Happy Halloween

I debated all month how to do this post. Should I post about each Halloween activity individually or should I wait and just have a picture heavy post at the end of the month. I decided to go with the picture heavy post and that may have been the right decision, who knows. 

So we kicked off the Halloween season with a party at Grandma's. We loved her Halloween party and were so happy she was home this year to throw it, we have missed it the last two years while she was in Germany.  The kids were excited to put on their costumes a few weeks early. The girls even treated us to an epic battle of ninja verse pirate. Still not sure what girl won. 

All year long I look for fun Halloween food to do. This year we went easier than we have in past years. We did a carrot pumpkin patch....oh and I realized I need at least one Halloween serving tray.

And Frankenstein pudding cups. The first time we did these we did vanilla pudding dyed green. The second time we did pistachio. Anyway it was fun and Eve loved decorating the cups.

Grandma lead the Halloween parade around the house. And the kids seemed to thing it was fabulous.

The second party was at Grammy's. It was a bit smaller but still lots of fun. Matty loved the mummy hotdogs and loved the attention he got from his older cousins.  Oh and the big bag of M&Ms he got sure didn't hurt.

The week of Halloween was a busy one. We did our pumpkin carving. Christian and Matty decided to draw their pumpkins this year and Matty was content to carry it around forever. Just a moment here to talk about my awesome husband. When the boys decided that they were going to be minions this year he decided to be Gru. The man shaved his head for this, talk about committed to making his kids' halloween fabulous. I am so happy that I married him and so grateful for what a wonderful father he is.

Laine is really into moustaches this year, so of course her pumpkin had to have one.

James' needed to be as toothless as he is.

And Eve's was beautifully designed, also with a moustache.

Finally it was time for the neighborhood party. It was at this party that Christian made his first appearance as Gru complete with minions and freeze ray.

The kids loved the neighborhood party. It had a delicious chili bar, a parade, a spook alley, and a trunk or treat. I gave out more candy at the trunk or treat then I did on Halloween.  The kids loved going around to the cars and getting candy, then they even donated some of it to Primary Children's.

Finally we made it to the big day. matty had been preparing for this day all month. Everything was spooky with ghosts or witches.  He also watched every Disney Halloween special possible and made many references of going to treak or treat mountain.

We went to the kid's Halloween parade, where you go and sit for an hour to watch twenty minutes of a parade, reminds me a bit like Disneyland. Matty spent the time playing.

He really did love Halloween and it was fun to watch him. He wore the witch hat quite a bit so he could be spooky.

After school we went trick or treating to all of the grandparents. The kids loved it and I think the grandparents loved it too.

Finally it was time for the big night. After a dinner of eyeball hamburgers we put on the costumes one last time and got ready for trick or treating. Laine was determined to spend the whole night trick or treating, "for the good of the family" she claimed. She may have a point since we have a community treat basket where all the kids candy goes. 

So we had Laine, the super ninja.

James, the head minion. 

Matty, the cute little minion.

And Eve, the swashbuckling pirate. 

All accompanied by Daddy Gru. 

They were off on an adventure while mom stayed home to hand out candy to the few trick or treaters we got. 

So from our little spooks to your Happy Halloween.

She's nine!

The day before Halloween we celebrate a very special day, we celebrate Eve's birthday!!!  

Eve is hilarious, you can tickle her from across the room. She loves to draw and is becoming a quite a talented artist and piano player. She loves to play with her littlest brother and takes extra good care of him. She is a pretty happy polite girl who is always quick to laugh and smile. She has such a sweet little spirit, she is caring, and everyone who talks with her is quick to comment on how kind she is. She thanks her teachers each day for what they have taught her and she loves to give hugs.

This year because of a Halloween party we celebrated the birthday on Eve's birthday eve, she always giggles when you tell her that. 

She invited over both set of grandparents for some cake and presents. 

Eve is an artist. And she got art supplies and books for her birthday. She has never been happier.

On her birthday she got the breakfast pizza that she asked for and a a few more gifts...she was super happy.