Awesome Halloween

In all my 37 years, I never remember nicer weather on Halloween. I remember crying when it was so cold out that my mom made me cover my costume with my winter coat and mittens, but I never remember nicer weather. We had an incredible day. We trick or treated with Kaya's class in the morning...

And I went to the IRS office to refute a charge in my Twister costume.... needless to say, I lost my battle with them and they did NOT think I was cute. However, the neighbors thought it was awesome and we dressed up with the girls....

I just loved how spunky Kalli looked tonight with her make up and crazy costume.

Loved this photo of Kaya in glowing sunshine (my favorite time to shoot photos)

We were lucky and blessed to have my dad stop by to trick or treat with the girls for a while

And our adorable 84 year old Busia to answer the door and pass out our candy (which everyone really loved)

Here is a shot with a bunch of our neighbors - I love living exactly where we live and feel blessed everyday to be surrounded by amazing families

When we got home the girls dumped their buckets right on my carpet and I turned my head and heard Kaya yelling "Mom, yook (look) at me! I'm an angel!" And she was making a snow angel in all the candy right on my carpet. She was so happy. I of course took the photo THEN got her to stop mushing chocolate into my carpet. All our candy is smashed, but she had such a nice time and it just cracked us up that she thought to do that.

I hope you all had a safe and very happy Halloween. I hope you also PRINT some photos from it and stick them into something for your family. If you have children or grandkids or you just love dressing up, look at this Halloween Book. You can just simply stick in ONE PHOTO a year for every year. How many of you would LOVE to look in one place to see all your different costumes over the years?? I would LOVE to have that to show the kids.

Don't eat too much candy if you can help it. I brushed my teeth thinking that might stop me, but I might have to go eat just one more smashed butterfinger before I go to sleep. :)

More Halloween Fun

Today we delivered Meals on Wheels and since the kids were off school, we took them with in their costumes. The gave the cute people on our route halloween balloons. The people LOVED them.

 

This lady, Mary, is my very favorite MOW client. I go into her home and unpack her whole meal and get her all set up to eat. She is just so kind and sweet I want to hug her. I love that we have this photo of her now. 

  

Just today I decided to dress up for a party we had tonight because I saw a teacher at Kal's school with this costume and I LOVED it. So we went all over, and we found the last one in town. And I borrowed a chef costume from my friend Jen, and Neil went as the Chef from Ratatoullie - we had a great time. 

  

Kalli made a kind friend who helped her with the games (most of the kids were bigger than her). Amber and Kal won the mummy game and her group also won the scavenger hunt. 

 

At the end, she was awarded the trophy for best costume (voted on by all the other kids). She was so excited. 

When it came time to bob for Apples, Kaya looked at the bucket of water and gave me this funny look and said, "There is NO WAY I am sticking my head near that yucky bucket of water Mama" but she wanted an apple, so they let her pick one. That kid just cracks me up. 

 

To end the night, we went out to this home in Griffith where the guy grows these HUGE pumpkins and carved about 80 of them into a theme. The theme this year was Dr. Suess. One of the pumpkins weighed 889 pounds. Can you imagine???  It was very cool to see, and we were the only people in the whole crowd dressed up and everyone kept commenting. It was just a great end to another amazing day this week. I hope you all have a HAPPY and SAFE Halloween.

Halloween Parties

We had Kalli's class party today, and I got to be one of the Moms who helped with the party. It was so much fun. Get 21 6 year olds in costumes, plow them full of sugary treats, and HOLY MOLY they get a little crazy! I felt lucky to be there. Kal had on these tall shoes, so she was by far the tallest in the class...

Then, last night, we celebrated my little brother's 33rd Birthday at House of Kobe (one of those cool Japanese Style places that cook in front of you). Since his birthday is actually Halloween, the kids wore their costumes and were so cute! Kaya was terrified of the fire that starts the grill, so she hid her head under a napkin.

 

Both kids loved giving their handmade album to their uncle....  they were both dying to give it to him, so they had to each take an end and hand it to him together (note to self, next year, wrap two gifts even if one is an empty box)

  

And Kaya LOVED eating with Chopsticks...  they had these plastic cheaters I had never seen before that made it really easy for the kids to use chopsticks. Kaya had me take a photo EVERY TIME she got a piece of chicken into the mouth. 

  

Of course, her sister had to make sure I took some crazy food photos of her, too

  

And, here is all of us....  just happy to be together.

  

Happy Halloween Birthday my little brother (who never reads this blog, but maybe his friend Tracy who does will tell him to come look at the photos!) It was awesome to see you. My kids think you rock! 

Grateful for Today...

I am very lucky and I am thankful that I realize that every day. Tonight I listened to Kalli read her chapter book for her homework,

and I watched Kaya eat butter cookies off her little finger (like all of us used to).

And, we ended the night scrapbooking together and this is the page Kalli made all on her own.

She even selected the photos for me to print her from iPhoto (I love the Mac I inherited from Shannon and could not imagine not having it). We are the kind of family that "clinks" (toasts) our Milk Glasses and holds hands and prays at dinner.

I just felt blessed beyond measure.

We Love Pumin Carving....

 

THESE ARE THE BEFORE PHOTOS 

OK, I might have a photo problem....  I took 168 photos of our family carving pumpkins today. Thank goodness I finally went digital, huh??  My husband, Neil, has a secret hidden talent...  he is an AMAZING pumpkin carver.....  the pumpkins he creates are always so cool. Today, we used a saw, drill, awl, and staple gun. I am not kidding!! 

 

And, the little ones painted....  You should see my kitchen.

 

Here are a few of the results....

 

 

Here is a sneak peek of the one I am in the middle of working on. It might take me from now until after Halloween... . I drilled about 400 holes today. I have a lot left to do....

Neil is really in charge of pumpkins, I am in charge of seeds.....  I love pumpkin seeds...  I ate way too many today and I make them very salty....  I am so thirsty!! Here are my little helpers....

I hope anyone reading this has a fun, safe, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN WEEK! I just love Halloween.

I felt so lucky and blessed to be able to go with Kaya on her school field trip to the pumpkin patch.  It was a little cold for the kids, but the sun was shining and we totally had a blast. I took tons of photos and enjoyed every minute. Here are just a few...   the photos with Kaya on the animals.... she was making "moooooo" and "oink. oink, oink" noises. She was so funny. She also loved that red tractor SO MUCH. She waiting in line twice to just sit on it! It was awesome. Totally awesome. I felt so happy just to see her see it all.