Happy Halloween

I thought the end of last week that there was no way that we were going to have Halloween again this year.  So I was so relieved when we were not too hard hit, but also very sad for those who were this time around.  I hope the towns that had to cancel tonight at least do it another night.  For us, we got to go tonight though.

So after dinner the kids got dressed in their costumes, Alyssa was having none of it, we went downstairs and grabbed our neighbor, and we hit the streets.  And we were far from alone out there too.  There were a ton of kids out there this year.  I think it was the most I have seen.

Once we got out there and Alyssa realized that people were giving her stuff her mood changed drastically.  That was a relief, but at the same time she wanted to walk everywhere on her own and the girl has got little legs and doesn't do stairs well.  It was quite the workout.  It was also quite a bit of fun. 

We carved our pumpkins yesterday with the kids home from school it was the perfect time.  Here are those 4 masterpieces...

4 little pumpkins sitting on the table

Here are the few pictures I got from tonight.

Stitch

A Butterfly

Katniss from The Hunger Games

3 out of 4 ain't bad

Got a picture of the ladybug Alyssa, AKA Cranky Bug

4 Pumpkins on the porch

She only let us put that hood up for a second

So this was Alyssa's first official Trick or Treat.  I hope she remembers how much fun it was and is more willing to participate from the get go next year.

A Phineas And Ferb Birthday Party

CJ is almost 5.  How exactly did that happen?  Who knows, but it did.  On Saturday we had a Phineas and Ferb birthday party for him.  While only one of his friends was able to come that day he still had a great time.  And as you know no party from me would be complete without one of my creations.  I made a Dr. Doofenshmirtz bean bag toss and Pin the tail on Agent P.  Then there was a Perry the Platypus birthday cake.  All came out great.  I was pleased and the kids had a lot of fun with the games.  I may or may not have been pinned with an Agent P tail.

Pin the tail on Agent P

Good shot CJ

CJ and Alyssa's attempt

CJ's friend gave Agent P a bow tie

Look at all of those tails

Good try kids!

Beanbag toss

This is how they go

I know how it goes

Perry the Platypus cake

Doofenshmirtz eats little boys now (CJ)

Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you...

Blowing out the candle

This is the boy who used to hate cake

But look at him now, he loves it!

Spongebob fishing game

The book he wanted from the book fair

Kaitlyn got him a nerf gun and a joke book

Natalie got him a color changing car

Alyssa got him a gun

His very own remote control car

And there you have it.  CJ officially turns 5 on Thursday.  He's getting so big!

Fall Fun Activities

I guess I should update as there has been a lot going on as usual and a lot more to come in the next few days.  So here are some pumpkin activities that have happened over the last few weeks.

For the past few years we have been entering a pumpkin into a local pumpkin festival for judging.  We entered in Natalie's name last year and she won 2nd place I think it was, maybe it was 3rd?  Well, this year was Kaitlyn's turn.  So Joe helped her create a pumpkin man.

Jack the Pumpkin Man

A small pumpkin for CJ and Alyssa to enter

The pumpkins all lit

Some more of the pumpkins

Jack won the Bristol Press Award!

 However, the mayor wanted to pick Kaitlyn's pumpkin for the mayor award, but the Bristol Press beat him to it.  Kaitlyn did get to shake the hand of the mayor though and talked to him for a few.

See that award

That was some pretty amazing carving on that pumpkin

Kaitlyn with her award winning pumpkin, so proud!

CJ and Alyssa's pumpkin sitting on the stands

 These were more of the award winning pumpkins...

 And then before we left I tried to get a picture of all of the kids together.  But some were cold and some just wanted to run around so I got this...

 And then this, minus one who got away.  It's a cute picture though...

So that same weekend we decided to keep the pumpkin fun going and we went ahead and did our pumpkin picking at a local farm like we try to do every year.  We missed it last year due to snow.  I'm glad we decided to do it this day instead of waiting like we originally planned.

Natalie and Alyssa

Milking the cow

CJ milking the cow

Natalie showing Alyssa how to milk the cow

Daisy the pig

Happy Birthday Daisy

On the horse

Natalie and Kaitlyn riding the bull

CJ's turn on the horse

Can you all look here please?

That's about as good as I could get

Time for the hayride

I like this picture of the 4 of them

Beautiful view

Watching other people board the hayride

sitting with daddy

Such a handsome boy

Pretty girls

Me and CJ, he cracks me up.

Hmmm, do they love each other or want to kill each other?

I guess it's love

Natalie holding onto CJ as the hayride starts

Enjoying the hayride

Playing on the firetruck

Heading to a fire

Alyssa wanted to ride the bikes

She's getting so big

4 little Engineers

Playing in the train

CJ riding the tricycle

Alyssa riding the tricycle

Give that back!

So pretty

On the hunt for the perfect pumpkin

2 little pumpkins

2 more pumpkins

And that was our pumpkin weekend.  Be sure to watch out for the pictures of CJ's birthday party.