Halloween and Guy Fawkes

I'm always a few days late after Halloween. Halloween in New Zealand isn't a big deal. Yes, there are a few costumes and candy in the stores, but it is NOTHING like the hype it gets in North America. That's not a bad thing. But hard when your 5 year old is desperate to dress up as a certain character and you can't find a costume to save your life. Oh well. We saw this pirate costume and he was an easy sell.

Silas was a kiwi, because how much more appropriate can you get. I realized after I bought it that he was a bird last year, too. A chicken. Which was appropriate, ALSO, because we were living on a farm! Haha!

We had a very small party at our playgroup in the morning, and I considered taking the boys trick or treating, but thought it may be a bit disappointing when none of the neighbours actually had any candy to give away. So we stayed home. And handed candy out to the grand total of SEVEN trick or treaters who came to our door. We may give it a try next year.

Here are the kidlets, looking like they're straight out of a 1930s picture where no one was allowed to smile.

Cheesy pirate. Queen Mommy. Reluctant kiwi. Yes, even Mommy dressed up this year. At Ethan's insistence. He chose what I would "be", also. I found the costume at our theatre. I really did feel very regal. And then downright "common" when I had to change back into my jeans and hoodie. Sorry, it's not a very good shot of my whole costume.

Must.Get.This.Off.

"Argh, matey!"

Phew! Finally got it off!

Silas would rather ditch the bird theme and be a pirate. And he swung that sword around, with sound effects and all. "Ayeee!!!" Yikes.

Also, on Nov. 5, it's Guy Fawkes Day. I don't know all the details, but it originated in the UK (I think), and is something about the invention of gun powder? I think? You can google it if you're curious. I'm too lazy. Anyway, here it's an excuse to set off fireworks for about a week.

Our city did a fireworks show on Saturday night. The day was windy and a bit drizzly, so we didn't know if we would go. Ethan whined and complained for hours that he wanted to go. So we braved it. We arrived at the park about an hour and a half before the fireworks were scheduled to start. And much whining and complaining about how long it was taking to start ensued.

Finally, they began!! And really good ones, too! Even Victoria, on July 1, didn't have nearly this quality fireworks. And remember, we live in a tiny city of only 40,000 here. Anyway, they were fabulous, some of the best I've ever seen. They were almost 20 minutes long. And guess who asked, whining, "Are they over yet??" Are you freaking kidding me, child?!?

And still, when we got to the car after, he said he had a LOT of fun. *sigh*