Fall Festivities!

So I know that these posts have all been catch up and I'm grateful to those of you who have been patient if a bit confused at times.  I've had a very busy last few months so I'm trying to be good and get it all down.

The next wonderful family events to occur were of course, around Halloween.  We decided not to pick out our pumpkins until a week before.  That's because unlike in Spokane WA, Halloween is very warm down here.  That means pumpkins are lucky if they don't smell icky by the night of Halloween.  So we've adjusted and I took the kids one sunny afternoon to get pumpkins.  It was this great church charity thing that had a huge field right next to it.  So we didn't have to go very far, which is good for a mom with four kids under 6!

we had a talk about ones that were just TOO big!

Anyway, being that it was the middle of the week in the afternoon we were the only ones in the pumpkin patch.  Thank goodness!  My kids acted like I kept them in the cellar or something, they were so excited to be outside.

The attendants were sweet and let us borrow a wagon that had seats and seat belts in it, so I got to leave the stroller in the car and Ally got to participate in her first Halloween.  It was so much fun as you can see.

Evie was so proud!

Joe LOVED this one.  wouldn't put it down so we could buy it.

Lizzy did such a good job this day!

Even Ally got one.  Big brother was on hand to help.

the ONLY shot I could get of all three sort of smiling - 

believe me it was not the only one taken!

Later, we used an FHE (family home evening) to decorate our pumpkins.  Chris isn't really into the whole carving and guts thing of pumpkins and though I totally love that part (I love to get messy), being pregnant and having four little sets of hands all wanting help with a knife and guts didn't really make me excited.

four little pumpkins sitting in a row...

So this year, we painted the pumpkins.  It turned out to be a really fun event, relatively messy (just for Evie and me), easy clean up, and because the pumpkins didn't get carved they lasted longer.  Aren't they just cute?  I had a little pumpkin patch on my mantle for Halloween.

they all looked so clean when we started!

isn't she so cute!  all ready to get going!

they began rather more timidly than I thought,

but then they got going just fine!

yes, she was trying to eat it.  that girl!

Ally had a little help - next year, no help needed, I'm sure1

Evie is very specific and careful when she paints.  Who knew?

see?  I was there too!

my BEAUTIFUL big little girl

scary Halloween face!

Later that same week, Saturday to be specific, was our church Trunk or Treat, which is just what it sounds like.  The kids come in their costumes for hot dogs and chips for dinner, some fun carnival games, and lots of "trick or treating" in the parking lot.  Now those of you up on this blog will know what I mean, but for those of you who are new, the members of our congregation decorate the trunks of their cars/vans/trucks and then hand out candy as the little ones come by with their bags and their costumes.  It is such a wonderful way to do the holiday and keeps my kids so much safer and me less exhausted.  I love Halloween in the LDS church.  Our church is just so family oriented that we all get together to make holidays special for kids and families.  What a fantastic way to spend the holiday.  (It is especially nice when daddy's/mommy's deployed - like he was last year)

 on the way to the church

X-Men's Storm!  All handmade!  

Guess I had some umph left over from Joe's bday party 

 SUPERMAN!  I know surprising right?

He even let me do his hair black!

littlest princess.  yes, she's saying cheese! 

my cutie Candycorn.  I know so cliche' for a baby,

but the outfit was so cute and she looked great! 

 Thor was our escort for the night.  He did a great job!

 thank you, Bro. Heilman!

 trick or treat!

The planners had so many treats left over from the carnival games that even with their bags all full of candy, the kids still opted for the CUPCAKES!  Yummy! (Our activities are always well provided for.  That's part of being a congregation that feels and acts like a family!  We're so lucky.)

I told you she was cute!

So that was our wonderful Halloween.  I loved our costumes this year and I promised Chris that next year I will be something more wifely and less mommy for his Air Force Halloween Party.  I'm already getting the costume ready!