Happy Halloween

Today was Halloween! At least that's what we told our kids. (David knew better, but he's a compliant kid, and as long as we kept the day exciting enough, he kept his mouth shut about it.)

Guess what. It was a very happy Halloween! What a pleasant surprise. (More like a shock!)

This morning the kids and I returned to Sutter's Ridge. We met up there with some kids from Mary's class. It was a fun time. Mary is in a multi-age class, which includes kindergarten age kids, so there was a nice group of boys that David hooked up with. We thoroughly enjoyed the bright, crisp fall day.

There is a picture with no faces in it. But, trust me, there were big smiles on those faces!

In the afternoon Greg left his studies early to carve jack-o-lanterns with the kids.

David designed his first.

And then he gave Greg careful instructions. It was a Lego Power Miner Rock Monster jack-o-lantern. Pretty awesome!

Mary, too, designed hers.

And she adjusted the design as Greg carved her pumpkin.

Here are the finished products, positioned in the car all ready for the church party and trunk-or-treat.

(Oh, I love these kids so much! They are fun and enthusiastic--now I remember why holidays are so enjoyable with kids!)

We also had fun decorating cupcakes for tonight's cake walk, and we delivered Happy Halloween cookies to our neighbors.

Then it was time to get dressed for the party!

You are definitely getting the obligatory costumed-children pictures.

Lookie here: Captain Fox and Fairy Princess.

My little boy looks so grown up these days.

Mary was loving the fairy princess thing.

Then we went to the Halloween party at the church. (Don't worry, I didn't take any pictures.) It was great fun! The food was yummy (and kid-friendly) and the company warm and friendly. David marched in the costume parade, and Mary watched. Then we headed out into the cold for some "trunk-or-treating." Mary was ADORABLE. I explained to her that if she said, "Trick or treat," she would get candy. Every time she got candy (after saying "trick or treat," of course), Mary would look at me and say in wonder, "It worked!!" It was like magic.

We came home and lit the jack-o-lanterns.

Happy Halloween!