Halloween!

Halloween seems to get bigger and bigger each year! I think it's having the kids get older and being involved in more activities that include celebrations. Whatever it is, it's a fun reason to dress up and celebrate. This year was a chose a costume from the dress-up bin year. The kids thought that was just as fun as picking out new costumes because they could be something different for each activity. 

Our Halloween fun included Halloween parties and parades at school, a trip to Gardner Village to see the witches, trick-or-treating at Kevin's work, a Halloween fun run, a ward fall carnival, painting pumpkins from our garden, carving pumpkins, and trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. 

Luke loved the firewoman witch at Gadner Village.

 These cute little pumpkins came from the only plant in the yard that survived-- cute! Luke didn't want to paint, so he did a thumbtack decoration. Evelyn got to paint hers too, just with water though. 

 

Evelyn loved her costume (she didn't want me to take it off her!), but was a little cranky this time I put it on her (short nap). I couldn't resist taking pictures of this tantrumy giraffe! 

 Look at those feet kick!

 The hood did seem to bug her, so we left it off most of the time. She got lots of compliments on her costume, especially the cute padded behind.  

 

 Outside the Riverton Office Building 

 Lukey the tired pirate on the way home from Kevin's work. 

 The ward Fall Festival fell on the same night at a BYU game that Kevin had tickets for. I didn't brave going for the dinner part with all four kids by myself, but we did come late for the carnival. Each auxiliary planned a game with a little prize. It was great! They had this cute photo op spot too.  

 Kissie told us about a fun Halloween race at City Creek park. It was fun to see everyone's costumes while running!

 

 

 I could do without the carving pumpkin tradition, so the kids are lucky Kevin likes it! We found cheap, giant pumpkins at Winco this year. The kids loved planning their designs. It is nice they can be more involved in the cleaning and cutting each year.  

They turned out great! 

 The kids even dressed up for Halloween storytime at the library! 

 Here's Cora on her class Halloween parade. The whole elementary school walked to the junior high and back. 

 We went back for Violet's afternoon kindergarten parade around the school too. 

 Here's our dinner for Halloween night: spider icecubes in apple cider, pineapple stars, mummy hot dogs, peas for grass, and mashed carrots pumpkins (which no one liked, I should have guessed!). 

 All ready for trick-or-treating! Luke and Evelyn didn't last too long, but Cora and Violet were out for quite a while! Luke and Evelyn had fun eating their cansy and handing out candy to the other trick-or-treaters too. 

 I think it is because our neighbors-- good friends!-- asked to trick-or-treat with them. They had so much fun!