Halloween Day

'Halloween Day' has come and gone....Ryan has been talking about the much anticipated "Halloween Day" for weeks now and each and every time you asked, she'd tell you proudly she was going to be an elephant.  Fast forward to 8:05 this morning as we're getting dressed for her Halloween parade at school when she adamantly tells me she does NOT want to be an elephant...."I'm going to be a princess".   Nothing like a little last minute audible to make the morning interesting.  Thankfully we had a standby 'princess' dress-up outfit we were able to throw on.....naturally she ripped her one and only pair of tights last week at ballet so we had to pair the ensemble with some pants.   This evening, even after some hardcore begging, bribing and peer pressure to switch back to the cold-weather friendly elephant costume, Ryan stood her ground.  Princess it would be.  Albeit a rather J-Lo looking princess with pink track suit on underneath.  Another Ryan wardrobe choice.
Reese has been a cow all along....ever since Ryan deemed that her costume back in August.
Now, while the pictures may paint a slightly different story, the girls LOVED Halloween and Trick or Treating this year.  Ryan and her buddy Amelia were on a roll and Reese was her usual bullheaded, persistent, slightly nosy self by storming into people's living rooms the second they opened the door.  We lucked out this year as Ryan didn't go crazy on the candy because a few weeks ago she had her first dentist appointment where they gave her a cute little book that is all about brushing your teeth to keep away the 'cavity bugs'.  Now she's obsessed with not eating any cavity bugs - lovely timing for us:)
Enough blabbering, right?  Here you go.....2011 cow and urban princess
It wasn't Halloween she was upset with, it was being forced to take a photo that caused her to erupt in a fit of rage
Happy Halloween Day to all!

The Ryan Stiff Project....

Get it?  Just like the 'Rachel Zoe Project'....Yet another of my reality TV addictions and apparently styling has rubbed off on at least one Stiff.  Ryan can really pull together some doozies.
Pajamas, skirt, ski hat. Probably important to note it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon and a balmy 65 degrees outside.
I don't know where the girl comes up with these poses....I swear I just keep mum and snap away.
I have limited control over what the girl wears to school and doctors offices but when it comes to lounging at home, family functions or play dates, I throw my hands up and let her go.  Picking my battles these days keeps me sane. 

That, coffee and wine.  

Yep, we're those people....

You know, the annoying ones who listen to Christmas music in October and start getting their Santa spirit on long before Halloween is even over.
Mickey Mouse's Once Upon A Christmas has been rockin' this house for a few weeks now. Reese can even tell you what Santa says, although it sounds less like 'ho ho ho' and more like 'oh oh oh' but I'll take it.
And some shots of one of my two favorite little elves because this one could use a little more air time.

Devil in a pink dress

The newest look in playground attire....brought to you by Ryan Stiff.
Reese and I took a nice walk only to return home to find a 'princess' in the backyard playing on the swing set.  The strangest things (and outfits) tend to happen when daddy is left in charge.
Yeah. I can rock this dress on the playground.
I do have to give the girl credit where credit is due for busting out the Mary Janes versus her usual sneakers.
Moving along.....Swings. Let's discuss.
Reese loves them. Ryan likes to push. Wining combination for these sisters.

Someone loves the camera....

Prior to our little extravaganza, Ryan helped me move the hay and pumpkins to the backyard and then oh so modestly suggested I run inside to get the camera and "take my picture mom".  This is for you Ryan.
Her sister, however, was a little less into modeling. But with some crazy hair like that, I'd be anti-camera as well.

Halloween Extravaganza!

And when you say 'extravaganza' you must do so with the exaggerated flair Phoebe from Friends would have done so.

We started our early Halloween celebration this past weekend by throwing a little party Saturday morning in lieu of the usual 'bagel day' coffee outing.  Special guest appearance by this guy:
Christopher.....5 months old and sweeter than candy corn.
I did all finger foods to keep clean-up easy: donuts, pumpkin bread, mini-quiches, blueberry muffins, clementines, 'mummy wraps' (turkey dogs wrapped in bread sticks), coffee, apple cider (hot and cold) and orange juice. Oh and of course, Bloody Mary's. How could I forget the alcohol? We were gifted some delicious cupcakes and insanely addictive gooey butter cake to add to the mix.
The mini-quiches earned rave reviews and were devoured with requests for the recipe...here it is and I added about 7 crumbled up pieces of cooked bacon to the mix.
Costumes were encouraged but not required. And no Grant, my sister and I both wearing black and white was not an excuse to call us 'cows'.
Pumpkin carving.....and/or drawing with a black sharpie ensued.
Loves
Mild biting was practiced (and oddly enough, not by my children)
Some serious conversation was a happenin' ---- complete with stuffed monkey
The newly re-engineered ghost** was relocated to the backyard for the festivities
**apparently mother nature thought my use of duct tape was utterly absurd and she laughed in my face...so back to the drawing board we went and actually followed the tutorial this time, nails, glue, and hand sewing of the eyes and nose. Mother nature = 1. Mom = 0. For now anyway.
Moving on....
This picture makes me smile and my ovaries scream.
And winner of the 'sharpie pumpkin drawing' competition:
Attempted family pic, 'attempt' being the operative word
Random party shots
The weather was fantastic, the food was yummy, the alcohol was flowing......a winning combination for any extravaganza in my book!

Bonus pic....

Because it's a Wednesday, the Cards are on tonight and it's been awhile since we've classed up the joint.

Daddy day care

Or perhaps 'daddy day salon' would be more appropriate.
This is what happens when mom runs out for 30 minutes of solitude at the library to pick out a few books in peace.