HALLOWEEN WEEKEND 2010!

We started off this weekend with welcoming some out of town visitors from both NJ and Texas. Guiliana got to meet her cousins from NJ, Amanda and Dana, along with Aunt Pat, Uncle Richie, and Uncle Vinny (who flew in from Texas). They all arrived Saturday afternoon and we all got together at Grandma and Grandpa's house in the evening after they got settled. I thought it would be fun to make SMORES with the girls and it turned out to be a YUMMY idea. Dana who is 7 and Guiliana took to each other very well. They are like 2 peas in a pod already. Oh, and on our way to Grandma and Grandpa's that afternoon Daddy and I decided to stop at the pumpkin patch right by our house to pick out a pumpkin to carve Halloween morning.
HALLOWEEN DAY.... We started Halloween off with some pumpkin carving. We left it up to Guiliana as to what was going to be carved on the pumpkin. She is very much into wanting to write her name (and picking out her name when it's written) so we thought doing her nickname "Gules" would be cute. She actually helped carve and cleaned out the "goo" for a few seconds till she thought it was icky!
After a nice long nap it was time to head back over to Grandma and Grandpa Tortora's for the Halloween festivities. We all hung out, ate dinner, and watched the girls play until it was time for Trick-or-Treating. This years costume for Guiliana was Ariel, The Little Mermaid. About 2 months ago I received a costume catalog in the mail and decided to let her pick something out. She has very much been into the Disney Princesses, particularly Ariel and Belle. I showed her a few different choices, Minnie Mouse, Tinkerbell, and then all the Princesses and she chose Ariel. I have to say I was VERY pleased with her choice as The Little Mermaid is my all-time favorite Disney movie. I got 2 years in a row! Last year she was my favorite flower, Sunflower and now Ariel :)
Amanda, Dana, and Guiliana all got ready together in Grandma's room. Guiliana looked so beautiful! She had gold sparkles and curly ribbons in her hair and it went along perfect with her Princess tiara. I have to say thanks to Aunt Pat - Gules wanted to take off her tiara and Aunt Pat told her that no one would give her candy without it on and that worked perfect!
We went trick-or-treating through Grandma and Grandpa Tortora's neighborhood and the kids made out well. Dana was a great big helper taking Gules up to the door, ringing the bell and helping her get her candy. The whole time Guiliana kept saying "I need my Dana". Those 2 had a fun time.
Last night when we got home it took Guiliana a bit to relax and calm down from the evening. When it was time for bed she REFUSED to take off her costume! Since we all took the next day off from school and work I thought that it was okay. Plus, as I see it, aren't I just getting my money's worth??? So, it's currently 10:30am on Monday and she is STILL wearing her costume! We are all headed out @ 3pm today for lunch with the family and I am thinking "Ariel" may be the one attending the lunch and not our Guiliana!! All in all, it was a very nice weekend and another successful Halloween!!!

Guiliana's Halloween day at School

Today Guiliana had a day of festivities at her school for Halloween. All the kids were asked to come in costume. I decided that I would send her today in a different costume than what we have planned for her for Halloween night. My thoughts on this is that she is a 2 1/2yr old who is going to be running around all day and eating and sleeping in this costume so I wanted to make sure it was something comfortable and if she happened to ruin it in any way that it would be okay. I ended up stumbling on a cute Butterfly Fairy costume for under $9 bucks at Frys and it worked out perfect!
The kids went trick-or-treating, painted pumpkins, and just enjoyed being dressed up and hanging out with friends. She had a party this afternoon with her class and all the parents were invited. I joined her for her party and her teacher had an activity for the kids and parents to do together. We decorated a mask and then had some yummy Halloween treats. We have such a fun weekend ahead. Out of town visitors, another trip to a little pumpkin patch by the house to pick out a pumpkin for carving, and then for Costume #2 and trick-or-treating!

Pumpkin Patch

Last year we took the trip all the way out to Schnepf's farm but, this year Grandpa did some research and found a Pumpkin Patch on our side of town that we thought we would try. It wasn't far from the house but it certainly didn't compare to Schnepf's. We did have a fun afternoon anyways with Grandma and Grandpa Tortora, Uncle Paulie, and the Paterson family. Guiliana's favorite part (other than hanging out with Violet) was the ride on the Lady Bug Train!! She said "Weeeeeee" and "this is so cool mom" the whole time. We enjoyed some freshly made kettle corn, the amazing weather, and great company. We ended the evening with a yummy dinner at Macayos. It was a fun Saturday afternoon. But it's back to Schnepf's Farm for sure next year!!!
(We did miss our Hoover's though - next year guys!)