Halloween

Halloween is always chock full of fun.  Here are a few pictures from the week leading up to Halloween.  

We had a super fun ward Halloween party.  All the kids dressed up in their costumes and had a parade through the church.  We had a chili cook off and took home a top 3 prize.  Wa-hoo!

 We made yummy caramel with apples to hand out to teachers and neighbors.

Nate and I carved our pumpkins after the kids were in bed for the first time ever.  I don't know why I've never thought of that before, but it was so fun to spend time with Nate and have time for our own pumpkin carving.  We let the kids carve to their hearts content the next day.  Stella thought the mess was awesome and was seriously proud of her pumpkin. 

Lola and I went with some of her friends and their moms to dinner at the Bluebird followed by the ballet "Dracula."  It was such a fun night and always a treat for me to spend time with my Lola one on one.  

 On Halloween I helped with Lola's class party.  We decorated pumpkin sugar cookies.  I love being able to go to my kids class parties and Kindergarten ones are definitely a favorite. . . the kids are so cute and so excited!

After morning kindergarten, Lola, Stella and I trick or treated to the downtown businesses.  It was honestly the most beautiful Halloween I can remember.  With the temperature around 70 degrees, it was so fun to walk from store to store along Main Street with my little girls.  I didn't think Stella would make it very far, but the little trooper walked the entire way, both sides of the street and would have kept going if there were more stores.  She caught on to the whole candy in her bucket thing very quickly and was the cutest thing ever walking up, saying trick-or-treat and then walking away with a "ank ooo." 

We had a quick dinner of 'mummy dogs' (sick) and apple vampire teeth, before the kids all costumed up and got ready for the big event. 

Jackson and Miles set out with Spencer, Decker, Brennan and Davis and got to go without a parent this year. . . it was pretty exciting for them.  Lola, Stella and I went with Hilary and Heidi and dad stayed home to pass out candy.  Such a fun, warm, pleasant night filled with friends.  Halloween time is a reminder to me of how wonderful my neighborhood is and how lucky we are to live where we live.   

  

After all the treats were collected, we came home, analyzed our haul for a minute and then headed off to see grandma and grandpa.  After spending some time with them, we continued on to the assisted living center to see grandma and grandpa great.  They had waited up for us and it was so sweet to be able to spend some time with them and let them see the kids costumes.  I kick myself for not taking a picture of them with my kids, but we were all so tired by then that I just didn't!  We are always sad that granny and grandpa live so far away and we don't get to trick or treat to their house.

It was such a fun Halloween.  I love, love, love this holiday and all it entails.  I love how happy my kids are to find the perfect costume and to carry on all of our traditions.  I loved experiencing it with Stella this year. . . it was so new to her and so exciting.  She loved her pumpkin costume and I couldn't help but soak up every second of the day with her.