Bye Bye Daddy, Hello Grand-Dan

What a beautiful day! And for so many reasons!

Firstly, it was gorgeous.
Secondly, I got to go out and get my coffee all by myself this morning.
Thirdly, Richard was feeling better this morning (but not 'good') than he was last night.
Fourthly, we had a great time at an awesome park with Grand-Dan (my dad).
Fifthly, the boys went to bed at their normal old times now that the time change has happened. 7pm and 8pm. Nice!!!! I've got to be a good mommy and not keep AJ up too late.

However, sadly, we drove Daddy back to the Cancer Lodge to drop off his stuff, and then we dropped him off at the hospital. We miss you already, Richard/Daddy!

After dropping off Richard, the boys and I headed to Richmond to meet my dad at the playground beside the South Arm Comm. Centre. I had never taken the boys there before, but it's the park at which my dad and AJ went bike riding a few months ago.

We realized my dad hadn't seen the boys in over a month and a half. When he came back from his super long business trip and he took Richard and I for lunch, my mom had the kids overnight, so he didn't see them. And that was about a month ago! Time flies.



So, this great playground...


There was this playground that was a giant sandbox. The boys only stepped in here momentarily.


There was this little structure.
Dexter had some fun on that.

There was this little train.
Both the boys enjoyed this.
And these ride on thingies.
He was going nuts on the motorbike!




There was this AWESOME castle.


The had a great time in the castle, and returned later for more fun in there. Although, the fun was put on hold when AJ bonked his head inside the cement tube when he stood up too fast.



There was this great playstructure.


They had lots of fun over here.
Especially above this tunnel that AJ and my dad are about to walk through. It's somewhat of a bridge that's attached to the playstructure. It's also beside a giant hill that has a winding path around it that the boys kept wanting to run down.

The playstructure is also beside this set of crazy monkey bars that the boys had their afternoon snack next too.As you can see, AJ didn't want to stay for the snack. He must've seen something more exciting.

We brought Grand-Dan some Hallowe'en treats. This picture was taken right before Dexter accidentally dumped his snacks on the ground. I scooped them back up, much to my father's horror. Evidently, he's never heard of the "5 second rule".

Seriously. He said, "What's the five second rule?"

Can you believe that?


Of course, there were swings.






Now yes, this one was blurry, but it just looked neat. And it and the one below this, really show how much Dexter just likes to hang off the front of the swing.


Mmmmmm, public swings...... tasty!
Now where's that H1N1 vaccine?


And the piece de resistance? (is that how I should spell it?)



This mommy-era metal airplane. Imaginations can go wild. I love structures like this. I want this in my backyard so badly.



Funny stuff.
AJ said some funny stuff today, but it's 10:30pm and I just don't feel like typing anymore. I just wanted to get these playground pics up for Daddy (Richard), and Grand-Dan.

Hallowe'en Night

Richard arrived at our place while I was packing up to bring the boys (and Richard) to my mom's place for Trick or Treating.

Problem #1 - AJ did not take a nap.  He must've been just too excited.  I can count on one hand the amount of times that AJ has not fallen asleep when put down for nap.  He did snooze on the way to my mom's, but for all of about 15 minutes.  

When we arrived at mom's, I fed the boys their dinner.  Once it was finally beginning to get dark, I started getting the costumes on.  I brought make up.  I knew AJ would be willing to have a grey or black face to be a spider.  I was putting on lotion on their faces and then brushing on eye shadow all over their faces.  That was the plan, anyhow.  

Problem #2 - Dexter was in no mood to co-operate.  Oh the memories of my little baby brother with his folded arms, furrowed brow, and blood curdling screams came racing back.  He DID NOT want to change into his 'underclothes'.  He DID NOT want his costume on.  And despite that fact that EVERY MORNING, he is desperate to 'put on make up' with me, taking my hair-and-make-up time from 8 minutes to 20 minutes, he would NOT let me put the eye shadow on his face, but he was more than willing to jab himself in the eye over and over with gray eyeshadow.  Good grief.  So, I wanted to wash some of it off, which of course makes him cry more, which of course makes Gram all upset.  Now I'm the evil witch.  And I don't even need a costume!  I thought at the very least I could use my eye liner to draw his whiskers.  I got one on and I got smacked for that.  He went to naughty spot for that.  

New plan - leave without Dexter.  He hates that and he'll be dying to come with us and get his costume off.

That worked.

Then, we were off.  Two houses into it, he had the routine downpat saying 'Khrick a keek" (trick or treat) and "kee queue" (thank you) and lots of "bye bye eeeboay" (bye bye everybody).

If past years were any indication, I expected AJ to be trick or treating until 9:00pm at the earliest after about 15 blocks, and that Dexter would be a challenge to drop back off at home after going down the street and back because he'd still want more.

Instead, although the boys were not pooped, they were more than happy to head back into Gram's house after a modest trick or treating run.  We were back at Gram's for like 7:30pm.

Richard was just barely feeling good enough to come outside with us.  He came.  He even carried Dexy a bit.

Spider.

The first house.

Papa holds him after for some reassurance.

Now he's off on his own.

Skunk.  Lil' Stinker.

Outside Paul's friend Brock's house.  Brock was hiding behind a statue at the front door, and peaked out behind it wearing a scary mask.  Dexter (who has recently become more sensitive to things that could be construed as 'scary' lately) began to cry and scream.  He was none-too-pleased.

Oddly though, a leg-eating pumpkin didn't phase either of them. Darned desensitizing television programming!

It was so nice and warm tonight that AJ kept having to remove his hood because he was sweating.  I put gloves on him, but they weren't needed at all.

Running to keep up with big bro.

So glad you could come, Daddy.

Dexter keep swanting to get carried at this point, so we head back to the house.  I'm thinking we're heading back to get the stroller, so Dexter can just rest while AJ finishes trick or treating.

But they were both finished and ready to start eating their treats!