Halloween M&eM's!

After six parties, Halloween 2011 is behind us, making it almost as celebrated as Christmas. When did that start happening? No skin off our back though- you know we love a good party.

Marin and Emilie were M&eM's for Halloween. Jason had the idea after they were born and we got a present from Mika and Joey from a store in Glen Ellyn called M and Em's. Until then we hadn't realized that their names were M and Em. The Amazing Molly found time between, helping people in need, running marathons, being a triathlete, cooking amazing meals every night, and taking awesome pictures- and oh yeah, she also has a big time full time job- to make the costumes from scratch. Molly is literally the best person I know. For some reason she decides to keep me around- probably for when she decides to slum it with someone who showers four times a week and spends half her life talking about time outs. And, because she is super woman, she surprised us with a matching costume for Norah, too. I die. We are eternally grateful to Molly for making our costumes once again. They were the talk of every party and every outing. All props to you, Mols. Thank you SO very much!

The fun started in September when Molly came to measure Emilie and Marin for their costumes. This meant we got to see Molly for a bonus visit, which is rare, since, when we moved to Geneva two years ago, I broke our unwritten rule to never live father than five miles apart. Molly asked Marin what color she wanted to be and what color baby Emilie should be. After Marin said red and green, and I tried to sway her in a different direction, Molly stopped me, saying that what Marin wants, Marin gets. This is what Marin thinks too, sometimes. Hence my aforementioned talk about all the time outs. The girls and I met Molly downtown for lunch to pick up the costumes and were instantly in love.

Marin was excited to help me make these treats to give to all of Marin and Emilie's friends.


We kicked off our Halloween celebrations on Thursday afternoon, by trick-or-treating at the merchants in downtown Geneva. Marin's friend Joy, from ballet and her sister, Lily and mom, Lara, met at our house and we walked to the shops together. We saw so many of our friends there, and Marin just ran up and down the streets SO excited to see everyone in their costumes. True to her social roots, I think she loved seeing her friends more than she did getting the candy.


Friday we had a Halloween party at Kathy's Kid's, Marin's old daycare. Kathy invited a lot of alumni, so Marin got to see a lot of her old friends. Kathy went all out, as usual, with cookies and candy and hot cider for the adults, as well as lots of other treats too. Then we all went trick-or-treating in her neighborhood, which happens to include my parent's house. Marin loved ringing the doorbell and yelling trick-or-treat at Grandma and Grandpa's house.


Friday night we invited my parent's over and carved pumpkins. Actually, if I'm telling the truth, Jason carved pumpkins, I supervised, and Marin "cooked" the guts with her play kitchen pots and pans until they fell and splattered everywhere, and that was the end of that. In keeping with tradition, we put Emilie in the pumpkin like we did with Marin on her first Halloween. (Refresher picture of Marin on the right.) Emilie, the happiest baby in the world, didn't seem to mind as much.


Saturday morning we took the train to Glen Ellyn to meet Mika, Tom and Tess for Glen Ellyn's costume parade. It was so much fun, and we'll definitely do this every year. How adorable is Tess, dressed as a pumpkin princess? I could eat her with a spoon. Marin loves Tesser, as she calls her, and was so excited to run in the middle of the street with her at the "hip parade" (which is Marin for parade- derived from hip hip hooray, which she thinks is pronounced hip parade, and thus calls parades, hip parades). Taking the train (just like Daddy does) was a huge hit, too. Add that to trick-or-treating after the hip parade, and you have the makings of a 2 1/2 year olds perfect day.


Saturday night, Lindsay came to babysit the girls, while this Girl Scout and her Eagle Scout escort went to a murder mystery Halloween party. Yes, that is my original vest from 1987. I was 9. You bet your sweet a that I earned all those badges. I also carried my badge book in my girl scout bag that I stenciled myself. Hot. Jason really was an Eagle Scout, and wore his original shirt from when he was 17. Insert nerd joke here. Marin took one look at my hairdo and said, "Mommy! You look beautiful with those ribbons in your piggy tails!!"


Sunday afternoon we had a family party at our friend the Szklarek's. Marin loved seeing her friend CJ dressed as Peter Pan (his mom and dad were Tinkerbell and Captain Hook!), Kai dressed as an adorable dinosaur, and Alex, the dragon. Abby made a lot of really good food for the adults, and adorable Halloween treats for the kids. Such fun! On the way to this party, we stopped to visit my Grandma and Grandpa, who were at my parents house, so they could see the girls in their costumes.


Finally, Monday was Halloween, the main event. We continued our tradition of trick-or-treating with all of our neighbors, which is so much fun! There are 18 kids total who run all costumed, giggling together. The adults trail along and hang back on the sidewalk to making sure the kids say thank you, and don't run through the yards. And okay, adult beverages are also consumed. The Nitschke's hosted us again- we all met there before hand, and after trick-or-treating we went back to their home for soups and cocktails and conversation. All the kids snuggled on the couch to watch a movie after they ran around and played doctor in the basement. At this age, that's still innocent. We all stayed up past our bedtime, and I went to bed so grateful once again for being blessed with such a fun group of neighbors.