Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. We had perfect weather, and were done with the boys in bed by 8:30pm. Success, right?! Seriously though, they had a great time trick-or-treating and ended up with over  11 pounds of candy. And that is after we recycled a few pounds! I think I'm going to have to freeze some of it for later. Every food storage needs chocolate, right? Maybe I'll hand over some to Santa for Christmas stockings as well.

I took Jack, Evan and Jared to Grandma's work in the afternoon. We took cookies around to her co-workers then had lunch with she and Grandpa in the cafeteria. I love this little yearly tradition. I'll be sad when all the boys are in school and we don't do it anymore.

After an early dinner we took the boys down to the local elementary school for our neighborhood's trunk-or-treat. They ran around and got their candy in the first 20 minutes, then spent the rest of the time helping Gary pass treats out at our car. I lost Jack at one point, but he made his way back to Gary, so that was good. We had a good time seeing all the costumes and visiting with friends.

After the trunk-or-treat we went over to my cousin Cheryl's house to visit. While we were there my cousin Mailyn and her husband took the boys trick-or-treating while we visited. They were so excited. They even took them through a spook alley in someone's garage - no tears! I'm glad we have such a great family.

We made it home a little after 8 and had the boys in bed by 8:30. Then Gary and I watched the end of a zombie movie and went to bed. Good Halloween. Happy Halloween!

Trick-or-Treating, Round 1

Gary's work held it's trick-or-treating day yesterday. I brought the boys in after school. They were so excited. They were telling everyone about it all week. The older three wore their costumes from last year and Jared wore the lion costume that I made for Daniel's first birthday. He even let me paint his nose and give him whiskers. It was fun to see Gary's co-workers and their kids in costume.

Happy Halloween!

I am beginning to think that when you have children, and perhaps even before, but certainly once you do that holidays take up at least 3-4 days. Halloween, for us, was no exception. It all started on Thursday. In the morning I took Evan & Jack to Grandma's work to pass out goodies (pretzels & cookies) and we had lunch there with Grandma & Grandpa.

After lunch we raced home and got Jack to his preschool in time for their Halloween party. He came home with a bag of treats, and we left for Papa's work right after school. Gary's work holds a trick-or-treat day for families every year. The kids all traipse through their buildings collecting goodies and come out with as much candy in an hour as they would from two of three hours knocking doors. And, it's all warm and toasty so there's no need to wear coats and cover up those cute costumes.

Friday Daniel had his class party at school. He had been home with an eye infection earlier in the week, so he was glad to be back in time for the party. I helped out in the afternoon and let me tell you - it was INSANE! 25 costumed first graders do not make for good listening ears. LOL It was fun though and I think Daniel was glad to have me help out in his class.

Saturday was our ward trunk-or-treat. I took Evan (the other two had gotten themselves grounded). We went around collecting candy then we handed out what was left in our bowl. We were finished right about the time it started raining. After the trunk-or-treat we went over to my cousin Cheryl's house for dinner. I haven't gotten together with their family on Halloween for years, so it was fun. We didn't stay too long, but long enough to see their wacky costumes and have some chili and a few laughs.

After we came home we took the boys out trick-or-treating to a few houses while the rain was on hiatus. Don't worry, between Gary's work, school & other treats they got plenty of candy! AFter we watched the heartburn-inducing Utah/CSU game.

Sunday we had my family over for chili and to give everyone one last chance to show off their costumes for the year. Shelly crocheted Jeff's Dr. Zoidberg mask, hands & feet. She is so awesome.

Halloween 2009

We have had an entire week of Halloween fun here in the Jones household. It all began last Sunday with the annual Johnson Family Halloween party. We had our traditional chili dinner here at our house. The kids all came in their costumes and had a ball playing together.

Tuesday night Gary and the boys carved out pumpkins. Dan and jack designed them and Gary carved. The boys were so excited to carve pumpkins!

On Wednesday Jackson got to dress up for preschool. He came home with lots of goodies.

Wednesday night the local elementary school held their annual "Monster Math Night." They had a chili dinner for families then the kids could walk through the hallways and play math games for treats. It was fun to see everyone in costume (and to be inside a warm building to enjoy it!)

Thursday Gary's work had trick-or-treating for all of their employee's kids. We took the boys around Gary's building and they were loaded with candy when we left. Evan was so funny. He would just stare people down as they gave him candy. I could just hear him saying in his head "I'll take the candy, but I don't trust you." He is so funny.

Friday I took the boys for our yearly Halloween lunch with Aunt Suzy and to Grandma's work to bring treats around. The boys love going to visit Susan and Mom at work. Susan took us to eat at Lonestar Taqueria and it was yummy. The boys got a lot of looks and comments being dressed as they were.

At Grandma's work we took around pumpkin bread. Daniel and Jackson both loved giving people the treats. They received quite a few compliments there on their costumes as well.

Of course, yesterday was the big day. First thing in the morning Daniel came in and told me that is was Halloween. He has been counting down the days. Gary spent the morning helping his brother Russell and his family move and they boys and I ran a couple of errands. In the afternoon we dressed the boys all up again and took them over to Russell's house to show his family and Gary's parents their costumes.

After we came home and did our trick-or-treating. It was pretty chilly out so we just went up one side of our street then down the other. The boys were happy with that, so we called it a night and came back home to hand out our own candy. I think the boys enjoyed doing that as much as they enjoyed trick-or-treating themselves. I asked them to help me sort their candy and give some away to the trick-or-treaters and they happily sorted out half for me to give away. We had Susan and Greg come over to watch the Utah football game with us and they brought pizza. When the trick-or-treaters fizzled out we got the boys in their jammies and sent them to bed. It was a fun day (week) for us all!