Happy Halloween

The sun did decide to make an appearance, and the result was a perfect evening for trick-or-treating. It also meant that I could snap a few photos of the living room again in better light.

On Halloween day I move all of our pumpkins to the front entrance. I find that they last a little longer now outside in the cool weather, and the house becomes a clean slate again, ready to be dressed up for Christmas - though that won't happen until the first of December.

I found so many great varieties this year!

This year Willen went dressed as Spider Man.

Hudson went out as Gecko from PJ Masks and Jude stayed in and slept while I handed out candy.

Here you can see how far our entrance is finished. We were advised to let it weather until Spring and then paint it. Also, we still have to find a light fixture and new screen door. One day I will get around to showing you that process.

Halloween Celebrations

This Halloween can officially go down as the most relaxed Halloween to date.

I, for once, was actually ready for Halloween. 

We had the boys costumes finished days before, and they sat hanging with their treat bags, and glow sticks, with my candy at the front door. We agreed on simple, inexpensive costumes - a knight and an orange butterfly (Hudson insisted this was all he wanted to be, so we happily obliged).

The boys went out with Ryan when he got home from work, and while they were out and about, I put some music on and got food ready for after, when we'd celebrate Ryan's birthday (yes, on October 31st). And when the boys had enough walking around, they came home and we all enjoyed an evening by the fire.

My sisters even joined us to celebrate.

And while I didn't go crazy with decorations (we didn't even carve pumpkins!), Willen and I did bring all the pumpkins to the front entrance to make it more inviting.

Here is Hudson in his costume. I would love to take credit for his beautiful butterfly wings, but that was all Ryan. And I never ended up getting a photo of Willen in his costume as he was too busy looking for his sword. That was the only stressful moment I guess... Somehow despite it being set out for him, in the half hour before they left, it managed to disappear for a few minutes. 

They were all smiles as they dumped their bags out and took stock of their loot. It's so much fun when they're so little and enjoy it so much.

And now it's November. That means it's time to start getting ready for Christmas!

Pumpkin Carving and Trick or Treating

Halloween this year was such a welcomed distraction. 

It was filled with happy children.

Wednesday afternoon, Willen and I carved our pumpkins. We even roasted the pumpkin seeds, though he wasn't impressed with how they tasted. He preferred his candy. That evening, we went to his Cubbies event at a local church called Hero's Unmasked. It's a fun fair where kids come dressed up and meet hero's of the bible. We came home and lit our pumpkins, and then sat and had tea while we waited for Ryan to get home from work and see our masterpieces.

Thursday was busy. It was Willen's first class party and Hudson and I were invited to come along and celebrate. Afterwards we popped into Tante 'Netty's house and Beams and Papa's for some early trick or treating before heading to my parents for the night. We only ever get one trick or treater. Every year we carve pumpkins and put out a bowl of candy, but only one comes. This year, we had five bags taken. I don't know if we actually had five kids come, but there were still a couple left so I'm hopeful!

At my parents, I made dinner for us as it was Ryan's birthday (he had to work his day off), and later we all went out trick or treating. It was raining and windy, but the boys still had a great time. It was the first time Ryan was able to walk around with us. They brought home a pillowcase full, and it was so fun to watch Willen excitedly go through it all the next morning and sort it all.

This year, Willen picked out his own pumpkin while on his first bus trip with school to the Pumpkin Patch.

He needed a little help from his big brother.

Yes, I had to bribe him with chocolate to try and sit for a photo. It still didn't work.

He was the cutest little lion I've ever seen. He loved his costume and enjoyed 'roaring' at the kids we passed on the street. Willen was a race car driver which was a welcome change as nearly every other boy in his class was a superhero.

Hopefully we'll get to spend some time properly celebrating Ryan's birthday one night soon.