Happy Halloween

What a day! Eli had school this morning, and I had a photo shoot, so Maddie spent most of the AM hours with Grandma Cathie. The four of us picked Eli up and went home for lunch. Eli decided to show me that he'd had enough of the crazy schedule for the last week or so by throwing the WORST temper tantrum he's had to date. It ended when he ran into his bathroom, picked up his toothbrush holder, and smashed it on the floor. I put him in his crib and closed the door behind me. Using the time to read to Maddie before her nap started helped calmed me (despite the crying and screaming from Eli's room) so I could rationally deal with him. I'm not going to sugar coat it: I was pissed. Very very very mad and frustrated that Eli would resort to breaking something out of anger. So when he had calmed down a bit, I went in and asked him if he was now ready to use the bathroom. He was, so we walked in there together. He had to step over the broken toothbrush holder because I had left it right where it landed. After he finished his business, I asked him what needed to be cleaned up. He told me the holder and then he walked around picking up the pieces. We then had a discussion about how the holder broke. I went over (and over and over) that we do NOT throw things, hit people, or scream out of anger. I reminded him that it is ok to be mad, or sad, but it is not ok to hurt things or people when we are feeling that way. We discussed a few 'cool down' options for him the next time he felt angry. Then I told him he lost privileges for baseball until he could demonstrate to us that he could keep himself in control, even when he is mad. It ended on a good note, but it was a tough afternoon.

After naps, the kids got into their costumes and we went outside for a few pictures. Not many turned out due to Maddie's runny nose and Eli's love of running through the leaves. Ten minutes later we gave up on pictures and walked up the hill to the start of the neighborhood parade. All of Eli's friends were there, so the kids ran around checking out all of the costumes. We walked the one mile down to the pool parking lot where more kids and families awaited us. With pizza!! A few pieces later, the kids were ready to run around. Eli spotted a daddy dressed as 'the man with the big yellow hat' and his son, Curious George, and he kept tabs on them the rest of the night. Most of Eli's time was spent with his next-door buddy, William. Maddux just wanted to wander. She didn't care much who she followed...she just wanted to walk. I entered her in the costume contest at the last minute and she won first place for the 0-2 division. Not bad for something we didn't plan!

After the contest, we loaded up the BOB and started the walk back to the house. Trick-or-treating happened along the way, though it was slow going in the beginning. Eli didn't really get the concept until Lehr went up with him a few times. Maddie, however, seemed to know exactly what to do. She ran up to the door, held out her bag, and retreated as soon as she received a goody. Then she'd plop down in the driveway and pick out treats to hold in her hands. Once Eli got the drill (walk up to the door, knock, say "Trick or Treat!", get candy, say "Thank you", go back to Mommy) he seemed to really enjoy it. Especially when we saw jack-o-lanterns on the porches. And he knew he'd get to pick one special treat to enjoy once we got home, so he was always re-evaluating his stash. He kept coming back to a small tootsie roll until the very last house when he received a tootsie roll pop. Then the switch was made.

Close to 7:30 we returned home and changed into our PJ's. Then we popped some corn and had a quick Family Movie Night: It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Eli loved it, especially when Snoopy was on the screen. Maddux just enjoyed the popcorn...she couldn't get enough.