Halloween 08

It seems like we celebrated Halloween for a week. After making a list of 10 potential costume ideas and mulling it over, Abraham decided to be a knight--not too much different than what he dresses up as on a regular basis. But he was excited that we bought him a shirt that looked like it was made of "chain mail"--he read up on midevil costumes while on vacation in Chattanooga this summer.

Angelo wa a leopard thanks to a homemade costume by grandmom mom, which was great because he's awesome at growling.

Abraham's school has an annual parade and picnic on the playground for Halloween. It's always adorable.

Later that afternoon we went to Umi and Mikes for pizza and trick or treating. After contemplating a whole new outfit just moments before we left, Abraham settled on some snowpants as an addition to his costume.

The kids were really into it and the street we were on was ideal--dense houses, not too many steps, friendly people and short enough for everyone (including Angelo!) to walk. Ange loved trick or treating and carried one piece of candy around exchanging it for a new piece at each house. Abraham proved to be a candy hoarder with a full pumpkin when we were halfway down the street. But has since totally forgotten about his candy and has not asked for a single piece since the big night! And yes, Angelo is eating a lollipop in that picture. It's impossible not to give him one if the big kids have one.

What's up with Angelo these days

Angelo is getting really serious about the talking. He's taken it up a notch in the past couple of weeks stringing together a couple of words at a time and using every opportunity to tell us what he wants. Lots of times those words are down! more! bite! up!--he's very good at the one word demands.

Lately there's been a symphony of "mommies!" Abraham will often say my name, mom, to get my attention to ask me a question. Angelo usually just repeats that over and over again and meanwhile I am trying to hear whatever it is Abraham is trying to ask me.

Angelo also appears to be somewhat of a neat freak. If he sees toys on the floor, he always tells me "uh oh dropped!" and if the dishwasher is open, he must close it.

Artwork

Abraham has been into making all kinds of art lately. Here's a sample of his work. Thanks to one of his artistic friends, he's been actually drawing people--or "three legged robots."He's also been doing some drawings that look like writing. In fact, he brought those drawings in for show and tell and his teacher told me he was very thorough with his presentation. He took the drawing around the room and showed it to each kid.

Rocko-Bobama

Abraham thinks Obama is already president. But he calls him Rocko Bobama. When he received a stick horse this summer, he named him Rocko Bobama. The other night he was in the bath and we were chatting. I asked him who he liked more, Batman or Peterpan. He said he liked them both. Then he asked me who I liked better Rocko or John McCain. I was actually pretty surprised that he knew who John McCain was. I told him Rocko. He then told me he preferred John McCain because he's mean. (Bad guys are good in our household) Then, last night he asked me again about the two candidates. I told him that John McCain was not a mean man, he just had some policies that weren't good. Abraham looked at me sincerely and said, "tell me about them, Mom." I then launched into what I didn't like about McCain and I think Abe really heard me until he told me, "I still like John McCain." I guess children are good at figuring out your buttons. And pressing them.