Happy Halloween! It was a fun year this year watching the kids grow up a little bit and have some more freedom with how they spent the holiday. We found some time to carve/paint our pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.
The goo! The goo!
Kelton was feeling bold enough to do all of the work on his pumpkin by himself. He wielded the knife and carved a fabulous face.
McKenzie also did her own carving this year. And while she still hates the feel of pumpkin guts, her cat turned out pretty nicely.
Cambrie had chosen a small pie pumpkin for hers, and decided it would be better to paint it. She whipped out an amazing "Nightmare Before Christmas" scene. I can't believe what this girl can do with some paints and a canvas of any sorts.
Jeremy worked on some shading and did an Ironman face.
Ta da!
I was a softie and let the boys wear their costumes before Halloween this year. I caught them playing with their Legos one morning and it just seemed like such a perfect childhood moment that I kind of melted inside.
With the cold snap, the ward trunk or treat was moved to inside. It was crazy trying to get our crowd out the door, but we made it. (I almost forgot all of the trunk or treating candy! Yikes!) After a dinner of soup and cornbread the kids disappeared to find their friends and do some of the activities the youth had set up. The boys became mummies and wrapped themselves in toilet paper. They went fishing. They colored some Halloween pictures. And they participated in the costume parade.
All four kids love finding their friends. There were FIVE other Marios at the party. I wish I would have gathered them all up because it was pretty awesome seeing them all. I did at least get a picture with Kelton and Sawyer.
McKenzie and her group of friends had a theme: good queen, good princess, evil queen, evil princess. The good princess opted to become an ostrich rider instead, but I still loved their creativity.
Don't Molly and McKenzie make a striking pair?
Cambrie was being stubborn and didn't really want to pose for a picture. She and her friends from school coordinated to go as ghosts. I was able to take this picture before heading to her friend's house for a Halloween party.
At the church, I snagged her in the hall with her new friend, Sierra (AKA bowl of Fruit Loops).
I decided to go as Emma Swan this year from "Once Upon a Time." Jeremy and I found a red leather jacket in a thrift store in Maryland this year, and the costume was just begging to come together.
It's always a chore finding the kids after the trunk or treat because they find a corner to hide out in while they all swap candy. I love how Sierra is giving me a knowing smile as I try to sneakily snap this picture.
I was able to go to the school parties this year. Daxton had a costume parade and while he had fun, I don't think he really understood why he was just walking around in circles!
Kelton's class did a bunch of crafts. He loved creating them and he couldn't get enough of the chocolate bagel spider bites.
McKenzie had originally worn her costume to school, but it's really hard to play like a kid at school while dressed like a queen, so we had to change into some more manageable play clothes.
Halloween night itself was a little crazy. Jeremy had left for his race in Florida which meant that I was on my own that night. McKenzie went trick-or-treating up in Wildgrass with her new friend, Celeste. I took Halle, Sierra, and Cambrie to meet up with some other friends and they went trick-or-treating in Anthem. Does she look excited?
Thank you Chelsea for getting this pictures of all the girls! (Nadia, Paige, Isabell, Cambrie, Halle, Sierra).
After dropping off the girls, the boys and I were free to cruise our neighborhood. It was still cold and I didn't think any trick-or-treaters would last very long. I set up a bowl on our porch while the boys and I went knocking.
Kelton quickly found his friend, Matteo, and we followed their group all night. I was glad Kelton found a buddy because Daxton was a bit slower than his brother. He managed to make it up to the doors just after they closed every time. I was proud of him this year for being so brave. He made a conscious effort to be brave with all the decorations and we made sure to point out the ones that were just pretend. Daxton finished up pretty quickly and so I gave him a piggyback while Kelton finished the street. Back at home we warmed up our numb little fingers and passed out candy. I was grateful for every trick-or-treater we had since the weather did not make for a comfortable night.
It was weird waiting for the girls to be returned home. They each said they had a blast but came home pretty exhausted. Now just to work on all that Halloween candy huh? Luckily we learned that Grandrabbit's Toy Shop was collecting the candy this year to send to troops. Each kid took in their candy and received some credit to put towards a new toy. We all thought this was a pretty good deal.
Happy Halloween from our crew!
