a giNoRMouS pOSt oF hALloWeEn fUn...

I think I FINALLY learned! This year I played it SIMPLE! We frosted cookies, went to a pumpkin patch, attended the ward Halloween party, and went trick-or-treating. It was a LOW-KEY holiday, and GUESS WHAT?! The kids had a BLAST! They didn't even seem to notice that I didn't have a Halloween party, make treats for the class and drive myself bonkers trying to be Martha Stewart. A BIG change from last year (click here to blast back to the insanity of last year) In fact, we even bought our costumes at the Goodwill for $4 each. What a bargain!

Here we are at the "low-key" pumpkin patch (a stark difference from the $60 we spent last year at Remlinger Farms-the kids didn't seem to notice).

With everything going on our country right now, I REALLY feel the need to teach my children to work and to understand the value of a dollar. So, when P-ditty wanted to go into the corn maze, which would have cost us around $15, I told him we could go if he did 3 jobs for me when we got home. He started into the corn stalks, and about 10 feet in, decided it wasn't worth it. Its always an eye opener for me when my kids make choices like that. "Sure, you can have the toy, as long as you're willing to work for it!" Kids: "Ah, never mind. I don't want it."

Here's P-Ditty in his $4 vampire glory, dressed up for the ward party...

T-Man picked out a Batman costume, but at the last minute wanted his face painted and went as the Grinch.

How fitting! :) He has actually been a TOTAL sweetheart lately! I've been trying hard to pay more attention to him, intervene in his fits before it escalates and be more loving in general. It SEEMS to be paying off?!

NERD-ALERT!!!

"Namaste"

Carving pumpkins-our good friends the Tyler's (Aaron was on my India expedition) joined us. It was a lot of fun.

P-Ditty REALLY wanted to carve his own pumpkin and his overprotective parent (I won't say which one...haha) wouldn't let him. I realized later that he could have done it w/the carving kit. I guess there's always NEXT YEAR! I did let him carve his tiny one after I realized it was probably okay.

T-Man's is the "scary one" on the L, courtesy of Ben. P-Ditty drew the face on the R and mommy carved it. Ben thought it resembled Corky on "Life Goes On". LOL

To T-Man's chagrin, I got to help out at his preschool party. "But I don't WANT you to come, cuz you'll eat all my food and treats!" OUCH! That hurt! (The truth usually does.)

Preschool pig-pile. They were so funny and cute!

"Cheating"

Eden & TJ, dancing partners. Aren't they CUTE?!

Halloween Night..."The sugar high..."

P-Ditty couldn't find his vampire cape tonight. It seems it wasn't put away in its proper spot! I heard him say a prayer and then he happily said, "Mom! It's OKAY that my costume is lost...you know WHY? I had a great idea! I can wear my Darth Vader cape!" It was a good teaching opportunity about the power of prayer and the influence of the spirit. I wanted to make sure that he understood that his prayer was answered, just not in the way he had expected it to be!

Anyway, PDitty chose this face on the face paint box and Ben came through. He is really creative. PDitty was happy overall, but felt like he had to keep his mouth shut all night (DARN! haha) because of the teeth. T-Man went as Batman.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Now bring on the red and green!