My Costume and Boo at the Zoo

The great explorer and naturalist looks for new species:







Here is a picture of the photographer for the pictures above:



Blaze is getting really good with photography.

For Halloween we went to Santa Fe College for Boo at the Zoo, which was held just outside the zoo this year, so that the crowds wouldn't disturb the new baby gibbon.

The changed arrangements didn't keep away the crowds.



























There were also games for the kids:



and live music:



The biggest fun, though, is always looking at all the costumes.





Just as we were about to drive away, I heard the Ghostbusters theme song playing and looked up to see the Ghostbusters car pull into a parking space and the guys get out and suit-up.

Not So Sweet Halloween Treats

Today is the last day of swimming, until after the holidays, so we're having a little party with a potluck snack buffet. Since it is also Halloween, I made Halloween themed treats. I figure most of the children will get plenty of candy later tonight, so I steered away from cookies, cakes, or candies.

First, I made little witches hats out of Bugles, cone shaped snacks, held in place on the center of Ritz crackers using cheddar cheese spread.



Then I made witches brooms out of "Fruit-by-the-Foot" and small stick pretzels.

The "Fruit-by-the-Foot" was cut into 4-inch strips and then each strip was cut into a fringe, before it was peeled from the wrapper.



Next, the fringed fruit leather was wrapped around one end of a pretzel and the top edge of the fruit leather was pinched onto the pretzel. I really like the multi-colored fruit leather for this.



Ready for the party:


These would be perfect for a Harry Potter themed party, as well as Halloween.

Two Cool Halloween Projects

Today was the Halloween party for the elementary school children at the school where I work. I normally don't work on Fridays, but Blaze was invited to the party. There were two things that I saw at the party that I really thought were outstanding and I wanted to share here.

These are tiny, very juicy, pears with cupcake liners and marshmallows for hats.



This next one, is a homemade General Grievous (Star Wars) costume.

The mom who made it, said she started with a plain mask from the craft store and then put paper mache over it, extending the chin with a wad of aluminum foil which was removed once the paper mache dried.





The kids had a great time at their party. They played Freeze Dance to the song Monster Mash, had a candy corn race ( racing with big spoons full of candy corn to a bowl at the finish line), did the limbo using a toy light saber, ate lots of goodies, and played outside. They probably played more game, but we missed the beginning of the party because Blaze had speech therapy this morning.

Ghouls, Goblins, and Greeks 2010

Last night, the sorority girls of U.F. kicked off the Halloween weekend with their trick-or-treat event called Ghouls, Goblins, and Greeks. They really do a great job with this every year! Each house decorates and dresses with a theme. They also set up games for the children to play, where they can win candy. Free pizza is given away to counteract all that sugar.

Blaze got a lot of attention from the college girls, because of his costume. I think this made him happier than getting candy.





















A local radio station was also broadcasting from the event and giving out prizes.

The Completed Steamboy Costume

For Halloween this year, Blaze chose to be Ray, the main character in the anime movie Steamboy.