Pumpkin Mania!!!

The holidays and their traditions keep getting more and more fun as the kiddos get older. This year pumpkins held a special excitement and magic for the kids.

They loved picking out their own pumpkins at the stand we went to. It was fun to see the decision-making processes and hear the reasoning behind the pumpkins they chose.

Abby found a perfectly round, cute pumpkin...

Bekah fell in love with the white pumpkins...

Michael picked a huge "monster pumpkin."

And picked out a cute little one for Ella...

The whole process was exciting and fun.


We cleaned them up and decorated them with the push-in faces that Grandpatty had given the kiddos last year. They jazzed up our porch for a couple of weeks.



The day before Halloween, we gutted our pumpkins, and had our special pumpkin dinner.

The kids drew on the little pumpkins that would serve as bowls for their soup...


The girls really got into gutting the pumpkins. They loved getting covered in slime and seeds. They had been playing "go to the beach" earlier that evening, and were in their swimming suits... perfect for hosing them down afterward.


Michael preferred to keep his hands clean...


On Halloween, Paul was the master-carver, and helped the kids design their own masterpiece. They all wanted scary faces, for some reason...




And here they are, happy with their creations...


I'm okay with not seeing another pumpkin until next year... when I'll be excited to do it all over again!

Halloween 2008...

So far, Halloween has just gotten more and more fun as our kids have gotten older and more "into" it. I know these few years are golden before they loose that magical excitement for dressing up and all the festivities that go along with it.

So here's the costume rundown.

Michael was Buzz Lightyear.


Confession time: I found his costume in the springtime at the Disney Outlet for $3. !!! So basically, he didn't *really* have a choice about what he was going to be this year.

But thanks to this mom's powers of persuasion (aka manipulation)... he definitely *thought* he chose. After watching lots of Toy Story, talking about how cool Buzz is, and going on the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyland enough, he was completely content with his supercool costume. Whew.


And I thought wearing his sports goggles with it was a nice touch. Don't ya think??

Abby and Bekah were Minnie Mouses.

Bekah:

Abby:

They were thoroughly thrilled with their costumes due to our recent Disneyland binges, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.


They were asked several times, "What is you're name?" Answers? "I'm a Minnie Mouse!" or "I'm a Princess Minnie." Here's the princess curtsie:


They loved dancing around in the dresses and repositioning their mouse ears over and over again.




Ella joined the girls as a baby Minnie. She is such a good, sweet baby... she made the Halloween festivities easy to enjoy.



Paul's "costume" is a repeat from last year. And the year before. And... oh, yes... the year before that. And probably... you've got it... next year's, too! Except perhaps he'll try a different color. OR maybe he won't even have to work on Halloween night? Who knows??


As I toted all the kiddos to a primary activity, a friend told me I was dressed as "Super Mom."


It is super to be this mom.

It was a fun holiday. Happy Halloween, everyone!