There were many, many events this year to mark Halloween. We had varying combinations of older kids now that work and things like tech crew are in play. I love Halloween. This one was a whirlwind and we managed it all with style. Every tradition box got checked, ridiculous amounts of candy were acquired and consumed and I was so busy making magic of it all that the firsts (no Mom to text pictures of costumes too) and lasts (last with G&G) didn’t get to me. In chronological order (kind of) here are some of my favorite pictures to capture our All Hallow’s Eve and Dia de los Muertos.

Naomi = panda, Garyn = celtic knot, Corra = owl, Layna = Voldemort
Garyn and Naomi did their pumpkins completely on their own. Corra needed a bit of help with the carving, and Layna picked the design and commissioned me to implement her vision. In addition to frosting, I also work in pumpkin.

Naomi = girl from Isle of the Lost (it’s a long story), Garyn = Eragon (main character from a favorite book series), Layna = Elsa from Frozen 2 (absolutely different from Elsa in Frozen 1), Corra = Brownie (daughter of Bruni the fire lizard from Frozen 2…We do back-story and fan fiction in this house). Neil was a sport and recycled his Olaf shirt from a few years ago and I was a gypsy/princess/something fancy. At least that’s what I was for the first two events. On actual Halloween I was lazy and wore my costume from last year, which was Layna’s costume from a few years ago.

First event was the Fall Festival at Garyn and Naomi’s school. I manned the trunk for the Trunk or Treaters and Neil took the girls around to the hay ride, bouncy things, cake walk, and Haunted House for Layna. Naomi was stuck doing tech crew stuff. Then we packed up and raced to our ward Trunk or Treat where I supplied the cupcakes for the cake walk and the kids got chili dinner and even more candy.

My favorite thing was Grandma and Grandpa dressed up. Grandma was sporting her letter sweater she wore in highschool when she and Grandpa started dating. Grandpa wore his scout master shirt and his dad’s (Grandpa Lou’s) uniform hat from WWII. This was our last Halloween with these two, and it’s so bittersweet. I’ve been extraordinarily blessed to have had them around as much as I have. Spoiled even.
My brother lives in a great trick or treating neighborhood. We are officially into the phase of “walking on the sidewalk while the kids run to the doors unattended.” Magic. Overall it was wonderful, if quieter than usual, but my girls were good with the experience after about an hour. Worked for me!

We had friends over on Dia de los Muertos and decorated our classic sugar skull cookies. Then the following evening I brought the rest of the cookies to our Youth Activity night and the big ones all got in on the fun.

Whew. It’s not like I can take a break though. By next week we will have gone on three field trips, tanned and broken 20 rabbit hides, and had two play dates. But I really do love life running crazy, even if sometimes it goes too fast even for me. My husband helps me stop and breathe. He is my perfect partner in the crazy.