Happy Haunted Happenings

Pumpkin carving is my favorite Halloween activity.  I have my special pumpkin-gut-scooping spoon and bone handled, dollar store carving knife.  I am not safe enough to use anything else.  Oh and my trusty sharpie.  It has multiple holiday purposes.

Elise getting in on the action.  She stole my spoon and marker, made an attempt for the knife, trailed the cat through the dirt, unrolled a costco pack of paper towels and tried to climb up my shoulder before we banished her to bed. 

Jack and his pumpkin and his new camera smile.

  Last year she actually carved her own jack o'lantern, this year she was content to count/sort and categorize seeds.  This was the first year she would actually clean the pumpkin.  

Our finished work

I carved three and Jed carved one.  I bet you know which one Jed did.  Those are Jack's hands by the way. Jed also carved his thumb.  I knew when the hunting knife came out we were in trouble.  

The J+J Party

This weekend was our annual Halloween/Birthday bash.  I like efficiency.  I like Halloween parties.  I'm too lazy to plan two parties within the same week.  And no one wants to party the day after Halloween.  More treats bleh. 

 

Dressing up for parties is the best part.  Spidey Jack, Angelic Jara, and Evil Elise.  Jara planned her costume to properly coordinate with Elise's, and there was no confusion over who was going to be the devilish one.  Although Elise's cherubic cheeks are slightly misleading.

Aunt Ashley and her adorable peacock, Scarlet.

Along with Grandma Wheeler as the jester.  (Jed wore that same costume in middle school.)

I have the party formula down: dinner, 3 activities, cake, and presents.

Activity #1  Witch broom races.  I asked Jed what would be a good game to play and he popped this off the top of his head.  Who needs pinterest?

Activity #2 Pinata.  Always a pinata.  This year the great pumpkin Charlie Brown.  Could have fit all three kids in there.

Activity #3 Bobbing for Apples.  Classic.  So, so nasty.  Little kids spit...and snort.  My daughter was the best.  (Not at spitting, even though she's good at that too, bobbing)  I need that on a bumper sticker, "my daughter bobs for apples better than your's." 

 Mason was pretty good too.  He recovered from a partial drowning to chomp his apple.

The bad witch with the cake, owl cupcakes that is.  If you are scared by my make-up, don't worry, you are not the only one.  Jack wouldn't get within ten feet of me for a couple of hours.

Our spectacularly spooky family.  Do you like Jed's costume?

 A lil' devil and angel picture.  I think they look alike.

And I Quote...

Jack has been perfecting his artistry through details.  His mommy now has "thunder legs."  The figure on the left is "baby mommy" and the figure on the right is "mommy all growed up with her thunder legs."  Don't think Jed didn't get a phone call at work about this one.  Upon further inquiry my literal four year old explained that "see I drew your leg and my marker went squiggly like thunder, so you have thunder legs."  There is nothing better when you are four than having the power of thunder in your legs. Got it.  Jack and Jed will live another day.