Trick or Treat!

Halloween has come and gone already, and all we have to show for it is bags of candy, and a stomach ache (ok just I have a stomach ache). Seems like October just started and now its already over. Despite that fact that time flies we still took full advantage of the scary/silly/fun holiday called Halloween.

We kicked off Halloween by decorating WAYYYY back in September...like the beginning of September. So the boys were really counting down to when it was really going to be Halloween. Our first major event was the Trunk or Treat at the school. I have no pitures from this event because 1) it was darkish 2) I was flying solo because Jeremy decided he NEEDED to hike 20 miles in the Grand Canyon with his older brother that same day 3)it was just a busy day and I knew I would take plenty before trick or treating. Nevertheless we had lots of fun setting up our booth and giving out candy. I love seeing all the little kids come by and get excited about the free candy. They are all so cute, its a favorite of mine. After the trunk or treat was over, Lynnell noticed her ring was missing. But due to quick Facebook action, and an AlertNow call sent out by the school it was recovered the next day.

I never like spending money on the cheap, poorly made costumes that stores sell. For the past 2 or 3 years I have gotten by just borrowing or reusing old costumes. But this year we really needed some new ones. Grayson didn't really want to dress up because he is getting old, so I talked him into some zombie face paint. He went along with it simply because he wanted the candy. We used some costume blood, and even after a shower and some soap his face is still red. Ooops. I am sad that he is getting too old to want to dress up, and have to be talked into it.

After watching the Avengers 500 times Colby wanted to be Hawk Eye. But where in the world do you find a Hawk Eye costume??? Google it! I just simply put in "homemade hawk eye costume" and bam.....900,000 results. There had to be something I could use in there. There was. A woman had made a very cute costume for her son when the movie came out, and left step by step instructions. So after going on a spending spree in JoAnnes, Colby was good to go. Jayden originally wanted to be the Hulk...not really one I could make. So I talked him into a mummy. He wasn't thrilled, but once I added zombie mummy he was all for it. His costume was easy to make except that it took FOREVER. I spent hours making sure that every part was covered by the wrap...then after five minutes of him running around everything shifted...oh well.

Last year my brother Nathan said that Brinley looked like Cindy-Lou-Who from the Grinch, and she should be that for Halloween. Well she was still too little, and her hair was too short to do anything with. So I waited the whole year to dress her as Cindy-Lou-Who. I looked at tons of pictures and realized that I already had a dress and shoes that worked. So I enlisted my mother in law to make the cape since I was busy with other costumes. She did an excellent job, all I did was add the rope to make it more "Who". She was perfect and it ended up being one of my favorite costumes ever.

Every parent has a different strategy when it comes to the candy. Some let them take two pieces and get rid of the rest. Other parents let kids have a piece or two a day. Others just let them eat to their hearts desire. My theory is let them eat it all right away them I won't have to deal with it. It goes into a gallon ziplock bag and stays on the counter, then they can just eat it whenever. Of course if I see them just eating the whole thing at once I stop them. But really I pick thru it when they are at school and get the good stuff out.

All in all I really like Halloween. Its just the cleanup, and opening piece after piece of candy for Brinley. Then when she doesn't like it, she makes me eat it. But as we got back in the truck after the houses she picked out a piece of candy at a time and had me turn the light on, and show me. It was too cute!

Six Things About Our Favorite Six Year Old

Number 1: You have the MOST energy I have ever seen. Sometimes you remind me of a ping pong ball just bouncing all over the place. You never seen to run out, like ever. It does not really matter if you eat 20 cupcakes, or 20 carrot sticks....you still have more than enough energy. When we try to get to to hold still, you still have to move your hand, or foot or SOMETHING just so that you are still moving.

Number 2: You are the craziest kid on the trampoline. You just get on there with your big brothers and bounce away. Sometimes they bounce you really high, but to you it does not matter. You are not afraid to try new tricks either. You just put your mind to it, and all of a sudden you are doing flips, and hand stands....and other stuff I would never try in a million years.

Number 3: You love being outside. You somehow find endless things to do outside: Dig holes, jump, shot your BB gun, climb the hill, hang ropes in trees then swing, chase the cats, catch bugs, sharpen sticks, play in the sprnkler....you are just an outdoors boy.

Number 4: You are a great brother. You really look up to your older brothers, even though they are not always the nicest to you. What ever it is they are doing, you want to do it to. When it comes to video games you always want to play too. They do not always play fair, saying that after you die its their turn again. But it never matters to you as long as you are right there with them. You are a sweet big brother to Brinley. You go jump with her, and help her with her babies, and steal her snacks from her.

Number 5: You are a sweet boy. There is never a night that you don't give us a hug and kiss goodnight. Number 6: You make our family complete. If we didn't have you in our family we would be lost. You are a special part of us. You are here to bring of love, joy, laughter. And to teach us patience.We love you Jayden!