Halloween

Here is some of the fun we had this year for Halloween.

This is a craft that I used to keep the kids busy one Sunday morning.  I call them my ghoulish crew.

Our pumpkin carving night for FHE.  Everyone carves a pumpkin except for me I get to carve two or at least help out in a big way for the boys.  I didn't find the pumpkins at my local store very good this year but I picked out the best ones I could.  The one Spencer was left to carve didn't even stand up.  Oh, well he made do. 

Last year Evan would at least help clean out the pumpkin "guts" but this year I was on my own.  He is still hesitant when it comes to getting his hands slimy, messy, sticky, gluey....etc.   We didn't use patterns and did easier carvings so it didn't take us all night and there was less frustration on every ones part.

 

Here is the after.  Left to Right we have Spencer's sideways face, Evan's skull, Aaron's spider and Megan's Pokemon creature.  Not a bad crew.  The kids loved having them lit up and I loved the smell that comes from a candle burning in the pumpkin. 

We didn't do a lot of extra decorating.  We have the usual window clings that I've saved for a few years now, I bought this year those jelly window clings that I put up in our 1/2 bath along with a couple of black fancied up hand towels and a Halloween hand soap cover all that along with the usual scary smells had the bathroom covered!  The kids also painted a few Halloween themed clay pots to add to our collection that I had done years back along with some store bought ceramic tea lights that I had going for the week. 

It got cold kinda quickly and we had a few days of freezing rain and snow so I didn't get my spiderweb up on the bush outside out front door.  But with my porch light on and those 4 pumpkins lit up people still came to our house.  The brave souls.....67 of them according to my tally.  I was quite generous with the candy hand out as I didn't want any leftovers. 

This year I was seriously contemplating taking the kids to a local mall for some safe, warm indoor fun; but then thought better of it since I also like to hand out candy at our house.  So bundling up was their option for  trick-or-treating this year.  Also I would be doing the mall thing by myself and that was just too much extra work for me. 

I gave the kids hand warmers in their mitts and that did the trick for them being able to stay out a little longer.  Their faces may have been a little chilly but their hands were warm. They got enough candy to last for a while anyways. 

We're going to the dentist so we'll see what damage has been done!

They had some fun school parties along with the costume parade that Aaron and I went to.  I sent the kids with Halloween pencils and erasers to give to each class mate along with a "healthy" treat to share with their class in the afternoon. 

 Megan shared this 7 layer dip with blue and yellow chips served in a black cauldron.  OOhhhh!  I helped Evan make a dry snack mix with goldfish, chocolate cheerios, raisins, craisins, white yogurt covered pretzel pieces and a few candy corns. 

 My boys dressed up a superhero.  I made their costumes.  They are always wearing their capes and wristbands and masks. 

Megan dressed up as my "artsy girl".  This is her take on being a Jackson Pollock painting.  She had fun creating this( she would have had more fun if I let her drizzle more paint herself).  As always a unique costume. 

 Here they are warming up and looking and eating their candy.  Ignore me as I help Aaron learn the proper candy sorting technique.  Thanks for all your hard work kids; your dad and I will try not to eat all the candy after your in bed!  Happy Haunting!