Hallo-"Week"

On Monday (Oct 26) we went to a Halloween Party at the YMCA. This is the first time Elizabeth got to wear her costume and she was very excited.  We played a lot of fun games. Elizabeth loved the bouncy house and would have done that all night if we would have let her.  They had a bunch of carnival games and it was fun to see her try; she would usually just walk up and put the ball in the hole instead of throwing it. At one game she had to hit something with a mallet but it was so heavy I thought she was going to tip over every time she lifted it.  We also went into a dark room with black lights where they were having a dance party; she absolutely loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday (Oct 28), we met some of our friends from play group at Cottonwood Farms by our house.  We got there before everyone and had already looked at everything a couple times but Elizabeth still ran around in wonder at all the exciting things.  There were animals, tractors, a hay bale maze and lots of pumpkins.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 One of the interesting highlights came about while watching the chickens.  One chicken in particular kept pawing at the ground and scrapping up the hay that was in their pen. Elizabeth asked me why and I told her that the chicken was looking for bugs to eat.  She then saw vegetables in the pen and asked why, at which I told her that the chickens also like to eat vegetables.  Ever since then, and still to this day, Elizabeth with ask me why chickens eat bugs and carrots.  She has come into my room in the middle of the night with the question, "Why do chickens eat bugs and carrots?" She will stop in the middle of playing and ask, while driving in the car and when trying not to take a nap.  No matter what my answer might be, she cannot understand or comprehend why chickens would eat bugs and carrots. 

 

We  had a fun filled "pre-halloween" day on October 30 with lots of activities. We went to the Library for a 'Halloween Hullabaloo" with stories, crafts and trick-or-treating throughout the library.  It was Elizabeth's first time trick-or-treating this year and she loved it (she didn't really remember last year very well). 

James was not as interested in the library festivities as Elizabeth was.

 

 

 

We missed our wards Trunk-or-Treat so we went to Longmont and went to Mom and Dad's Chili Cook off and Trunk-or-Treat.  Before the Trunk-or-Treating began they had a Costume Parade across the stage and the music ended right as Elizabeth got up, she showed her Princess pout to the whole Ward (until the music started again and another girl helped guide her along).  Most of the older people in the ward, who knew me growing up, said it was weird seeing Elizabeth because she looks just like me at that age. People say we look alike a lot but it is fun to hear people who knew me at that age tell me. 

 

  It was fun to watch Elizabeth and Grandpa go from car to car and her excitement.  Ben sat with our car and oooed and awwed over all the kids costumes; he is so good at that.

 

 

 

 Halloween morning we had spooooky Orange oatmeal with sprinkles for breakfast (I only mention this because Elizabeth now asks for it every day) and then began our fun filled day.  We then carved pumpkins.  Elizabeth touched the pumpkin insides once and then was done with that.  She then colored on a pumpkin but didn't want to carve it. So.... she played and I carved pumpkins.  We carved an owl and a bat but they did not really turn out great.  Even though no one else really wanted to dive into the pumpkin goo and carving, it just doesn't seem like Halloween to me without carved pumpkins.

 

 

 

 

 

We then drove into Boulder for lunch and the Munchkin Mascarade up and down Pearl Street.  Most of the stores on Pearl Street come out and have trick-or-treaters; there are tons of people and it is fun to see all of the interesting costumes.  This year there was a dance group in front of the Court House that was teaching kids to dance.  Elizabeth went right up to the front and attempted the dances; she usually was a couple steps behind and was really focused.  It was so cute and she could have stayed there the entire time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the Munchkin Mascarade we went to the Forsyth's house and went trick-or-treating in their neighborhood with them and the Hoffmans. All the houses had steps going up and at every house Elizabeth would step on her long dress and get stuck, so we ended up pinning it up to her knees so that she could keep up with the older kids.  They all got really good at picking the houses with lights on, saying trick-or-treat (loudly), retrieving candy (with no complaining), mumble some thank you's and taking off down the street.  Elizabeth had a lot of fun and enjoyed being a beautiful Princess all day!

I forgot James' costume at home (ugh) so he was a cowboy in his cowboy bib!

It was impossible to get them all to smile with their excitement, distraction and exhaustion (at least for Elizabeth). 

 

 

We had a purple princess, Storm (from X-Men), a Blue Cheetah (from a TV show I don't know) and a Cat.

 

 

 

Walking back after a long night!