Halloween Happenings

We had so much fun with Halloween! The weather has turned colder this last week, but Halloween night was unusually warm, almost 60 degrees. We didn't even wear coats.

Because of our family rule about no trick-or-treating after age 12, Aubrey spent Halloween evening watching a movie with her friend Laura. But, she was able to dress up in costume for school. (Every school in the district forbids Halloween costumes at school, with the exception of the school both Aubrey and Bailey have attended for middle school - I guess that's the advantage to going to the Arts school. They set their own rules and encourage creativity!)  Aubrey dressed up as Rose on Dr Who, as she is currently obsessed with the BBC version of the show.  We borrowed a vintage (from the 50s) poufy slip from a friend and worked hard to get her hair "just right", with height at the crown and pinned curls surrounding the bun in the back.

The costumes that Joseph and his friend Matt made themselves were the HIT of the neighborhood.  They decided a few weeks ago to make their own costumes, modeled after characters on the video game Minecraft. I was just informed by my resident Minecraft expert that Matt was Steve and Joseph was Hero Brine. Matt and Joseph took boxes from our garage and fashioned heads and torsos and then decorated the boxes to their liking. Joseph (on the right) decided to use colored duct tape to wrap around the box). I was worried  about their ability to see clearly, but they did okay.  Can you see their eyes looking through the nose holes?

Joseph felt like quite the celebrity last night. He must have had 100 people compliment him on his costume, some from way across the crowded street. It is fun to see homemade costumes which require creativity. Joseph thought it was funny that all the adults called him a robot or Lego Man because obviously we should be able to recognize a Minecraft character.

Some of our first trick-or treaters were these guys.  Wait . . . I thought Aubrey wasn't supposed to trick-or treat?

We walked around the neighborhood for a few hours, joined by the Kartchners and McCauslands. Afterwards we gathered at our house and the kids traded candy. That is the best part!  I seriously wish I was still 8 years old and could join in. It was such an injustice that the day after Halloween was a school day and a Seminary day. 5 a.m. felt very early this morning.

I didn't get a picture of her, but Bailey was dressed up as a Minion, and she went with other ASB kids to collect money for the Red Cross.

For the record, this year our Halloween respectability went up a notch when we added a fog machine to our decorations at the front door (at Joseph's persistent request).

On Tuesday night we had our traditional wacky Halloween dinner, complete with dimmed lights, spooky music, and a menu which included Ghoul Drool, Shivering Nightmares, Witch's Toenails, Intestinal Contents, and Shriveled Cat Kidneys.  Yum.

And isn't this a creepy picture to go with a creepy dinner?

This picture totally does not do justice to the reality. As Dan would deliver each course to the kids, he would dance a crazy "Thriller" dance. It was a video moment, and I goofed by taking a picture instead!  Also pictured is the aftermath of our food preparation area. Disaster.

 We carved pumpkins Sunday night.

 Joseph took it very seriously and did the entire carving by himself.

 

 And the mess that remained. Why are there so many messes associated with holidays?  =)