Playdate in the Leaves

Today is the second day in the El Día de Muertos and I had my little alter lit up first thing in the morning and glowing all day long.  It may not be a proper ofrenda, but it works for me.  It does not have photos off all who have past in my life, but they are there in thought and spirit, so to speak.  

“	On October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children's altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The three-day fiesta filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead;muertos (the bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and decorations.	”
— Frances Ann Day, Latina and Latino Voices in Literature[12]

In the early am, because the time on the clocks may have changed, but Eddy's did not.  

And with some sun light to brighten the day. 

I also made Dead Bread with a skull and cross bones, as is the tradition.

It was a good, eggy, soft, sweet bread and delicious warm with butter!  

Landon came over before lunch and the boys played inside, outside, inside, and outside as they so desired.  Baylor showed Landon the fun with leaf piles.  And yes, Baylor is wearing his PJ top.  We went to the flea market in the morning and since it was cold, we just put his clothes over his PJs to act as long johns.  

He even came over to pet Eddy while I was taking pictures of her.  He does not like dogs, at all, so I was pretty surprised to see him go up to her to pet her.  He is such a sweet kid! 

Eddy laid in the leaf pile for a long time and I snapped as many photos as I could.  She rarely will pose for me and I love her in the leaves!  And then I sat there playing with the editing settings. 

I made the boys pepperoni pizza for lunch, they were too busy to help me make it themselves.  But they enjoyed their living room pizza picnic.

While the boys were playing, I dug up the horseradish roots growing in three places in the gardens.  I don't remember digging any up last year so they were nice and big.  

We found one mantis in the dying asparagus plants.  With all the egg cases I thought we would see more but we only saw two adults this year.  

And while spying on the mantis, I saw this dead bird in the bird house.  Very odd and I am not looking forward to cleaning this out next spring.  

We started a fire around the time Joey was picking up Landon.  Having a bonfire is one of the traditional ways to celebrate Samhain which is also this time of year and where we get part of the Halloween traditions from.  This is why I love Fall!  Baylor loves fire, he cannot help it, it is in his blood.  Landon was a bit hesitant but was having fun until his dad showed up and then wanted to stay.  But it was just Baylor, Eddy and I by the fire.  

She may wander off some but most of the time she is happy to lay beside where ever I am. 

And Baylor too.  

We had gathered sticks from the picnic area at the fire hall a few weeks ago.  I was hoping to have a fire at the party last week but never got around to it.  My dad had brought some big pieces of wood and of course there were tons of leaves to burn. 

And sticks to make smoke signals. 

Baylor learned about leaves and fire.  They make a lot of smoke and then whoosh into a big fire.  I remember throwing leaves into the fire as a kid and my grandparents warning about them.  And I told Baylor he will do the same some day. 

And we roasted marshmallows of course. And ate a bowl of chocolate wafers to go with them.  

We had the fire out around 5:00 and Baylor made the most of the last embers burning leaves.  I have a new camera lens so I played with the shutter settings. 

He asked to do sparklers and I was happy to.  It was only a bit after 5:00 and was dark enough for them!! Darn you day light savings!  But much better than waiting until after 8:00 for the dark. 

It was a good day. 

I processed the horseradish too.  Two full quarts of the stuff!!! Gloria tried it and it about blew her head off!  I know what people are getting for Thanksgiving and Christmas!  

All Hallow's Eve

I was up early, of course, it is a weekend and Eddy likes to be up with Gloria at 4:00 and get me up soon after.  I lit my candles on my little alter.  

And a few hours later. 

Baylor and I went out shopping and of course there was a train. About 100 cars, I may have missed some trying to get out my phone.  

First Grade Hallowe'en Party and Parade

I dumped Baylor's candy haul from last night into a colander.  I cannot believe how much candy he got!! 

In the afternoon I headed to the grade school to help out with the costume parade and following party.  All the teachers were Minions and the principal was Gru but I did not get their photo.  It was my first time meeting Mrs. Anderson and she told me she really enjoyed having Baylor in class.  Blushing Mom here!  Actually when I walked in the room Baylor, Landon, and Marcel all gave me hugs and then a few random kids gave me hugs as well.  She said I am very popular with the kids (three of them know me) and I said my smarmy, I know.  I have to remember not everyone knows my humor style right off the bat.  

We waited in the hall for our turn to head out and while I was out there I saw Zayden and Carson. 

And Ryder 

And his classmate who asked my why I was not taking a picture of her, so I did.

And Gavin and his mom.

The parade looped around the playground a few times so the parents there could see their children.  

I ran over to see Kartikey and sent him mom a photo as it did not appear she was able to make it. 

After the parade laps we headed in and the kids changed out of their costumes.  Three boys came back who do not celebrate Hallowe'en so they could join us for treats and games.  One Mom, who was apparently going into labor early earlier in the day, made Frankenstein cups with clear cups, green grapes and strategically placed marshmallows.  I handed out pretzels while they passed out juice.  I brought two games: Witch Pitch and the Candy Corn Toss.  And prizes for both.  We also had Pumpkin Bowling.  They split the kids into three groups and we rotated them so they each got two turns.  

Baylor wore his jack o'lantern shirt for the day.  Very festive.  

Landon is such a sweet kid.  Since he knows me and is pretty comfortable with me, several kids asked him if I was his mom.  I told his dad about it in case he said anything.  The party was fun, the kids were great and I had a good time.  But I am a goofball adult and love the kids!  

When we got home the sun was great and the leaves were dry.  

Baylor raked small piles while I ran inside to take care of Eddy.  I grabbed the big leaf rake and got busy raking a huge pile by his rope swing.  

I got it on video on my phone but I cannot put on the blog. But he swung around and landed in the leaves.  And then flopped around in the pile.  It was awesome to see him have so much fun. 

I asked him take some photos in the leaves.  

And when he was done he made a well in the center to play in,  We had a lot of fun today!!