Halloween Festivities

Olivia still remembers and talks about her Halloween party she had last year. We found this really fun Halloween cd and it made me want to throw the party. It has fun songs to dance around to and games like, "pass the witches broom". So of course there was no question IF we were going to have another party this year but WHEN. The afternoon before the party Olivia had fun decorating for the party. We were fortunate to have my mom in town for the week of Halloween. The morning of the party I was gone running errands. When I came home my mom and Olivia surprised me by making this fun ghost for the entrance and a clever and really cute bat that hung over the fireplace. Olivia was in heaven decorating for a party with her grandma. Olivia planned the whole party. What games to play, our craft and even recommended the story (which she had partially memorized......from hearing it in preschool) to enact with our craft. She has become quite the party planner I must say. She decorated all of the Halloween sugar cookies the day before. (Thanks mom for cleaning up that mess!) It was the easiest party I've ever thrown. And the kids had a ball. Bennett was asleep for the first half. But when he woke up it was the funniest thing. When we walked upstairs he got the biggest kick out of seeing that our house was full of kids in costumes. He was practically giggling. Then of course he assumed they were all there for him and started showing off at once.







It is a tradition at Microsoft for the kids to trick or treat the offices. So Friday my mom and I took the kids came to dad's office and trick or treated his floor. Bennett wouldn't wear his dog costume so he went as a headstrong two year old... which fit him perfectly. We showed up towards the end of the day when the candy ends up on a chair outside the office door so that the employees can try and get some work done before the day is over. Bennett didn't even need a candy bucket. He just ate whatever he picked up.



The actual day of Halloween we went to our ward trunk or treat. Then trick or treated a few select doors (the kids babysitters) and came home to share some pumpkin pie with our neighbors. Bennett went as a headstrong two year old again. And Olivia was Elina from the Fairytopia Barbie movies. It was a happy few days. Especially with my mom around to do all of the stuff I never want to do (mop the floor, laundry, dishes....you get the picture). We are still mourning her departure (especially me now that I have to do all of the above again) and can't wait to be with her again. I love celebrating these fun little holidays with my kids. It brings so much happiness to all be involved in something as silly as dressing up and singing songs about ghosts and goblins and witches and vampires. It breaks up the monotony of the daily routine and helps us boring parents to lighten up and be really silly.