Halloween 2012

Scarlett set the mood on Halloween with her black and orange outfit. I still struggle to get her to sit still for a decent picture...

Aly wanted to be a "Vampire Girl" at the last minute so after raiding the neighbors dress ups and using make up to make her look vampire-ish and give her fangs (since I had no idea where to find them or if they are even to be found here). She was pleased with the outcome and posed creepily all day.

Kohen was Superman. You can tell by how he did his hair, right? He combed down a little piece on his forehead and was certain it made all the difference.  He has really been working out to prepare for this role.

Ander. Ander refused to be anything. I tried to tempt him with different costumes or swords but he wouldn't stay interested in anything for more than a few minutes. So when the time came to head out the door I pulled out a pirate hat and he wore it about 10 minutes after the pic was taken. He did go around, all on his own, taking his hat off and doing this dramatic sweeping bow that was about the cutest thing ever.
Good thing people keep their standards of costume low when trick or treating and no one gave him a hard time. I joked he went as a Teenager. Didn't want to dress up, wanted candy, and STUBBORN.

Kennedy was a Carmen Miranda inspired Brazilian dancer. As with all costumes, it's always a challenge for me to find supplies to make stuff. Asians don't get too crafty so what you can find is random. Having said that, I was pleased with how the head piece turned out. I found this dress online on clearance last year. I sent it to my sister and she brought it when she visited last Nov. The things we do!

K, have you ever put a little mascara and lip gloss on your ten year old and then about freaked out when you get a glimpse of her a few years down the road? I swear it was just yesterday I was counting down the days until my Halloween due date with her...

Here's the whole crew ready to head up to Yangmingshan for a little trick or treating. If you notice Nathan's shirt, he was Ironman thanks to an Asian Nerd connection who hooked him up with the defining "chest RT" (chest repulsor transmitter) that looked pretty cool in the dark. Several Asians recognized it and completely geeked out over it, it was awesome.

Our friends further up the mountain opened up their home to all of us as a base for the night and so we all ate food and visited and they had some freaky halloween movie playing. It was nice because they offered to keep Scarlett for us when we went out to T or T so we all actually had a great evening.
The best part? The kids throw out about 1/4 of their candy because it's Asian candies that are like coffee or tea flavored. That leaves them with about a quart size bag, about perfect if you ask me.
Happy Halloween!

Kennedy Turns 10!

 Making cupcakes to take to school are always a trial. If the cupcakes turn out after my finicky oven, you begin the battle with the frosting which turns watery and melts off due to humidity. It's always a race getting them to the school before they turn... special looking.
So when Kennedy said she really wanted Costco cookies and chocolate milk I declared her my favorite child and said DONE. It worked out perfectly in her class.

 Kennedy had a great day with her fam. She was super excited to get to the good stuff, presents and cake. If you are looking at her cake and thinking the top looks a bit burned, wrong! It's "ombre" which is totally in style right now and I completely did it on purpose. It had nothing to do with the afore mentioned finicky oven. Nope, totally planned.

 I went to great lengths for Kennedy's present. This past summer when we came home I snuck her American Girl Doll with me and once we were to the states I sent the doll off to be cleaned up and have her ears pierced, knowing that Kennedy would be getting her ears pierced too this summer.

 Of course she noticed her missing doll once we returned and she worried that Ander had done something terrible to Molly. So she was so relieved and surprised to find Molly all spiffed up with her cute new earrings.
Her other gift, I decided not to put a picture of, as she is worried about getting teased. When she first saw the Justin Bieber pajamas online I think that was why she wanted them so bad, because then no one would see them who might tease her. (Plus she liked that his ears weren't pierced yet on the pj's, oh the irony!) Anyway, her reaction was huge and she adores her J.B. pj's.

It's strange for me to reflect on being a mom for a decade, that Kennedy has survived the learning curve of her parents. She is such a kind girl. She loves playing the piano, I never have to ask her to practice. She loves music and leans towards being obsessed with Les Mis - like her mama was. She is an absolute book worm (love that about her). She is responsible, and reliable and helpful.
Sometimes I think Kennedy is a little overlooked, easy to have happen when your brother and sister are the more outgoing Kohen and Aly. But though Kennedy is somewhat shy and more quiet by comparison, once you take the time to get to know her, she is such a genuinely kind hearted girl.
I'm so humbled and grateful she is ours!