Pumpkin Playdate

There once was a girl named Shannon


who decided to host the annual Pumpkin Playdate yet again.


She decided that creative food, families bringing favors, and spending lots of time of decor was so 2008.


So she picked a day to host following a massive rainstorm and cold front that emerged in her city of Houston.


She decided that the more the merrier was the tactic this year, and boy did everyone take her up on it.


So all these lovely children and their kids were not only stuck in the house but were doing their craft in the garage (thanks to Leslie for getting the craft together!). Never fear - Shani's alternative is here.


There were new faces this year


and old, from far away lands, faces.


There were families that could only manage one of the children in the photo (this older brother refused to come in costume - maybe next year)


And others that only had one to child to begin with


But we sure had a grand time!


Even if some families came without older siblings who were celebrating at school.


And to think that I even forgot to take a photo of sweet little Blake Haas, attending his first playdate ever (don't know if we scared him off for good). But I did manage to get late comers Dora, Diego, & Boots after we took down the photo session on the stairs.


There were girls that showed up late after school


But not too late. We waited until the party had halfway cleared out before I remembered that Derek had taken a long time to tie the pumpkin pinata together from the stair overhang. Had to make do with the weather by staying inside.


We used yard sticks


and baseball bats


and my son even attempted to break it open with a machine gun fire.


But alas, oldest costume wearer Audrey finally took the pinata down to its death.


And then it as every man for himself, armed with old HEB grocery sacks to fill up with the candy (that I had handpicked the night before so that it was all age appropriate candy).


And boy, were there lots of candy to grab. And the day before Halloween, no less.


Everyone ate in stages, and we even busted out some food that fit the costume. Mickey eared chicken fingers for Miss Minnie.


There were some that stayed later


Which in turn made some new besties in the process.


Whew, and to think that I am blogging about it not to long after - success! Halloween and sickies that followed to come soon.