Happy Halloween 2011

The Halloween festivities began for us on October 21st.  The four of us got all dressed up to attend a party across the street that our neighbor was throwing for her almost-four year old grandson.  We ate pizza, painted pumpkins, did crafts, ate candy, and played a couple games.  Here are a couple pictures of us getting ready, and us at the party:

(click on photos to see larger)

she wasn't thrilled

with the help of food, she came around

big phanatic helping small phanatic

After the kid party, we walked back home to meet my parents who where babysitting that night so Kevin and I could go to an adult costume party.

On October 22nd we took the kids to White Clay Creek State Park for a pre-planned hayride and bonfire with friends from The Moms Group.

he wanted to bring his tractor and wagon thing

On October 27th we had a Halloween party for the kids in the Moms Group.

 Events for October 29th got canceled due to weather (SNOW!)

At some point we let the kids paint mini pumpkins.  They really enjoyed it!!
 (check back for the photo)

On October 30th we went to the Main Street Halloween Parade.  This was our fourth year walking to the event from our neighborhood (I say neighborhood instead of house because some years we walk from our house, but other years [this year] we drove to the beginning of our neighborhood and walked from there.  We did this because it was a little chilly and because we knew we'd have a hard time finding parking if we got any closer). 

somehow Kevin got stuck holding both...

...and i pulled an empty wagon. what the heck

After the parade we went home and carved pumpkins

Trent insisted on a Thomas pumpkin.  I chose a simple pumpkin face for me and Claire

The Grand Finale: Trick or Treating on Halloween night!

still hates it

first house = major score

home from trick-or-treating!

my return?

So....I haven't been blogging much at all lately.  You see, a couple months ago I lost my little SD card that had a bunch of pictures on it and lost all motivation to blog.  I was so upset that I lost it!  I'm going to make an effort to get back into blogging though.  Right now I'm going to try to do an overall review of what I haven't blogged about recently.  I already touched on the Halloween Parade, but I didn't talk about the Halloween parties, the Halloween hayride, or Halloween night, so that's where I'll begin - the end of October - then I'll head into November.



Halloween outfits! (photos by Kevin)

The Halloween Hayride. Brandywine Creek State Park.  October 23rd. It lasted 45-ish minutes and was followed by s'mores at a bonfire.  This is something we definitely hope to do again next year! (photos by Alicia)

Halloween Party for the kids.  October 29th.  The kids dressed up and played together, then we all had pizza! (photos by Joy)

Jude the Dinosaur

Claire Bear the Care Bear

Ava the Butterfly

Rachel the Pumpkin

Clara the Cow

John the Sailor

Claire again

The group posing with the skeletons

Halloween Party for the Adults.  October 30th.  I went as Demon from Kiss and Kevin was Hulk Hogan.  I was pleasantly surprised when neither of my children were afraid of me!

Halloween night!  We dressed the kids up early that day.  We knew we wanted to start trick-or-treating as early as possible, and people wanted pictures beforehand.  As you can see, Trent was Dash Incredible.  Claire was a Care Bear.  Maggie was an Incredible dog (which I made up).  We went up and down the street we lived on - maybe a dozen houses in all - and it didn't take Trent long to learn that people were giving him candy when they came to the door.  He started reaching right into their bowls and taking tiny handfuls of whatever he could get his tiny hands on.  It was precious.  He couldn't say "trick or treat" but he was sure to say "Thank you" to each house (which sounds more like "grazie").  After we did out street we dropped Claire off at home the took Trent around the corner to some more houses, with our main goal being to get to my Aunts house.  Back home we gave Trent some m&m's as we passed out candy to the remaining trick-or-treaters.  Overall it was a great night and I can not wait for next Halloween!

Milburn Orchards with Mike and Amy (out of order).  October 16th.  It's not something I thought I'd be into because I figured it'd be super crowded, and I hate crowds, but we went last year and had a great time so we decided to go again this year.  We started by taking a tractor ride (no wait), which Trent really liked, to the apple trees, where we took our time tasting and picking apples.  Claire even had her very first fruit while there!  Once our apples were paid for, we took the tractor back to the parking area, then headed across the street to the shop.  We decided against pumpkin, and for some crazy reason, we didn't even get any cider donuts! (photos by Amy)