Halloween

Halloween 2013 was a relatively unusual one for our family in that we only wore our costumes one time -- on Halloween.  It seems like in the past the kids have had two, three, four opportunities to dress up in their costumes the week prior to Halloween for various parties, trunk or treats, and activities.  But this year we missed the ward trunk or treat and our neighbors Halloween party because of the Heritage night, so that left Halloween.  It was actually pretty refreshing.  I don't love Halloween and think it is strange that it has been made into this huge holiday.  This year felt like it was just about right!

We did have a Miller Family Halloween party though, thanks to Reagan.  She asked if we could have one, and she planned it out, and I helped her execute it.  It was the night before Halloween.  We had spooky music playing, we bobbed for apples, played Halloween Bingo, carved our pumpkins, and ate these spooky donuts.  It really was a lot of fun.  Love my sweet family, and love making memories with them.

Bobbing for apples was hilarious.  Reagan went first and did it pretty quick!

Some people got very wet in the process.

Bennett struggled a bit.  He blamed in on his braces.  We just watched as he patiently tried again and again and again. . . . . .

He ended up having to just get it by the stem!

Sam insisted on going next.  He did it really quickly, but was pretty wet!

Cal was very sad during this process -- he didn't like everyone putting their faces in the water.

Halloween Bingo, or Booga.  This was a hit with everyone, especially Cal, who was very excited about it all.

On Halloween, I got to go and be part of Campbell's preschool Halloween party.  Her class got to wear their costumes to school, and did a little costume parade for the other students.  It was super cute.

My little Alice in Wonderland.  Reagan picked out the costume a few years ago, but I think Campbell makes a better Alice!

We served a spooky lunch, and then the kids made a cute craft, played Toss the Ring on the Witch's Hat, and Halloween Bingo.

This is the class saying Bingo I think.  Didn't really work out for Cam, but oh well!

When we were all done with Campbell's party, we went to Settles to catch the end of Reagan's party.  They did a fun sorting/counting snack activity, and candy corn measurement math activity, a couple of crafts, and a feeling spooky things in boxes activity.  It was fun and very calm and the kids were very well behaved.  It was great!

Reagan was so sweet to Cam while we were there -- she wanted Campbell to be with her the whole time and do everything she got to do.  So nice.



That evening we had dinner and then scrambled to get the kids in costume.  It was extra stressful this year, maybe because we hadn't had a dry-run opportunity.  But getting 5 kids in costumes in a timely manner does not bring out the best in me!

Elle was a black cat, along with her friend Sadie, a buddie from church.  She looked so cute, and did her own black makeup and everything.

Cal photobombing from inside the house!

Bennett was a Hobbit.  He had planned this for months, and has been growing out his hair for the occasion.  We really need to take him to get a haircut now!  He wanted to go trick-or-treating barefoot, but we said no!

The little girls wanted pictures together.  Here is Alice again, and here is our Hermione Granger.  Last fall when the big kids went to Harry Potter land, they picked out a Hermione wand for Reagan.  That gave her the idea to be Hermione for Halloween, and she stuck with that idea all year.  She looks super cute, I think.  Love her.

And Calvin was Yoda, another recycled costume of Reagan's.  He did not love the head piece, so I am pinning his arm down in these pictures so he wouldn't pull it off.  But he got used to it as the night progressed, and soon got more caught up in getting candy than worrying about what was on his head.

The whole group!  I sure love these kids.

Then we were off.  Cal walked a lot of the way on his own.  He figured things out really quickly, and was all about moving from house to house for treat.

Georgia is sure beautiful in the Fall.  It was a very mild night -- look at Cam in her short sleeves.  Maybe 70 degrees -- so nice.

Cal insisted on always carrying some sort of candy in his hands.  He did have a bucket, but he liked holding the candy!

The three little ones probably only hit 15 houses or so, and then they were ready to go in.  I kept going with Elle and Bennett and Sadie, and we got home around 10:00 after we drove Sadie back to her house.  I think the kids had a fun day.  Holidays are always fun with kids around.  Have I mentioned how much I love my family?