Halloween 2009

Halloween has come and gone and now Christmas is right around the corner. With kids, Halloween is much more than just one day. The entire month seems to be full of Halloween activities for the kids, which is great since then they are able to show off their costume more than once!

First up for us on Halloween weekend was carving the pumpkins. Olivia and Ethan were quite the helpers this year, although neither kid enjoyed scooping out the pumpkin "guts".

Ethan designed his pumpkin all by himself, including drawing the eyes on the pumpkin and instructing Joe on how to carve the nose/mouth/ears. For those of you who do not know Ethan very well, he is, let's say, opinionated. Joe did a good job carving a "happy scary mouth" according to Ethan's specifications.

Olivia drew her pumpkin face completely by herself and LOVED the result once Joe carved it. I think she took a cue from Picasso.

The kids and their finished results.

I volunteered to be a room parent for Olivia's kindergarten class this year, so I assisted with their fall party. Here is Olivia and friends sitting at their assigned table eating treats.

The kids then moved into the gym to play many fun games. Here is Olivia attempting to ring a pumpkin. Ethan loved being a part of the "big kid party" and did a very good job waiting for his turn at all of the games.

Olivia and friends playing the "waiter game" by walking with a balloon on a plate.

On the morning of Halloween we went to the Farmer's Market Halloween event (I am so going to miss my biweekly trips to the Farmer's Market!). The kids met Clifford and made many fun crafts.

Both kids also participated in the Halloween "parade" at the Farmer's Market. The kids are put into age groups and show off their costume to the crowd and to a panel of judges. The homemade costumes are always wonderful.

Halloween night! Ethan/Spiderman is ready to go trick or treating! I will miss him shouting "WEBS!" and then attempting to hold his hand in the correct Spiderman web shooting position every time he wore this costume. It was so cute to watch him work on getting his hand just right.

Olivia/Medusa showing off her costume. What 5 year old selects Medusa? She picked this costume by herself. I even waited one week to order it since I thought for sure she would change her mind. Olivia was even able to explain just who Medusa was, who killed her and how. She claims that she learned it from both Disney's Hercules movie and from a Backyardigan's episode. It was a great costume! I can't wait to see what she selects next year!

Silly faces!

Lighting the pumpkins before the kids and Joe set off for candy. I am the one who stays at home to answer the door. Someone needs to hand out the candy!

The kids and their loot. The rule is on Halloween night they can each eat as much as they want (which actually was not as much as one would think). Then they get 4 pieces per day until it is gone. Worked last year and seems to be a happy compromise thus far this year.