Ha Ha Ha Ha. Jeremy's idea.

Jr.'s Halloween costume was Death from Terry Pratchett's "Discworld." He had a Rat Death on his shoulder. Loved it.

Jeremy put together most of the costumes for the boys. I used to be more helpful but not lately (at least with Halloween costumes).

Halloween, October 31, was also National Knock Knock Joke Day but I couldn't think of any knock knock jokes that day. Weird and sad.

Jet and I went to see Lucky in his Halloween Parade at the elementary school. Like last year, they had the band from the high school playing for them as they walked outside.

After the parade, Jet and I drove up to Bridal Veil Falls to say Goodbye for the next 6 months.

That evening, Jet, Lucky, Jr. Jr., and I went around the neighborhood trick or treating. Jr. stayed home to work on college applications. He stayed in the van at Trunk or Treat to do the same. Poor kid. Lots of stress for him lately.

After we trick or treated in our neighborhood, we went to trick or treat and visit my sister. Nice chatting and good end to the evening.

Some September Holidays

September 3 was Skyscraper Day. I made a couple skyscrapers out of mini jalapeno popper egg rolls. So good.

September 4 was National Wildlife Day. Jet and I saw some scrub jays on our morning walk.

Since Nichole went back to school and I've been getting Jet up when I take boys to school or buses, we've been going on walks often. It's nice bonding time.

Later we made a balloon delivery to Jeremy who was working on something special (more on that later).

That evening with our dinner we had two desserts since it was Eat an Extra Dessert Day. To go along with Shelftember, we had salad bar so we could use up spinach before it got too old and we got out salad fixins which haven't been used in a while. Our desserts were homemade cookies and otter pops.

 

Speaking of Shelftember, Jeremy was given food while working on the balloon build, so he brought me home leftovers which worked well for lunch. Yumm.

September 5 was Cheese Pizza Day and Be Late for Something Day. They boys were helping make pizza dough but were late taking the dough out of the Bosch. Tee Hee.

Besides our morning walk, Jet and I went in the evening for another walk, this time to Bridal Veil Falls. Jet enjoyed being in the stroller but did not want to get out when it was time to head home so we were late getting home. I guess he was just trying to celebrate the holiday.

He just wanted to play in the stroller. "I'm wearing a hat."

Other Celebrating in December

We celebrated Lucky's birthday in December. I told him he had a free pass and didn't have to do chores on his birthday. He got up that morning and helped with dishes anyway. What a sweetie.

For his birthday, he got foods he wasn't picky about for dinner. And cake and ice cream and presents and cards.

Earlier in the day he came home with a balloon penguin on his shoulder (he gave out balloon animals to his classmates) and some treats someone gave him.

A few days before his birthday, a schoolmate brought over a Christmas gift for him. His own 2-liter bottle of strawberry lemonade. He enjoyed that.

 

December 28 was Chocolate Candy Day. It's a good thing we had plenty of Christmas candy left. Jr. Jr. even put a piece of his candy in my mouth for a picture. Aww, thanks, Jr. Jr. 

December 29 was Tick Tock Day. Jeremy gave a balloon gold watch to a fellow employee who as leaving their job. 

I also blogged about the Giving Machine on that day.

 

December 30 was Mercer Mayer's 80th birthday. Jeremy and I went to the library and picked up some Mercer Mayer books. It was also Bacon Day. I made carbonara for dinner.

That morning I got out for a nice walk around the City Center Park because they still had lights up on the trees and it was quite pleasant. I miss going out for walks.

We Are Balloon Artists

Jeremy's not the only balloon twister in the family. He wasn't able to do an installation at the beginning of December so Jr., Lucky, and I used Jeremy's design to create a star for our friends' ward Christmas party. Lucky and I were up late the night before inflating balloons (and counting them) so we would be all set the next morning. 

I think it turned out pretty well. We even put lights on it. Funny thing is: Jr. missed out on setting up for our ward Christmas party because of setting up for this other one.

Our friend, Jennifer Eichelberger, took these pictures so we could see it after they hung it up:

 

We did go to our own ward Christmas party that evening. Jeremy was able to join us at the end then he, Lucky, and I went down to pop the balloon star and bring back the framing and lights.

 This is our family. We're balloon artists, jugglers, writers, and just all around awesome.