All he wants for Christmas is a PIXAR lamp

... All I want for Christmas is... A Pixar Lamp?

Alex, who is 7 years old and on the Autism spectrum, is in love with the PIXAR lamp. So much, that when he is asked what he wants for christmas or his birthday (they are a week apart) - he will tell us that he wants the Pixar Lamp. For a few months now he has asked us to take him to Target or Wal-Mart and get one. Unfortunately, they don't sell them there - only plain 'ol clamp lights which lack the dancing around and animation that is the essence of why he loves the lamp.

He draws them in MS Paint, this took less than 5 minutes and he drew it from memory. Better than I could do, for sure.

He can spend hours on YouTube watching videos of the Pixar lamp - like this one:



When we went to a Playgym the other day with friends he found the fridge magnets in the refreshment area and made his own lamp and played with it for a good hour. Its a bit Rustic, but I love the creativity of how he assembled it using just the letters and numbers magnets.



update: This apparently does exist and it is from Thinkway Toys. No where to be found, however! Aaaaaarrgh! Anyone work for Pixar or Thinkway want to make a child with autism VERY HAPPY?

http://pixarblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/luxo-jr-animated-desk-toy.html

Dear Santa, Please send us a PIXAR Lamp!

A Christmas Picture First!

The first time ever my daughter, now 3 1/2 years old, has sat on Santa's lap without tears. Even better, both of my children sat for the picture and SMILED! We bought a minimum package because the prices for the Mall Santa are ridiculously overpriced. My husband however happily snapped away with the digital camera so we have several to choose from. This one, even though Belle isn't looking at the camera is my favorite. I love the expression she is making towards her big brother and even Santa looks like he's have a fun time.

Happy Holidays!

You Don't Look Like My Mommy Anymore

November 19, 2008

You Don't Look Like My Mommy Anymore

My 3 year old attends the district based inclusion preschool program. We put our names into a lottery and her name got pulled. When we received her acceptance letter into the program I was thrilled. I was so excited for her to be chosen because I never win anything, ever. Being able for my daughter to go to preschool for 5 days a week for under $200 a month, seemed like a major win to me - even if it was only for a 2 hour "short day" class. I had images of her going to school and me having all this free time to myself every day. Something that I hadn't had in, oh - the seven or so years since becoming 'a mom'. I had images of going to the gym several days a week, getting manis or pedis, and quietly sipping a cup of coffee while reading a book in Barnes & Noble. Secretly, and not so secretly, I hoped that I might be able to find "me" again.

So, here we are mid-November. School is in full swing (although they sure have had a lot of days off) and we've already hit Parent-Teacher conference week. My daughter is really coming into her own and loves school. I wish I could say the same thing about myself, but I can't. I find myself saying it would have been easier to just keep her home another year, or - maybe I should have looked at other options (longer days, fewer days a week - which all cost an arm and a leg)... My images of the Gym on M-W-F, Mani/Pedi's on Tues, and books & java on Thursdays... all but a dream. So much for that.. I'm still the same tired out 'mom' I was before preschool started.

Those two dreamy hours to myself each day now consist of me conquering as many errands as I can get done and still be back in time for preschool-pickup. No mani/pedi's and I've since canceled my gym membership because I just wasn't making it there enough to justify the monthly expense. As for enjoying a coffee while relaxing & reading a book at Barnes & Nobles.. I do often drive through Dunkin Donuts to fuel up before embarking on my daily tasks and then when I've gone to 5 stores plus or minus the post office and the bank and somehow manage to get it all done "early" I indulge myself by reading books (like the entire Twilight series) in my minivan. If I'm lucky, I might even have some coffee left to sip down while reading! Now, THAT is indulgence. What has happened to me?

Yesterday, I decided enough was enough. I wanted "me" time. I blew off the child-free errands and I went and got my brows waxed and my hair cut. Instead of the usual trim the ends off of my dull bob, I asked the stylist to give me a new style but to not go to short. I told her what I liked (and she had a really fun style, herself), took a deep breath and put my faith in a stranger. And when it was all done, I loved it. I got to pre-school pickup and got compliments from several of the moms that felt pretty darn sincere. I was feeling high, rejuvenated, that feeling like I could go home and make a four-course dinner in make-up and heels.

Then out came the kids where they lined up in a row against the side of the building. "Parents, meet your children." Mrs. Teacher said just as she does every day - except today was different. Instead of my daughter grinning from ear to ear and running to meet me in the middle - she stood paralyzed. As I approached her she backed up against the wall and started to cry. My own daughter didn't recognize the "new and improved" Mommy 2.0 haircut and she didn't like it. She kicked and screamed her way into our van and then sobbed the short 10 minute ride home. She cried that she was scared of me and that I didn't look like her mommy anymore. She gave me the cold shoulder for the remainder of the day, and I was deflated.

So I have good hair, but my kid is mad at me.

There is nothing worse than being on the receiving end of three-year-old fury. I hope she gets over it real soon since my next step in reclaiming 'me' is to wage a war on the grey hairs that are creeping in far to fast.

Original New Jersey Moms Blog post by MaryTara. Read more of MT's adventures in parenting her gluten & casein free autistic wonderkid and his neuro-typical diva sister at The Bon Bon Gazette.

GFCF & Gluten Free Thanksgiving Tips, Menus, and Recipes

So, by now you may have read that I'm making my son a separate but "normal" (for him) Thanksgiving meal and not going hog-wild. I just know that the time and energy I'd put into making him a complete T-day feast is better spent on enjoying the family because he won't eat foods that are all that unfamiliar to him. I do feel kind of like Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving except even his feast that day wasn't GFCF!

That being said, I have been able to find quite a bit of advice out there on preparing Thanksgiving gluten & casein free and some intriguing recipes that are just too good to go unmentioned.

Start your meal here: please note, some of these may only be gluten free not also casein free - depending on your eliminations use your judgement with ingredients

• Gluten Free Thanksgiving by Hold The Gluten
• GFCF Thanksgiving Recipes to Welcome Guests with Autism from About.com
• Happy GF/CF Thanksgiving from Aut-2B-Home in Carolina
• A GFCF Thanksgiving from Gluten Free Casein Free (GFCF) and Not Starving
• The GFCF Recipe Experience: Sweet Potato Pudding from the GFCF Experience Blog
• A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipe Round-Up from Gluten Free Bay
• Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes and Tips by A Gluten Free Guide
• gluten-free Thanksgiving, 2008 by Gluten Free Girl
• A gluten-free Thanksgiving by Culinate
• Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Planner
• An Easy Gluten Free Thanksgiving Menu with Recipes from Ginger Lemon Girl
• A Happy and Gluten-Free Thanksgiving! by The Gluten Gal
• 2008 Dairy Free Thanksgiving Menu by No Whey, mama!
• If you think your link should be here, just leave me a comment!

Happy Thanksgiving

Related Blog Link:
On Thanksgiving, and my now GFCF child

On Thanksgiving, and my now GFCF child

With Thanksgiving only a week away, I've been approached by Bloggers and Twitterers seeking assistance with GFCF and Thanksgiving. This will be just our second Thanksgiving since Alex has been on the GFCF diet and once again we'll celebrate with family. True Confession: I have yet to ever cook or host a Thanksgiving meal as we traditionally bounce between the three sets of grandparents. Last year we traveled back to my home in upstate NY and this year we'll celebrate with family here in New Jersey.

2001:
One of the fondest Thanksgiving memories I have is Alex's first Thanksgiving - he was 11 1/2 months old and a happy, healthy boisterous almost one year old child. I have the mental image of him sitting in the booster seat at the end of the "big table" at my Father-in-laws house with the giant (probably 28 pounder) bird. His plate was FULL of turkey, sweet potatoe casserole, veggies, and dressing. He tried it all and even had seconds. I think back and remember, he loved broccoli and sweet potatoes and he was enthusiastic about eating. He ate almost a whole Turkey leg that was as big as his head. Fast forward a little bit, just a few months later (he received the 1 year innoculations, ugh) and then self-selected down to eating so few foods you could count them on one hand - things like chicken nuggets or Kraft Macaroni and cheese. He no longer would touch any vegetable, let alone have seconds of broccoli and sweet potatoe casserole. But, I have evidence that he wasn't always like this. I have that picture of Alex's first Thanksgiving.

This picture. Looking right at the camera with a face full of mush and grabbing for more.

2008:
Now, several years later my son is almost eight years old and is in his second year of the Gluten & Casein Free diet - he is starting to be more adventurous when it comes to eating. He eats things on the "the diet" that he would not have touched during the ages of 2-5 years old. His diet has certainly become more varied, but like any kid he has definite favorites. Traditional Thanksgiving food is not his "thing" and I've made the executive decision that I'm not going to force it on him. Thanksgiving is about family and being grateful for what we do have. For that reason while my family is busy cooking "all the favorites", I'll be making my big little guy up some simple favorites that he likes trying to keep it in line (within reason) to what the rest of us are having.

What my son will be eating:
Instead of chicken nuggets, I'm thinking I'll pre-make some turkey nuggets with organic Turkey. I'm sure he'll dip them in ketchup, I'm not begrudging him the ketchup. For sides, I'll make him a mac & cheese casserole using Quinoa, Organic Brown Rice Pasta and vegan cheese. He'll have a simple fruit salad with apples, grapes and orange slices. Last year he did eat cranberry sauce, probably because it is kind of like jell-o. I also hope to make him some bread in my Gluten Free Breadmaker using one of the recipes from The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread or use this quickbread recipe that Thomas Dzomba from the GFCF Experience blog was kind enough to share with me on Twitter. I'm sure he'll have a few more selections, depending on what the rest of us are having and what is 'safe' or not for him to consume. Sweet Potatoes used to be a favorite but it is a crap-shoot whether he'll eat them or not. I whipped some last week and he didn't touch them, but maybe sweet potato fries since that is french-fry like. For dessert, I'm going to bake up some cookies or brownies that he'll happily devour. Last week I candied up some pears and apples with brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins and I made extra and froze them. I'm envisioning them over vanilla dairy free ice cream and actually getting a little hungry!

So, how do you "do Thanksgiving" with your GFCF child?
Does the whole family eat a GFCF meal, or do you make your child's meal separate?
Any favorite dishes?

I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

Why my daughter is mad at me:

I reversed the angle on my 'do and my kid doesn't like it.

Before & After

Apparently, I don't look like her mommy anymore.

Read more about it at:

GFCF & Fast Food: Are French Fries Safe?

Q: Are French Fries Gluten & Casein Free?
A: Yes, No, Maybe, So?

French Fries...fried potatoes.
Obviously gluten free, right? Wrong!

Fact: Fries are not always gluten free nor casein free.

My son loves french fries. He is a french fry eating machine. He loves Ketchup. Heinz ketchup is gluten free. This is a good thing, because my son goes through the giant bottle of ketchup from Costco in just a few weeks. A couple of days ago he joked that he was going to dip his sister in ketchup and eat her. I love his sense of humor.

But, are french fries "safe" or a violation of the GFCF diet?

Fast Food French Fries:
One concern with fast food dining, as well as any dining out has to do with the food preparation process. Potatoes don't contain gluten but toss them in same fryer oil that has been used to sizzle up chicken tenders or flour coated onion rings and its a whole different story.

Wendy's: Wendy's fries are not on the Gluten Free List. According to their nutrition guide they may be cooked in the same oil as products containing wheat, milk, egg, or fish.
Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (contains one or more of the following: soy, canola, cottonseed, partially hydrogenated soy and/or cottonseed), Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate (color protector), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Dextrose. Cooked in Vegetable Oil. Note: may be cooked in the same oil as Fish Fillets and French Toast Sticks (where available), Crispy Chicken Nuggets, Crispy Chicken Patty. Seasoned with Salt.

McDonald's: McD's fries contain wheat and milk.
Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*), citric acid (preservative), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent). * CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK (Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).

Burger King: Previously, the Burger King website stated that their fries are cooked in common fryers which are used for egg, fish, and milk and they are noted as containing wheat.

Update on 5/12/09: I want to note that Burger King has updated: their fries are cooked in a dedicated fryer http://www.bk.com/#menu=3,3,-1

Ingredients: Potatoes, Soybean Oil or Canola and Palm Oil, Modified Potato Starch, Rice Flour, Potato Dextrin, Salt, Leavening (Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dextrose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate added to preserve natural color.

VERDICT: With the exception of Burger King (at this time). Fast Food fries are generally NOT GFCF safe.

Even at Burger King I would specifically ask to find out of they are using a dedicated fryer or not since there are so many other fried foods there that the risk for cross-contamination is high.

French Fries from the Grocery Store
The fries you buy in the freezer department of your grocery store have a wide range of ingredient concerns: Obvious concerns like wheat and milk. Usual suspects like soybean oil (if you are soy-free also). Pesky hidden offenders like "natural seasoning" or "beef flavoring" - who knows what is really in here? Aaargh! Deciphering ingredient lists can seem so daunting at times.
Maybe the best thing to do is to just "make your own", after all if you make it yourself then you really know whats in there. I've done it before and it was pretty easy.

Directions to make gluten & casein free french fries:

1. Peel up a few potatoes
2. get out my Pampered Chef Crinkle Cutter and cut them all up pretty
3. fry up in your oil of choice (I use Canola).
4. Add salt (or not)
5. Serve (after cooling)

Easy, but time consuming to prep and somewhat messy to clean up, plus I always burn myself when I fry anything. For these reasons, I personally buy the bagged frozen fries after inspecting ingredients. Believe it or not, many times the lesser expensive "store brand" (I like Wegmans brand) are the 'safest'. My son also loves the Ian's AlphaTots.

Instead of frying, I opt to bake them in the oven making them ever so slightly more healthful (who am I fooling, this is a french fry!)

Happy Birthday to Daddy - Gluten Freestyle

This weekend it was my husband's (aka the Daddy aka GrandHighPooBah or Kurt) birthday. I won't reveal his age, lets just say he is now the same age as I am. We celebrated it "big time" with not one but two birthday parties (the joy of divorced parents) - both parties complete with gluten and casein free cakes & lots of good food. I made the cakes which came out marvelous, if I must say so I myself. When we have a family birthday party - I make a cake that is safe for Alex and everyone eats it. I'm not going to make him a separate cake so we can all eat one thing and he has something different -- he gets that enough, especially when he goes to birthday party for a friend. But for family, no way - not like that.

Party 1: On his actual birthday we went to celebrate with his mother & her husband. I made a double layer Namaste Foods Chocolate Cake with lots of frosting on it and it came out perfect. So easy to make (just add egg, oil & water) and it is gluten and dairy free. So rich and sweet, perfect for chocolate lovers! For dinner, my husband was treated to a favorite meal made by his mother (Chicken Marsala) and the kids had pasta. Alex, the gluten free wonderkid, devoured Tinkyada Organic Brown Rice Spirals with home-made sauce - none of "that jar stuff". A highlight of my evening was that I got to run-off while the kids were in for a 'tub-swim' (jacuzzi bath) and go to Whole Foods. While there I promptly bought up every last So Delicious Dairy Free yogurt in Vanilla that they had on the shelves (no less than a dozen of them) plus another half dozen or so of Strawberry Banana flavor. The kids love this dairy free yogurt (it is made with Coconut Milk) and is such a yummy healthy treat for them. I really need to get this yogurt carried in a store that is closer to me, until then I will trek the half hour or so up to Whole Foods Market.

Party 2: This party was at our house, hence my cleaning binge from which I twittered at 3am. Meanwhile, many twitter moms (#motrinmoms) were up in arms over a commercial on the Motrin website that was making light of baby-wearing. Not good. I woke up and declared that if there was motrin in my cabinet I'd flush it. But back to the party.... This time with Grampa & Gramma - my husband's dad and his stepmom. They came over and we ordered take-out from Ikko and had some really good Sushi. My daughter enjoyed (playing with) and eating a bowl of rice and I baked up some chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and french fries for Alex from Ian's Natural Foods. Today's party featured a rectangle single layer cake - Pamela's Luscious Chocolate Cake mix and assorted dairy free ice creams from Turtle Mountain (So Delicious). Alex and Belle rocked the Neopolitan while Kurt went for the Mint Chocolate.

That's a whole lot of gluten free & dairy free eats with no complaints. I'll take it.

And on to the Birthday Swag:

I searched high and low, refusing to sell my soul and pay the high prices at eBay and many online retailers. I went North and South on the parkway 20 or so miles in either direction from me and kept striking out left and right on finding it... Guitar Hero World Tour - Band Kit of course. Since I didn't pre-order it when it came out in the end of October I was really having a hard time getting my hands on it. I found it for other platforms, but not the Wii and I was pretty frustrated. I could find the game alone, or the game & guitar kit, and even a bundle with the game and 2 guitars... but I really really really wanted to get the full Band Kit with the drums, microphone, guitar and game - the whole kit 'n kaboodle. I was about to give up when I found it in stock at Walmart.com and I immediately ordered it and got it in time. So glad I did - Daddy was very happy and Alex seems to like the drums but hasn't quite figured out how to play it yet. Time will tell, but this could (I hope) prove to be another wii therapy success. In the meantime, Kurt is having fun with it. Belle has decided she'll be the singer and rocks out with Twinkle Twinkle little star on the microphone. Pictures, and video I'm sure will be coming. My in-laws gave him a Flip videocamera which will be a fun little gadget (put to good use), certainly.

Overall, an exhausting yet incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable weekend spent surrounded by the people most important to me - my family.

Happy Birthday!

Enjoy this video complete with gluten & casein free birthday cake

The Scaredy Kid wants to Giddy Up N Go

My last update included video of my son riding a horse. My daughter went to this horseback riding birthday party too, but she didn't ride. She wouldn't ride and had made her mind up about it long before we got there. No way, no how. She wasn't going to do it. She's afraid.

The horse is too big, she said.

She did groom the horse and give it a few pats, which is more than I anticipated. Way more, and I was thrilled she at least did that.



















Yet, I find myself disappointed. Why won't my kid ride the horse like all the other kids did? Why won't my kid go on the merry-go-round or all the rides at the boardwalk like her friends. She doesn't like the swings at the play-ground.

Because she is afraid.

I wish I could get to the bottom of it and know why she is so afraid, or wave a magic wand and make the fear go away. I think about my baby being afraid and I want to help. And then the "mother of a child with autism" hat kicks in and I start to wonder about little sister. Is this related? Is this sensory? Is she on the spectrum too? Or, am I being paranoid. Is this a phase and "this too shall pass"? And why does this bother me so much? Why can't I just be happy that she is 'her own person' and accept that she has fears and her own likes and dislikes. How horrible am I for putting these unrealistic expectations on her and wanting her to be 'without flaws' when she is absolutely just perfect the way she is.

So, the little girl who wouldn't ride the horse - Who is afraid of horses.... Guess what she is asking for for Christmas (10,000 times a day when she sees the commercial during Dora)? Yep, Giddyup N' Go Pony from Little Tikes. It is a toy horse that kids actually ride on. We do not have the space for this, and it is pretty expensive. However, I am tempted to give in on it. Because she wants to ride. My kid, the same one who is afraid of everything - wants to ride. The thought of her riding on a horse, fake or not, makes me all giddy inside and wipes those feelings of inadequacy away. My step mother in law asked me last year and again last week about getting her one of the FurReal Friends Ponies that are interactive (you feed and brush them). Last year, I said no to them buying this extravagant gift. This year, I'm thinking a resounding yes, and maybe the better question is "which one to get".

One thing is for certain, we need a bigger house!

Autism on Horseback

So... today's birthday party adventure included horseback riding at Chariot Riders.

Alex enjoyed riding the horse thoroughly and had a grand time. I was a bit nervous because any time he has ridden before they have used adapted saddles that have "seatbelts" on them. This time, not the case - and the girl who was leading around the horse was a teen. I was slightly nervous, but he was very excited and into it. The party was at facilities that does a lot of therapeutic riding and one he has gone to in the past, so this wasn't all "new" to him. Clearly, however, an activity we should look into doing more of.

Here's Alex on Albert.
direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY5qy6QmEsU

GFCF Goes to a Birthday Party

So, a lot of people ask me how do I handle birthday parties with a kid who can't eat anything - especially 'traditional' party foods.

The answer - you bring your own food as much as possible. If your hostess is serving pizza, you bring your own.

Thankfully, Alex is very easy going and will happily munch down whatever snack I provide for him. A favorite is the glutino pretzels - yes, a bag of them costs like $7 but he loves them so of course I pay it. I usually bring along his own cupcake too. We like the Pamela's Luscious Chocolate Cake the best but sometimes it is hard to get in the stores nearby. Today we were lucky enough to go to a party where there would be other food allergy kids, and the hostess was kind enough to check ahead with me and provide "alex-safe" cupcakes, which you can tell he enjoyed quite a bit.

I decided to let him "live it up" and he had some fun with the frosting. Cherrybook Kitchen makes a spreadable frosting that is gluten free, dairy free, nut free, peanut free, egg free, soy free! It is like $5 a can and the consistency is very sticky, like glue. It is very sweet - main ingredient is confectionary sugar. As you can see Alex enjoys it quite a bit.

PS. No meltdown after the singing of Happy Birthday and the obligatory clapping. It was a good day.

Fire Alarm Fascination

For the past few months my son has been obsessed with Fire Alarms, Fire Drills, and Fire Extinguishers. This same kid, is the same one that during school fire alarms used to require ear muffs and plugs because of the noise. No more.

When we are out and about shopping and in the community he points out all of the fire alarms and extinguishers. He is obsessed with Fire Safety and gets especially excited about the "strobe light fire alarms". I now know where every extinguisher in my grocery store is located lest the shopping cart burst into flames in between the produce and meat departments.

His teacher told me the other day at a conference how he goes around school pointing out and counting all the fire safety items. I pray, that he doesn't try to PULL the handle on one and set it off - I can see where this would be incredibly tempting.

We voted today, Did you?

My little girl wearing her voting hat at the Polls.

Vote Today!

Check out: McCain vs Obama on Vaccination Choice & Autism, Tell Me Where you Stand, The United States of Autism

Autism & Bullying - Share your stories

My child on the autism spectrum is the recipient of teasing, mean comments, and even bullying. I wrote about it last week at New Jersey Moms Blog and Autism Sucks Rocks.

Enough is Enough.






Is your child with Autism bullied and teased? How do you handle it? Any tips, ideas or advice?



Share your stories here:

The Great Balloon Broom Race 2008

Belle enjoyed this game where you have to push a balloon with a witches broom. She did a really good job sweeping, considering she was the littlest kid there.

Direct Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKTCUP7HE1A

One crazy costumed Halloween Week!

I'm not sure when it happened, but it has. Halloween is no longer just an evening of Trick or Treating.. it is now a week (or more) packed with celebrations.

The week began with the Brick/Septa & Challenger Halloween party. This is a party put on for children with special needs and their families. My kids always have a blast at this party, even if Alex can't eat the pizza. The kids loved the big inflatable slide, bouncy house, and painting pumpkins. Alex took 2 wagon rides, but Belle passed on the hayride because she is too afraid.

Later in the week the kids went Trick or Treating at the mall. Belle invited one of her classmates (a little boy!) to join us and the kid had a blast. Batman and Ariel held hands while filling up their bags full of treats. Alex had fun too and counted every fire extinguisher and alarm in the whole mall. He's lately been extremely obsessed with them.

Friday both kids had class parties and parades. Guess who had to make the cupcakes for both classes? Me. For Alex's class it was Gluten Free, Casein Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free ... that was an adventure in itself. Belle's class was less restrictive but twice as many!

I spent my day dropping off and picking up kids, cupcakes and costumes and by the time we got home to do Trick or Treating in our own neighborhood I was ready for bed.. But we still hadn't trick or treated yet!

So, out we went for some trick or treating around the neighborhood where I yelled at the cars zipping through and ignoring the minions of small children seeking sugar. We did that for about an hour or so and then we went out to the Diner with some family and friends to sit down and pig out before going home to collapse.

But, its not over yet. We wrapped up Halloween by going to a children's party with friends on the day after. Alex stayed home with his Dad and I took Belle. The kids played games like musical chairs, crab races and more. Belle was the first one out in musical chairs but she swept up in a game where you had to push a balloon around with a broom - maybe she has a future in cleaning! The kids had a mummy wrapping contest where they toilet papered some of the parents and it was a riot. Of course our team had the littlest kids and the biggest mummy (er daddy) who is 6'6" so we helped them out.

Here's a video montage of our fun week!

And now, Halloween is over and I'm ready for a big long nap!