Halloween

Halloween fell on a weekday this year, so we couldn't get too wild and crazy.  But we made the most of it.  Joy invited tons of us over for a chili dinner and trick or treating.  Posing the kids for pictures was tough.  Johnny refused to look up.  Grass is so enchanting.

Fly, Superman, fly!!!

Joy MADE these unbelievably awesome Star Wars costumes for Ava & Henry.  Man, I wish I had such skills.  They looked amazing.  Seriously, a terrific job.  So, so cute.

Matt & Ava Halloween 2012:

Matt & Ava Halloween 2006:

The Moran family was there for the fun as well, so all the cousins got to be together.  They had SO much fun running the streets together and sprinting from house to house.  Caroline was dressed as a 50's car hop and spent the entire evening on her roller skates.  Impressive.  I'd say Mary Claire & Matt were in the front of the herd for most of the night.  They took trick or treating very seriously.  They didn't care that some houses didn't have porch lights on, they were going to knock on every door by golly.

The kids had quite the entourage...parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles...we were all there for the spectacle.  Some of us more sassy than others.  Oops.

Will & Henry.  Peas in a pod, those two.  They kept up really well until the very end.  Will declared he was all done and wanted to go to bed.  Steven carried him for maybe 2 houses, and then he was back at it again.  Little John stayed back at the Rener's happily snug in bed under the watch care of Bebe and Grandma.  He missed all the action, poor guy.

We made it back finally, and the kids had a great time taking inventory of their spoils and making trades when necessary.  I had fun picking out the Butterfingers.

And now we have not one, but TWO plastic pumpkins filled to the very rim with candy.  It's ridiculous.

the carving

 

The day before Halloween we finally got around to carving a pumpkin.  I almost had forgotten to buy one.  Thank goodness for good old HEB...they had pumpkins-a-plenty at $3.88 each.  Can't beat that.  It was a beautiful afternoon for a pumpkin gutting.

The boys enjoyed looking at the grossness inside but weren't too keen on scooping it out.  Because that meant they had to get dirty and slimy and roll up their sleeves.  I wonder about them sometimes, but then all their other behaviors confirm without a doubt that they are 100% boy.

Johnny watched from the sidelines on the lap of his Grandma.

Matt went with a simple, pleasant smiling pumpkin design this year.  He drew it on paper before the carving began.  And he was named Champion.

One crazy weekend

  

The last weekend of October was jam packed with activities.  All fun stuff of course.  It began with Matt's football game on a very chilly, windy Saturday morning.  Matt pulled many a flag that morning and was totally undeterred by the cold weather.

Johnny, however, did not share his brother's enthusiasm.  I spent most of the game in the car with him.  Poor baby didn't like that cold wind.

After the game we headed to Matt's school for the Gullett Carnival.  Food, games and fun for the whole family.  The boys made their way through lots of fun games.  Johnny was a trooper hanging out in the Bjorn.  At the Pringle toss neither boy was successful on their first attempt, and then when we revisited the game later the Pringles were all gone, but Will got a toy for getting his bean bag through the hole.

Then the cupcake walk...everyone's a winner...eventually.  We walked in countless circles, and finally Matt's number was called.  Then Will.

The hardest part is deciding which cupcake to choose.

The fishing game is always a hit.

Matt & Will walked away with numerous plastic figures mostly from fast food kids' meals.  They didn't care.  They won!!!

Sunday we went to church and then that afternoon we enjoyed an early dinner at Mighty Fine with the Reners.

The kids got to try out their Halloween costumes that evening.  Will chose Superman after getting over the fact that he couldn't fit into his tiger costume from last year that he loved.  Matt was a bank robber.  Mainly so that he could carry around a sack of cash.  Johnathan got to wear Will's old penguin costume and was super cute.

After our yummy burgers we went to the Quarries for our church's family fest.

Got to get into character.

Henry & Will teamed up immediately and headed straight for the bounce houses.  And there they stayed.  So, I took Matt & Ava around to all the other games.  Seriously, I think we did all of them.  And with each game they were awarded at least one piece of candy. Matt's money bag was so weighed down with candy that by the end of the night the strap had come off.

I love how Ava is talking strategy with Matt on this game.  They did great with all the games and were so serious about them.  Collecting candy is serious business for sure.

Meanwhile, the little guys were busy bouncing and then waiting in the long line for their turn to ride the train.  The kids all had a blast and were sad when the 2 hour event was over.  I was ready.  So was Johnny.  He was a trooper once again hanging out in one of his favorite spots, the Bjorn.  My back was done for the night...he may be only 16 lbs., but after 2 hours in that thing he feels like a ton of bricks.  Wiggly bricks.  Cute little penguin.