Halloween Fun (?)

OKok, I will admit that this year was not my most fabulous Halloween. Meh. I completely forgot to take pictures of the kids!!! Sorry, Grandparents! I guess I won't be getting mom of the ear after this weekend after all. HA . Mabye I can get them back in their costumes for a photo op later. It dosen't help that last year was pretty stressful as well. I think what went wrong this time was that I got a big popcorn order on Thursday afternoon and I had a few hair appts (which I was grateful for) and it all just was a little much. I really only got....um....witchy when it was the hour or so before each event. For some reason trying to get the kids ready with their costumes was just super difficult this year. I helped with Coopers class party, we had trunk or treat on Friday night and I was rushing around at the last minute to get Cooper a mask, candy, Sadie was stressing over her costume so I made a Goodwill run that came up empty, stuff like that. Why does the tape always disappear just when its needed so desperately? Needless to say, I got a little "shouty". The kids were just bouncing off the walls, it got a little nuts. We did get to trunkortreat and by then things had calmed down and I got to be a chili judge and the kids had a great time. We had a cool car with extra pumpkin lights and spooky music, and everyone had fun, even me :D

Saturday I spent 7am till 1 baking, bagging, labeling and delivering popcorn and then I took a stab at doing some caramel apples, so I could mabye add some to some gift baskets. It was a test run, and I think I need a different recipe. The one I did is yummy, but didn't set up hard enough. The ones I made for the Ostrich Festival last year were amazing, so I think I need to just use that particular caramel.

After that we carved our pumpkins and get ready to go trick or treat, but of course my house and kitchen were completely demolished, so that was a bummer. Long story short, the pressure was on again after another loooong day and I accidentally got a little bit "shouty" again. OOps. Sorry family :D

Jason did the Scream pumpkin, I did Ava's "traditional" pumpkin. Thats what she wanted.

My brother Jason was over with Ava so that was a big help, he helped clean up after pumpkin carving (since it was his idea- he even went and picked up a couple extras for me) and he took the kids around to trick or treat, while Mark and I chilled at the house and handed out candy. Cade was actually not interested in trick or treating, but he had big plans. He laid by the sidewalk up to our door and scared all the kids. He had quite a few really good ones! Some people got so freaked out, even adults. It was great!! It was all his idea.

It looked reallly dark and creepy without the flash :D



At one point, he had about 10 teenage girls screaming their heads off and then later a bunch of older teenage guys. He did a great job. Sadie went babysitting after she had gone trick or treating (it was stake conference adult meeting) and had a great time.

Today I slept in, went to Stake conference, did massive amounts of dishes from last night, and took a nap. I think I was able to decompress pretty well. I'm looking forward to Turkey day already!! And I'm proud of myself I have already started my Christmas shopping, to try to avoid last minutes stress later, right??