The Month of Halloween

As usual, our Halloween encompasses the entire month of October.  From everything pumpkin to costumes to candy, we really make the most of this holiday.

Olivia's history class did a pumpkin decorating project.  Olivia based hers on the musical "Hamilton":  Lin-Manuel Boo-randa.  

Pumpkin picking at our favorite patch.  Two wagons just aren't enough!  I have a bit of a pumpkin obsession - I must have at least one of each variety available, and the quirkier the better.  To be fair, I leave them in our landscaping through the month of November to get the most of them!

My absolute favorite Springfield event - Jack Spectacular at the Washington Park Carillon.  We never miss it - and this year was no exception as Joe and I ran through it before going to a concert that night.  No pictures of Ethan since he had to wait until the next night to see it with Grammy and Grandpa Brett while Joe and I were in St. Louis.  This year's had 2016 carved pumpkins throughout the park, although there were a little too many Cubs World Series pumpkins for our taste!

Olivia and Grammy with the carillon in the background.  We like to attend when it is still a bit light outside, and then by the time we leave it is pitch black, so we get to see the pumpkins two ways.

The October weather was crazy this year, and it forced our church's Trunk or Treat to move indoors.  Considering we ran out of candy about 3/4 of the way through, we would say it was still a success!

Pumpkin carving time!  Typically I do not carve my own pumpkin since I am busy assisting Ethan with carving his, but this year he did it completely on his own (after I had gutted it!).  So next year I will have to get my own pumpkin so I am not sitting on the sidelines.  Please disregard Olivia's eye make up - she is not going goth!  It was part of her Halloween costume and she had not washed it off.

Both kids are now participating in the Hoogland Kids theater program.  They have a Halloween carnival to raise funds for this program, including several singing performances during the carnival.  Ethan is in the front, and Olivia is in the back row, left side.  She was thrilled that she won an award for her costume.  

Olivia was very proud of her costume this year.  She was Tape Face, who was a mime on the TV show "America's Got Talent."  She really did a good job with this ensemble!  She kept the tape on her mouth, and would partially remove it to talk.

Ethan went as Marvel's Black Panther.

Ready for Trick or Treating!  For the first time, Olivia went with 3 friends and no adults.  Ethan went with 2 friends but had Joe go with him.  

Our traditional post-Trick or Treating viewing of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" while eating candy.  This year we had additional friends join in.

And a few Thanksgiving pictures, just because.  First is Ethan showing our traditional cranberry sauce from a can.  

A turkey day miracle - Olivia allowing a hug from a parent!

The whole Thanksgiving gang.

Post turkey family snuggle time.