(Note: this post was written in first week of November, but here we are, almost end November and Im only just publishing it – such is life right now. Busy, busy, busy…or to be more accurate: tired, tired, tired, cant get anything done, so tired.)
Holy smokes guys! If there was ever a busy month for us, it would have to be October. I never realised it before, I always tought it was December, but I was wrong. Like, move over December, you’ve got nuthin’ the Porter October! I mean, firstly, we spend the month working on our Halloween pre-game, decking out our home with all cobwebs, skulls, flying broomsticks, floating candles and witch hats and apothecary jars. We have Harry Potter nights, plan for our annual Halloween bash. And then there’s Parker’s birthday, along with a fun night of trick-or-treating, and who can forget our super exciting gender reveal. And the whole month eventually crescendos with Parker’s birthday celebrations.
Of course, afterwards, I then promptly drop down dead on the floor, like a possessed woman who’s finally been let go…except I collapse into a heap of pure tired happiness. October makes me happy…even though this year, thanks to the effect that preggo hormones have had on my body and ligaments, I was left as an empty husk – souless and lifeless- thereafter. But twas still a good month. So aside from the Harry Potter night, the 4th Baby Gender reveal, Parker’s birthday party and Trick or Treating 2018 which all deserve their own posts, here is our October in pictures…
There was Cookie baking…because if you dont have a cookie to mark the holiday, is it even a holiday!?
Parker’s Birthday Day… like the actual day…(will share more, as my girl deserves her very own post. But we’re going a slow and steady preggo pace around here. So dont hold your breath for too long. For now here’s her dinner treat…
We had a Potter night that is usually a family affair and we wanted a few small buddies to join us this year, but with Daddy at the rugby with my brothers, and many of the small buddies just not “feeling ready” for Potter yet – which I as a parent of young kids completely understand – we ended up actually having a girls night in. (And Daddy had a banging time with my brothers at the rugby.) See the full post here.
We went on an unplanned pumpkin shopping excursion , which actually had me more excited than I think an adult should be about buying vegetables. (But let’s not judge, shall we?) So much so, my eldest actually commented on it, and offered to take a photo of what seemed like a great triumph in my life…A little sad? To you maybe, but to me, as a pumpkin nut that fully embraces my dorkhood in the realms of holidays, i dont care!
Although, it was clear that I was not the only one taken with the pumpkins…
Also, it was nice to get dad in some of these shots. He’s such a reluctant insta-hubby, let alone eager to be infront of the camera at all…but he’s learnt the value in me documenting our days, and the sweet reward of looking back at older pics of us as a couple and family…seeing how much has changed. How little they were. How far we’ve come. And just how sweet it all was back then…And, right now.
We carved said pumpkins, and even though the kids did leave me hanging for the carving bit itself, I was pretty proud of their pumpkin gutting work this year. Especially morgy who struggles with textures like this.
(we used their’s as night lights this year – flameless candle for the win!)
Im just sorry I lost the shot of all three of us with our pumpkins carved…preggo brain had me believe I saved it already, when I hadn’t. But at least I have these shots of our little Cocinios with the pumpkins!
We had slime fest,as per usual, and using both our tried and tested Borax method, as well as the borax-free method.
The girls loved decking the home out, and especially loved the light touches in their room.
I adored these cute little fairy/spooky lights. Battery operated, and only R29 at King Cake.
I skipped the cobwebs and spiders this year, purely because I couldn’t climb and stretch with this belly as much I’d have liked to…but just to give you an idea, this is what their room usually looks like…
I love it!
They also really liked their Halloween portrait I put up in their room. (I make one annually, this is the thrid year running) And as spooky as you think it may be, they love it! Even Coco liked this pic, and would constantly point it out when she came into their room, naming everyone up on there. (ps. She just said her own full name today – 7 Nov, but then wouldn’t repeat it, and instead demanded more cheers and applause for that ONE time she said it. Like, it was a one time show, bitches, you better raise the roof!)
You may have seen our family costume theme this year – it was a good one – so when I say that Halloween is a family affair, you have to understand that I mean the WHOLE family! Short, furry, four-legged ones included!
And of course, the girls enjoyed ticking off things from our Bucket-List. Like creating our little Halloween Book nook, and enjoying our book fest…
And just messing around with old and new costumes…(so far ALL THREE girls have worn that pumpkin costume that Coco has on here)
There’s still plenty of things unchecked on that Bucket list of ours, but that’s ok, we never were about getting it done. Or adding pressure to ourselves about it – even though, I’ll tell you now, the girls tried to push me hard on that list! For me, it was about enjoying the month with little things that bring us joy, and promote some fun family time together. And I think we did alright.
The one thing that did however break my heart this year was the fact that we did not end up having our annual Halloween bash. It would have been our ELEVENTH bash – I thought it was our tenth, but Mike corrected my maths. But this pregnancy has proven to be truly an exhausting one. I don’t have to do much for me to be left in a complete state “moeg perd”, with a back and pelvis that has locked up and rendered me disabled for a week or so. No matter how I’ve tried to trim things down with other birthday parties so far, each time, Im left feeling so sorry for myself and stiff as a board. So, as sad as I was to have to let it go, I knew it was the right thing to do. Next year will be the year of the comeback….But I can tell you now, Im already tearing up at the thought of no North Pole Party…But Im sure I’ll find ways to placate myself…I am open to any plates of cookies, or home made meals to be sent to my place to help console my pregnant ass. Like really open, guys…hint, hint…
Any hoo, now with October behind us, all the trimmings taken down on the 1st November – which actually felt so good for the mind and soul to do, I look forward to this little interlude that is November. And to look around the home, and survey what a clean space looks like…Sure, that scene got totally smashed two days later by Parker’s birthday party! (And I really hope to share that soon!) But we’re back to normal programmng, as we prepare ourselves for the main event. Im going to enjoy November. Take it easy, do my usual warm up to December; Tickle my First Noel bones a bit, and do all my décor planning, Christmas stocking surveying, and just reflecting on the wonderfully busy month that has past, giving thanks for all those small sweet blessings. And, really just get my pre-game sorted. And I intend to share all of that, but before I do, I still want to share so much with you.
But thereafter, the gloves are off, and all the tinsel and jingle bell ra-ra will be out in full force! Prepare thineselves! X
Ps. Do you have your Christmas jammies yet??? (I could help you out – come see if I still have your size over here!)