My husband, the great white hunter, ran off to Williams, Arizona to look for Bambi, leaving the kids and I to fend for ourselves this past Halloween. My sister, upon hearing the news, volunteered to help me out, understanding the difficulty of combining Trick-Or-Treating, photography and cocktails. If anyone could pull it off, it was she!
On Halloween Eve, we carved pumpkins. The kids were troopers, but their little arms were clearly challenged by the whole poking/carving shebang. It was Team Mom & Pearl against Team Aunt Sunny & Natalie. Pearl and I were slow & steady, never losing our focus.
Natalie changed her stencil three times before ever lifting a tool. She declared it “fun” when Aunt Sunny took over carving duty.
By the end, Team Pearl was victorious for finishing first, Natalie was crying, and Aunt Sunny was armed and semi-dangerous. (Don’t hurt me, Aunt Sunny, for posting this picture!)
Fast forward to Halloween Night. The kids donned their super hero costumes and allowed me to staple the fake boots to their real shoes. Then we went Trick-Or-Treating at the casinos. Imagine entering the casino and filling your goody bags with chips. Nice! Ok, now wipe that image from your mind, and picture the reality. Ground level hotel rooms decorated in spider webs, black fabric, skeletons and ghouls. Hotel guests dressed in costumes handing out candy from their patios. Only in Laughlin?
The kids hit most of the displays in a 45 minute span, filling their satchels half way. We hoofed it back to our car, conveniently parked at the tiniest casino on this strip, the Regency. What can I say? Parking is plentiful, and the gift shop gives treats.
Back across the river to Arizona, we headed to Chili’s. The hostess handed us a “BOGO” coupon, allowing the kids to eat free. Apparently our server didn’t get the memo because he tacked on the extra ten bucks. My sister’s eagle eye spotted the discrepancy and saved the day. Look how else she saved the day, with refreshing margaritas.
Told you she could juggle it all.
• How was your Halloween?
• Is carving pumpkins overrated?
• What’s the best thing you ever took away from a casino?
To view more photos of the Laughlin Halloween Safe Street, visit our business blog, Around The River Blogs.
Comment By: Sherri
November 4th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Nice lunch read Jean? LMAO @ Nat’s face in that “when good times go bad” pic. Classic for sure.
1. My Halloween was great. I did all the activities one is supposed to do this time of year. I’m sad it’s over. One of my favorite Holidays!
2. I love carving pumpkins. I made my boyfriend do it with me (carve the pumpkins Jean!)and I could tell he really liked it. He even had to show me up.
3. The best thing I ever took away from a Casino was @ Atlantis in the Bahamas. I had my second marriage there and my husband won 80 grand playing the Black Jack tables. Being the sneaky person he was he didn’t want to declare the money at customs so he made me strap 40 grand of it to my body. LOL where do you think I put it? I was so freakin’ scared. But all went off without a hitch. (should I be saying this publicly? *shrugging shoulders*)
Great blog. I was trying to get my Halloween blog up I keep getting sidetracked with other crap. Crap!
Comment By: Jean
November 4th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Thanks, Sherri! I have another pic. where I used the zoom lens on Nat’s face. LOL! She’ll kill me when she’s older.
I’m so glad you had such a fun holiday! I’m looking forward to your post, and enjoyed seeing your pics on FB.
OMG, girl! That’s some story about departing with the big win!!!
Comment By: Stacy
November 4th, 2010 at 11:20 am
I love this blog! So cute! Looks like you all had a good time even if the pumpkin carving was tough. I always hate getting the slimy guts out the most. Poor Natalie! I’m sure the candy made everything better though. 🙂
Our Halloween was really nice in my parents’ new neighborhood. They gave out a ton of candy. I guess pumpkin carving is a little overrated because we totally forgot to do any this year, but I think that was the first time ever. I even forgot to make popcorn balls and caramel apples! The best thing we ever took from a casino was a jackpot for both James and I back in 1995 and nothing since (sigh).
Comment By: Jean
November 4th, 2010 at 11:34 am
Thanks, Stacy! Tom commented this morning that Natalie’s pumpkin was so thick. Maybe that’s why she struggled with it. The guts were gross. Caught some good video of Pearl getting grossed out. LOL!
I’d love to bring the girls door to door. I’ll bet you & the boys had so much fun!
Mmmm… maybe you can make those treats for Christmas. Naw, your cookie baking probably doesn’t leave much room for the other treats.
I remember your big wins! Those were the good ol’ days. You two are due!
Comment By: Helena
November 4th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Did you really use a power tool to carve your pumpkin?? Awesome.
Comment By: Jean
November 4th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
I did, Helena! Just drilled holes for the Mr. Potato Head parts. I’ll bet it would have made carving a breeze. Next year!
Comment By: Dina
November 4th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Looks like the best of times! Our Halloween was great fun this year but I ate way to much. The Girls are so cute!
Comment By: Jean
November 4th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Dina, you’re a phenomenal cook! No wonder you indulged on the holiday.
Thanks for the compliments!
Comment By: stacey@Havoc&Mayhem
November 4th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Halloween was ok. The hotel trick or treating was sort of lame.
I like carving pumpkins
I’ve never taken anything away from a casino
Comment By: Jean
November 4th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Hi Stacey. This was our first year carving pumpkins. Do you usually use the kits and stencils?
Sorry your hotel experience wasn’t all good.
Comment By: Beth
November 4th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
I love your blog–always fun! :O)
Halloween was good this year…the grands were adorable and enjoying the whole thing. This was the dirt year EVER that I didn’t carve pumpkin. I just put out copper jack ‘o lanterns with candles in them out on the front steps. Yeah, lame, I know.
I have never been to a casino. (Well, except when I was a kid and we went through Vegas on a road trip. Back then, kids wandered through the casinos freely.)
Comment By: Jean
November 5th, 2010 at 6:22 am
{{Beth}}! Always great to see you. Thank you for stopping by.
Your copper jack o lanterns sound adorable actually.
Ohhhhh, you need a Vegas do-over!
Comment By: Sunny Wishes She Were Shopping
November 4th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Yep, the BEST Halloween EVER! Love you!!!
Comment By: Jean
November 5th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Love you too! Thanks for visiting. You helped greatly.
Comment By: Mama Mary
November 4th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Looks like so much fun! Especially the last pic. : )
Comment By: Jean
November 5th, 2010 at 6:23 am
The last pic is my fav. too, Mary. Thanks!
Comment By: gareth
November 5th, 2010 at 12:26 am
Pumpkins and powertools, what a combo !!!
Us British don’t really “do” Halloween that well, we had kids come around a week before the day, it kinda gets a little like begging !! BAH Humbug
Glad you had a good time, the cocktails look good !
gareth
Comment By: Jean
November 5th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Does the drill make you at least want to attempt carving pumpkins, Gareth?
Begging?! Well, yeah, now that you mention it. Organized begging. My girls hauled off quite a bit of loot.
Comment By: Pop
November 5th, 2010 at 9:31 am
You look like a pro with that drill!
Costumes?! Awesome. Chips would’ve definitely been a treat, but would later become a trick when you lose them all in a span of 30 minutes.
And those margaritas? Now I want one.
Comment By: Jean
November 5th, 2010 at 11:00 am
You give me too much credit, Pop, if you think my chips would last a whole 30 mins. LOL!
::: passing the margaritas ::: Enjoy!
Comment By: Gary
November 5th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Trick-or-Treating in Vegas? Now how COOL is THAT! LOL PLEASE tell me they didn’t get alcohol or condoms in their treat bags!
LOVE their costumes and the pumpkins are AWESOME! The margaritas look pretty damn good too!
Glad you all had a good time!
Comment By: Jean
November 5th, 2010 at 11:00 am
After 8pm, it’s adults only. That’s when the booze & condoms fly. LOL!
Thanks, Gary.
Comment By: Shannon
November 5th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Stopping by via SITS. Great post, you are too funny. 🙂 And? Now I want a big ass margarita.
Comment By: Jean
November 5th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Shannon, I’m handing you a virtual margarita. Hope it hits the spot til a real, big ass margarita arrives.
Thank you for visiting from SITS. I’m digging your painted pumpkins.
Comment By: Kristen
November 5th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
You are one serious pumpkin carver! I have never seen anyone use a power tool.
Comment By: Jean
November 6th, 2010 at 9:23 am
LOL, Kristen! I’m going to have to create a special post next year. “Carve Your Pumpkin With Power Tools!”
Comment By: BLOGitse
November 6th, 2010 at 6:56 am
You seem to had great Halloween. Here in Casablanca, Morocco we didn’t celebrate but we had a sunny day! 🙂
SITS Saturday greetings!
Comment By: Jean
November 6th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Casablanca! Oh, that sounds so … romantic!
Thank you for stopping by my blog. The SITS community is great.
Comment By: starla
November 6th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Such cute pictures, looks like you had a very busy day! I like the power tool. I don’t think I’ve ever used a power tool on a pumpkin before. I like your black photo boxes it really makes your photos pop. :+) I did use a pumpkin stensil one halloween it made for a really cool pumpkin. Of course I’ve miss placed the carving kit.
Comment By: Jean
November 6th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Hi Starla! Busy is a perfect way to describe it. The cocktails were needed by night’s end. LOL!
The drill makes it easier to use the Mr. Potato Head accessories on the pumpkin (shoes, arms). I had no idea the stencils were so much fun!
Thanks! I saw the SITS group using the black collage boxes, and found templates on Photobucket (dot) com. Easy to use!
Comment By: Marian
November 6th, 2010 at 9:29 am
What a fun blog! Pearl looks a lot like your sister, but you and your sister resemble one another so….
Sweet! I love it!
Comment By: Jean
November 6th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Marian, I’ll take all that as one giant compliment! Glad to resemble such beauties as my sister and my Pearlie. 😀 Thanks!
Comment By: MommaKiss
November 7th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
dear god, you seriously make me laugh. power drills? for punkins? that’s all kinds of awesome.
Comment By: Jean
November 7th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
LOL, MommaKiss! I’ve got to post about power tools & pumpkins in oh-eleven. 😀
Happy Sunday Eve.
Comment By: sweetiegirlz
November 7th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Never thought of using the drill on a pumpkin. cool idea! Looks like a great time.
Comment By: Jean
November 8th, 2010 at 6:27 am
It cuts like “buttah”, Sweetiegirlz. 🙂
Comment By: Charlotte
November 10th, 2010 at 7:46 am
I love these pictures!!! I think I’m mostly impressed that a drill was used to help carve a pumpkin. You guys don’t mess around!!
Sounds like you had a wonderful Halloween and the costumes are all great 🙂
Comment By: Jean
November 10th, 2010 at 8:00 am
LOL, Charlotte! You’d be surprised how handy a drill is when it comes to carving pumpkins.
Thanks for stopping by!
Comment By: Sedate Me
November 12th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Check out the glorious fall colours of Vegas on display in that street photo. Really gets you in the mood.
Comment By: Jean
November 12th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Happy Holidays, Sedate Me!
Comment By: Tammy
November 14th, 2010 at 10:05 am
What a fun Halloween! Nice job on the jack-o-lanterns.
Glad you all had a great time.
Comment By: Jean
November 14th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
We did have a great time. Thanks, Tammy. Seeing the margaritas again makes me want one!
Comment By: Sedate Me
November 15th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Doesn’t the presence of oxygen make you want a margarita?
Comment By: Jean
November 15th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Sedate Me Reply:
November 15th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Doesn’t the presence of oxygen make you want a margarita?
Ha! Good point!
Comment By: classycareergirl
November 15th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Sounds like such a fun Halloween! Carving pumpkins is a blast. Cute photos!
Comment By: Jean
November 17th, 2010 at 7:04 am
Thank you, Classy Career Girl! And thanks for swinging by. I need to return the visit and see what’s going on in the world of Classy Career Girls.