"BOO!"

So Halloween came and went and I am always happy when it is over.....even though we always have great fun!  It is usually such a crazy time around the holiday from decorating, sewing costumes, buying candy, making goodies....but it does seem to get easier as the years go by.

This year J decided that the "other" witch costumes in the box were not good enough for her and wanted me to make her a new one.  Actually they were all too small for her, so we set out to the fabric store a week before Halloween.  I tend to wait til the last minute when it comes to making costumes....did that last year with K's bear costume (which she is wearing again this year).....and I think it turned out really good.  I love the jacket with the colored lining and the bright green ribbon.  She loved it and she looked so cute in it with her new haircut.  We found some great spider earrings and a big ring to complete the outfit.

So thinking that J was last minute, M comes to me 2 days before our ward fall festival and says she wants a costume.  Too late to make one, we headed to the store to see what they had.  In the meantime, we found this great costume for Duke......

There were so many to choose from, but this one cracked us up.  We took it home and immediately put it on him and laughed so hard we cried.  It was hilarious to watch him run in it.....so we had to make a movie of it.  It is like the cowboy is actually riding a bull.....WHOA!!!

He was so good to wear it and not try to get it off.  He was a good sport and we laughed every time we put it on him....what a hoot! 

Anyway, M found a costume that she wanted and I must say that I was impressed with how cute it looked on her.  She did her makeup really good and she was happy.

Now that the costumes are ready....let the festivities begin.

The Friday before Halloween we went to the annual Fall Festival in our ward.  We had chili, games, a costume parade and Trunk or Treat.  The girls had a great time....M and J working the games and K running around with her best friend.  I really didn't have to do anything, so I was able to visit with friends....a nice change.  The kids had a great time and ended up having sleepovers to swap candy. 

The next day was the only day we could carve pumpkins, so off to Wal-mart to pick out the perfect pumpkin.  I miss going to the fields to pick our own, but then again, it was so easy to get one out of the bin and head home.  K did her pumpkin all by herself...even the carving and did a great job.  J and M designed their own pattern and they did awesome too.

After we were done with that, K wanted to go over to the high school to their Boo Bash.  We went last year with friends, but had decided not to go this year.....until K changed her mind.  So I took her and a neighbor kid over for an hour or so.  There were not as many games this year but more spook alley, which K loved.

As you can see, there is no mention of T or even pictures of T in this post.....he was pretty much non-existent this weekend.  He was in Denver for XC State and missed out on the festival and the pumpkins....not that he would have participated anyway.  He came home Saturday afternoon and went directly over to the school to help set up for the Boo Bash.  I had to go into the spook alley to see him and say hi.

Sunday we went over to my mother-in-law's for dinner....the first one since my father-in-law has been gone.  It was nice to have the kids get with their cousins and us adults talk.  We stayed forever, but had a really nice time.

The next day was finally Halloween and K had her party and parade at school.  I am always happy to go and see her with all her classmates having a fun time.

That night, T had to work and M went to a party at her friend's house, so I took the 2 girls and met up with some friends in another neighborhood.  It was fun to go around to different houses and see so many people we knew.  I even took Duke and he got so many comments about how cute he was and what a great costume.  I was just glad that it was perfect weather for Trick or Treating.  My hubby made it home just as we were walking out the door, so he stayed home to hand out candy.  He said the doorbell didn't stop ringing for 45 minutes straight.  He never had a chance to sit down or change out of his work clothes.  We met up later as the kids went around a second time, just the two of us for a DQ!  YUM!  The kids hauled in a lot of candy, but we gave away more candy than we ever have, so I think we ended up with less candy actually.  But still enough to get sick on....just sayin.

We had a great Halloween, but was happy the next day when I could take it all down and put it away until next year.  I am happy to look forward to the low key Thanksgiving holiday this month.