The Spooky Festivities

Our ward hosted a Trunk-or-Treat and carnival. It was fun to get dressed up for the party. Jeff and I went as scarecrows. I don't know where my head was. I didn't get a picture of us carrying around our little crows. It was really cute.

The kids loved the festivities, but of course the main event was the best part.

I took Anna and Isaac around the parking lot while Jeff and the crows passed out candy.

Ben and Sam thought hanging out in the trunk was just about the most fun thing ever.

 On the actual holiday we had our traditional witches brew, mummy dogs and chili. Usually we have fresh made tamales as well, but we have yet to find a decent Mexican place in Wichita, so we passed on that one. Added this year were witch fingers and vampire lips. Spooky.

By the time trick-or-treating rolled around, the kids were kind of Halloweened out. No mask for Isaac, no antenna or face make up for Anna. The picture kind of tells it all.

We did have fun though. Jeff stayed behind with the babies, who both had colds. I walked around the neighborhood with the kids.

Little did we know that this area is a hot spot for trick-or treaters. It was crazy. We went through all our candy and then started to give away the kids' candy. We finally had to just turn off all our lights.

Happy Halloween!

From,

The Blue Butterfly

Spiderman,

and The Two Crows*

*Poor Ben was sick when I took these pictures. I was going to take his later and fogot. Just imagine another super adorable black bird.

Gma & Gpa Come to Visit

It's always a treat when my parents come to town. We had lots of fun like we always do when they are around.

Ben and Sam love to climb the stairs. Mom was keeping watch and the kids all ended up congregating around her.

Isaac got to open some belated birthday presents--a Toy Story shirt (which he promptly put on) and a Spiderman bowling set.

Spiderman and Grandpa bonded outside.

Anna and Isaac think Grandpa Black is just the coolest guy around. You can see why.

 Grandma and Anna made Halloween sugar cookies for everyone.

 Mom and Dad just missed Halloween, so we had an impromptu Halloween Party. Cast of characters included The Skunk, The Cowboy, Spiderman, and The Blue Butterfly.

 This was the first time I had visited the "Speaker of the Plains" monument even though I've driven past it about a hundred times. It marks the spot where the Arkansas and the Little Arkansas rivers converge. It was an gathering place for Indian tribes from this region to trade goods a make peaceful treaties.

Suspension bridges allow people to cross both rivers.

 We also visited the Airplane Museum.

 Anna and Grandma worked on a scavenger hunt together.

 There is a great play area as well with real cockpits for kids to play in. The kids could have stayed forever.

Most of the time, though, was spent talking and hanging out around home. I love my parents and I'm so grateful that they are able to visit so often.

Fancy Nancy

Anna's school does not celebrate Halloween (so lame). To compensate they hold a "Literacy Night." Families are invited to come dressed up as their favorite book characters. The teachers read stories to the kids and provide snacks.

Anna wanted to dress up like Fancy Nancy. And boy, did she get into it. I think I might love this costume more than her actual Halloween getup. Or maybe it's just the pose. Either way, I'm kind of in love with this picture.

I think she looks positively exquisite.

Spiderman tagged along too.

Yard Work

When it's 70 degrees in October you just have to be outside. So that's what we did. Jeff mowed. Anna and Isaac scootered. I took pictures. And Ben and Sam watched from the front door. (They've been sick so I didn't want to bring them out.)

 

 This nasty spider has been hanging out by our mail box for the better part of a month. Every night he spins a new web and in the morning it is gone. It's the craziest thing. This picture does not do his size justice. Eee, it gives me the shiver shakes just thinking about it.

Poor guy wants to come out so bad. Where's Sam?

There he is.

Hi guys!

Gordman's Pumpkin Patch

October is just not complete without picking out pumpkins. Gordman's Pumpkin Patch is close to our house and so one Saturday we decided to go. The pumpkin picking was pretty sad. They were pre-picked and thrown in a dusty field for picking. But the kids didn't mind and ran all over trying to find the perfect gourd.

Sam and Ben had a little help picking.

The saving grace of Gordman's is the play area. Swings, a huge sand pit, slides and a little zip line made the kids very happy. We had fun too, actually.