Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Our little Thomas was pretty adamant all day long that he did not want to go trick or treating.  He did not want to dress up as Thomas (or anything else).  He did not want to trick or treat, even if that meant candy.  He did not even want to sing the "trick or treat song" (smell my feet...) which he has been belting all week long.  No sirree.  He wanted no part of it. 

Until he found out Charlotte and Dylan were going trick or treating.  Then, all of a sudden, the tune changed.

We sat on the stoop and lured in the trick or treaters, although Seb insisted that only those wearing costumes could get candy.  Which, as he got more and more excited, meant that he yelled out at everyone in civilian attire "You don't get any candy!" as they walked past. Including to his own father.

Hilarious.

The band assembled (Dorothy, Zombie Princess, her little caterpillar baby brother, and assorted witch and zombie and pink-wigged-parents), we went up a couple of nearby blocks.  I'm not sure what surprised me more -- that so many houses did not have any candy to give out (including some decorated to the hilt), or that so many houses did.  In any case, the kids had to work for it, but at the end they got a good little haul.

Afterwards, back to Charlotte's house for The Great Pumpkin and pizza, and of course, candy. 

When I'm not as exhausted, I'll share a funny story about how, despite my vows how I wasn't going to do that,  I spent hours yet again constructing a halloween costume which Seb refused to wear.  I'll never learn.  Never the mind.  It's now a toy, not a costume. 

Seb's first bike!

It's a 16" blue Specialized with coaster brakes and training wheels (yes, Daddy, training wheels -- despite what he may announce to people, he's just three!), and he knew it was The One when he first saw it. Happy kid.

This was in the bike shop -- and will be the only time he doesn't have a helmet on while on that bike, don't worry.  We even walked it home -- and that was a LONG way to walk a small bike, believe me.
Here he is testing it out in the little park down the block: 

I guess this makes me a soccer mom

Trouble

Seb's school went on a field trip to the park today.

Here's Seb, with his arms around Sadie "with the white hair".  Her mom was a chaperone, and sent me this pictorial dispatch.

They look very serious here.  My son -- taking his classwork seriously, already!

Happy Birthday Sebastian!

Friday, Seb came home from school with a fever (yes, before cupcakes).  102.  We decided to wait to make the call about whether or not to have his party (scheduled for Sunday afternoon).  Although it was down in the morning, his fever at 5pm Saturday was 103.  Ok, that's definitive.  What a bummer!

We made the best of it.  Downgraded to a Family Party.  And what a party!  Kind of.  I had a big "dog party!" a la Go Dog Go planned.  It was still a dog party.  I think it entirely escaped Sebastian.  He just saw balloons, cake, candles, presents...

Oh yes, did I mention cake?

It was kind of awesome, if I do say so myself.

 

Of course, Sebastian and Cyrus only had eyes for the racecars w the doggy  drivers. 

  

 

I, with the invaluable assistance of Sue the Sous-Chef, also made go-dog-go themed snacks:  dog shaped peanut butter sandwiches, a whole racetrack full of "car" shaped snacks (cheese/tomato roadsters, salami/mozzarella roadsters, carrot/string bean roadsters, apple/grape roadsters, and best of all, pizza with sausage dog roadsters).  And stoplight crackers (w/peppers and hummos). 

     

My goal was that Seb not even realize his party had been cancelled, and I think I succeeded:  he had an awesome day, especially since neighborhood friends still braved the germs and dropped by and brought him gifts.

  

  

Family, friends, balloons, presents, cake?  Seb has no idea his party was meant to be anything different.  Perfect. 

cupcake two: "cars with eyes"

Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater were requested. 





This didn't look that hard.  I did a few test runs with different "windshield" materials before going with wafer cookies.  White chocolate, which was recommended by a different website, was ridiculously finicky. 







Then a day or two ago, Seb announced that he wanted Mater cupcakes.  Well, with a little chocolate frosting, it's the same basic thing?  And I found a use for all that white chocolate, too. 

cupcake one: Thomas the Tank Engine

The advantage of Sebastian being in two different preschools is that I get to make two different batches of cupcakes.  Normally I'm averse to the Disney/Pixar/commercial consumption characters.  But Seb loves them, and it's his darn birthday.  So. 
I'm making the kid happy.   Here are the cupcakes he'll take to sunset park children's school:   Thomas!  

I know, I know, it looks impressive.  But it really wasn't that hard.  I started with Oreos (well, the Paul Newman's kind).  Piped thomas faces on with (shhh:  store bought) icing.  I got candy "eyes" from the cake supply place, (they also have them at Party City).  That made life much easier too.  Also that I did this part several days ahead, to avoid last minute stress.

I

Obligatory cupcake batter shot.  Seb requested "chocolate/vanilla twist". Your wish is my command, young despot.  I marbled.  Here's the vanilla.

Then blue frosting, put the cookie on top. 

Then add licorice cut in half for smokestack, red licorice as the bumper thingy, and done.