Halloween 2013

Oh Halloween, what a love/hate relationship I have with you.  The build up before the actual day makes it seem like Halloween lasts a solid month but the kids get so excited and have so much fun, I guess it's worth it!  Get ready for some serious Halloween picture overload.  Jeri hosted her annual kids Halloween party a few days prior to the big day.  It gave us a good practice run getting the kids into their costumes.  Sam wasn't a fan at first but he soon embraced the spirit of Mike Wazowski.

His bed head really adds to the costume.

Jeri was in full character as Cleopatra when we arrived.  They kids, big and small LOVED it!  She really is one in a million.  They are so lucky to have such a fun grandma.

Lennon and Sam were banished upstairs while the big kids had their fortunes told downstairs.  They managed to keep themselves entertained.

Sam was in full on monster mode at this point in the party.

Every time he saw the camera, he did this face.  So fierce!

After the little kids had enough of upstairs we headed downstairs to witness an intense game of Halloween twister.  The kids had a blast.  This party is something they always look forward to.

A few days later, Natalie and Isaac invited us over for a friendly pumpkin carving contest.

Isaac carved this attractive pumpkin head for Hank to wear.

Let's be honest, Randy and I were carving our little hearts out and the kids were running wild.  The only thing that calmed Max down was holding Wyatt.

There isn't many things Max loves more than holding babies.

Sam had to make sure Wyatt wasn't getting too much attention from "Wax".

I don't think Wyatt knew quite what to think with all these crazy boys running around.

He certainly didn't have a shortage of people wanting to snuggle.

Behold, our masterpieces...

Max's

Hank's

Sam's

I think Randy and I outdid ourselves this year.  We had a really fun night.

The day before Halloween, Sarah and Jack introduced us to a fun activity that I'm sure will become a tradition, The Stringtown Nightmare Express.

I didn't capture Jack's pure bliss but he was certainly in his element.  

There were just too many awesome things for him to look at, he couldn't be bothered with picture taking.  It was the perfect activity to get us in the mood for Halloween.

The kids were up bright and early on Halloween morning to get ready for school.  Max, the ninja was in great spirits.

Hank, the zombie football player was in great spirits until I made him pose for a picture.

Sarah coined this picture perfectly...a scared ninja and a zombie with a tummy ache, haha!  Thankfully he snapped out of his mood and had a fun day at school.  My mom and I took Sam and Tucker to the Halloween Parade at Snow Springs so we could see Hank, Max, Colby and Isabel.  Unfortunately, they moved by too quickly for me to get a picture.

Good thing I had a chance to get plenty more pictures later that night when everyone came over for soup and trick or treating.

Isabel made a frightening zombie!

We really missed Lucy this year.  She was busy hanging out with her friends.  

Finally the star of the night showed up.  Bless Sarah's heart...this costume was no joke.  Little zombie Tucker, was virtually impossible to get a picture of.



The kids were such great sports posing for picture after picture.  They were dying to go out and get that candy!  Once they left, I didn't see them much the rest of the night.



Mike was really sick of posing for pictures...he wanted more CANDY!



I decided to change it up a bit this year and dress up.  Max loved picking which costume I should wear.  The Hamburgler and I were pumped and ready to take Mike and Little Red Riding Hood trick or treating.

These two were adorable and so polite.  After every treat they received, they said "thank you".  I couldn't believe how long they lasted out there.  The weather cooperated beautifully.  

One of our neighbors had Mike Wazowski on their porch.  Sam thought it was pretty awesome!

He couldn't have been cuter that night.

I almost forgot I had a house full of people waiting for me.  I had a great time visiting with everyone who stopped by.  I was done taking pictures by this time of the night but we had quite a crowd.  My mom and dad, Kate and Dan, Sarah and Brett, Phil, Jenni and Lynn, Jeri, and Isaac and Natalie all enjoyed some chili that night.  

It was such an exhausting but fun holiday.  The kids ended up with even more candy than they got last year.  I wish I could convince Hank to sell his candy again this year but he's set on keeping it.  I'm pretty sure I've eaten more of it than he has!  I need to rest up because the holiday season is just beginning.