Halloween 2014

Halloween seems to have become a two week event with all of the related activities.  First for us this year was to attend Carve for the Carillon.  Anyone in Springfield is invited to help carve 2014 pumpkins - pumpkins are provided and seeded, and you provide the tools and inspiration.  It was a beautiful day and there were many families scattered over Washington Park carving.

Ethan's finished pumpkin design.

And Olivia's finished pumpkin.

Once you carve the pumpkins, they are stored in refrigerated semi trucks until the next weekend.  Then the goal is to find your carved pumpkins in the dark!

Ethan and Olivia at Jack Spectacular.  This is where the 2014 carved  and lighted pumpkins are arranged around Washington Park.  This has become my favorite Springfield event.

We first found Olivia's pumpkin about 2/3 of the way through the event.  She was beyond excited to see it!

Ethan's pumpkin was one of the last ones that we saw!  He was trying to remain optimistic, but he was pretty worried until we found it!

Pumpkin carving!  Olivia carved her own pumpkin this year, while Ethan just directed me.

Olivia's final result - a winking pumpkin.

And Ethan's cross eyed pumpkin.

Ethan (dressed as Starlord) and Olivia (dressed as a medieval sorceress) at the Illini Country Club Halloween party.

Olivia walking her poodle balloon animal.

Ethan and his pumpkin bowling.

Starlord eating chicken fingers.

A new event for us this year was to attend our church's Trunk or Treat.  There were 35 cars with their trunks extremely well decorated passing out treats to the kids.  We could have just attended this event and the kids would have had more than enough candy to satisfy them!

Our Halloween night begins with a jack o'lantern pizza.

Starlord ready to brave the freezing cold.

And our medieval sorceress ready to trick or treat.

After 75 minutes of trick or treating, their treat bags were overflowing.  Joe had to put candy into his coat pockets to hold it all!  Our tradition is to then dump the candy out on the floor and let the kids (and mom and dad!) eat all that they want on Halloween night while watching It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  After tonight the candy is rationed.