Carving Pumpkins

Saturday morning started off great... I hung some pumpkin lights over the table that a friend had given me the night before. The kids were so happy! They change colors from pink to orange to purple.

We also had a special Halloween breakfast! Cinnamon rolls with orange frosting!

As if they don't get enough sugar on Halloween... Might as well have some for every meal!



Joseph had to go into work for a few hours, but when he got back we decided to carve the kids Jack-o-lanterns.

We started off outside... but it was so cold!

Ben was very interested in the pumpkin guts...

yeah... he was eating them... and happy to do so.

Eat it up boy!!

Okay, I stopped him. I couldn't take it, it was SO gross.

So he found some chalk to eat instead!

Thus ended the pumpkin carving outside...

We moved inside where the kids were warmer, and much less distracted!

Cheeeeeeese!!

He's at it again!!

Eventually we had to put up the baby gate and ban him from the kitchen...

Joseph busy hollowing out the pumpkins!

Sarah kept looking at Ben then back at her pumpkin lid while saying, "I don't want to eat dis. Dats gwoss."

Maddy wanted her name carved into her Jack-o-lantern. Then she hammed it up and posed with it. Is this girl full of herself?? Yes she is.

Cocoa decided to supervise Ben

Cocoa you FAIL!!

Here is again, eating pumpkin guts!

Ben's finished Jack-o-lantern

He is also finished helping....

Sarah's finished Jack-o-lantern. She wanted one with "free eyes, and free moufes"

Here you go Sarah, Three eyes each with a mouth.

Ta da!!

The kids worked so hard they needed some halloween cookies... once again, I was worried they might not have enough sugar!!

Now bring on the Trunk or Treat!!

A Halloween Storytime

I have been taking my kids to storytime at our local library since Maddy was about 10 months old. Now that we have moved out of Myrtle Beach, I can't seem to leave our favorite librarian and try the storytime at the library where we live... So every week I drive about 35 minutes to see Ms. Sue Ellen at the Chapin library. The week of our Halloween Party is my favorite by far! Well worth the 35 minute drive! The kids get to dress up in their costumes, and they have Halloween stories read to them, sing Halloween songs and fingerplays. They do a Halloween craft, and then Party! It is Maddy's favorite storytime too because Daddy always comes..

My little Witch Sarah, ready to go!

Maddy borrowed this costume from our good friends... (home made!!) She kept saying, Sarah is a willing witch and I am a lovely ladybug.



So happy! Ben was still taking his nap so I don't have any before pictures of him


This is the first storytime where Ben has listened! It needs to be Halloween EVERY storytime... He's hard to handle!!

My little Monkey

Daddy showed up half way through (he usually comes to the party at the end...) Maddy was THRILLED to be able to sit with him during the stories.

Ben socializing...

They made pumpkin masks, then got their party treats! They got to frost pumpkin cookies and eat other goodies.

Another great party in the books! And looking forward to next year!!

Trip to NC

It's that time of year again! We went to visit my older brother and his family up in North Carolina. We've made it a family tradition, this being the third time we've gone. They take us to a cute little farm where there are fun activities and a hayride for the kids to enjoy. We had a blast.

The five cousins!

Ben loved this ghostie

Family Picture!

The kids get little pumpkins that they can decorate with stickers, or color with markers.

Sarah loved going down this cat slide

Such a ham!

Ben thought his pumpkin was a ball... he kept throwing it

Decortating with Addison

Running through the GIANT spider!

Maddy getting her face painted

Frankenstien!

Sarah.... Bat Girl!

Sarah getting her face painted. She wanted a pumpkin

Mommy and Maddy

The witch on the bench weirded Ben out...

He wasn't sure what to do!

He just knew he wanted to get away from that face!

Playing on the tractor with Cooper and Addison

Mommy and Sarah!

Riding stick horses...

Ben liked to run down the bowling alley and grab the pins, instead of rolling the ball

Now for.... The HAYRIDE!!

Ben wasn't all that amused

Maddy was terrified the first year, and a little less terrified the second year. We were wondering how the third year would be... She started out insisting on sitting on the right side of the ride. She said the spiders were on the left side. When we got to the spot where the spiders were in the past, they weren't there, and she was THRILLED. SO full of joy. Then Addison says: "hey look at the spiders!" Maddy instantly went into terrified mode:

Good thing Uncle Phillip was there to save her!

Sarah didn't know what to do with Maddy in tears and everyone else smiling...

Why is Maddy scared of stuffed possums?

Ben thought that the whole thing was taking too long

This spider is creepy, but Maddy wasn't scared of this one...

Ben just wanted to get off... He doesn't like to sit still

Running around the kiddie corn maze!!

Maddy loved running around with Uncle Phillip and her cousins!

Ben flat out loved running. He didn't care if it was by himself or with the cousins. He just wanted to be on the move!!

My sweet Scarecrow..

We had a blast at the farm like we always do! We love to go visit with Phillip and his family. Can't wait to see them again!!