Halloween Festivities!

Halloween is one of our family's favorite times of the year! We always have lots of fun festivities to keep us busy during the month of October. One of those activities was our ward's Trunk or Treat. This year Noah was a ninja;

Savannah and her best friend Celine were fanatical 49ers fans (Savannah didn't really have to try hard for this one);

and Xander was an evil jester. Xander was a little bummed about not being able to wear his skeleton mask to the Trunk or Treat but I think David did a good job on his face paint.

I had no idea what I wanted to be but at the last minute I threw on the Medusa costume I had borrowed from my sister several years ago and have never returned. (Yes, I'm a bad sister.)

Once we got to church, we roamed around, looking at all the great costumes. I love that the people in our ward, including the adults, really get into the Halloween spirit. I see some of the best and most creative costumes at this event. Some of my favorites this year included characters from The Princess Bride, the Fragile Box along with the Christmas leg lamp from the movie The Christmas Story, and Little Red Riding Hood accompanied by her husband dressed as the wolf disguised in granny's clothes.
Hanging with friends!

This year I made Halloween sugar cookies for the women I visit teach and I roped the kids into helping me decorate them, the part that I like doing the least. They did a great job! I only had to remind Noah a few times that once he licked a knife he could no longer use it. No worries, I kept his cookies out of the plates I gave away.

Carving pumpkins! We barely made this year, carving them on Halloween afternoon and getting them on the front porch just as the first trick-or-treaters were coming by.

What is becoming a tradition - a tasty Halloween themed dinner!

Getting ready to head out and get some candy!! Thank goodness the evening was warm and the kids didn't even need jackets. Love when the weather cooperates! Notice Xander's cool skeleton mask!

Xander got TONS of compliments on his costume! I must agree, it was pretty cool. What wasn't as cool was the $16 jester stick he talked me into buying at the costume store because it was essential to his costume and then was subsequently left at home because he didn't want to carry it. Nice!

This was the first year that Savannah got to go out on her own with her friend Celine. We live in a very safe neighborhood but a parent always worries. But they had a great time together, covered A LOT of ground, and came home on time and with a full bag. David escorted the boys around leaving me to hand out candy. I loved it and think we'll stick to the same plan next year.

Savannah's puking pumpkin that got a lot of comments. I told all the little kids who mentioned it to me that that's what happens when you eat too much candy.

When Noah got home he quickly took over my handing-out-candy responsibilities.

The kids always spend lots of time sorting and trading candy. David was there to sample the goods...I mean he was there to "supervise".