Happy Halloween Y'all!

I've been reading a few little Halloween weekend adventures today from other bloggers. What great stories and adventures!  It was a beautiful weekend for such long Halloween. I don't know about you, but I've been one TIRED momma. We did have a fun filled weekend, but I would love to take a long nap.

I've got lots of pictures and stories to tell, so hold on girls.

Candy Corn Tree

Katie found this stick at Peggy's house. It was perfect for a Candy Corn Tree, so Katie was all for me making her one. It turned out pretty cute. I thought the spiderwebs was a nice touch. Haha! It was Katie's surprise when she got home that afternoon.

I never heard anything from Katie's teacher or the homeroom mom about having a Halloween party for the children.  I knew it was against the rules of the school safety, to make cupcakes and other treats from home.  I ordered these cute cupcakes from Walmart and took them to Katie's class.  We just made it our party anyway.  All of the children got to wear their Halloween costumes to school.  It was cute!  Katie was eating it up, getting to dress up.  I didn't know if I was going to be able to get her hair fixed and get her to school in time.  But here she is, my beautiful little Thumbelina.

She absolutely loved being Thumbelina this year. She was all grins when I agreed to put a little blush and eye shadow on her. Of course, she had to have a little sparkly lip gloss and sparkle spray in her hair.   I wanted to take pictures outside because they just seem to look better than in the house.  Plus, I won't have piles of toys or stuff in the background.  LOL!  I can't stand clutter. 

Katie's spot 

Little goblins running all over the class

Everyone listening to Mrs. M's instructions

I think they had a nice little party and everyone got a few bags of treats from classmates.

Momma and her Charlie Brown

Halloween Eve

Our mayor declared Saturday or Halloween Eve the offical Trick or Treat night.  Which I was relieved because I wanted Katie to get the real experience of Trick or Treating.  In the past, I've always just taken her around to family for Trick or Treating and of course there's our church's Fall Festival.  This year would mark her first real Halloween and I wanted her's to be a great experience.  As a child, I never had a real great experience.  I was always so scaried and shy.  I didn't want that for Katie.

We invited a few people over, just family, for a pot of chicken and dumplings.  After supper, us ladies got the kids dressed up in their costumes and went Trick or Treating.  But first, I have to show you our Prayer Pumpkin.  Take a look!

 
Pumpkin Carving Prayer

Dear God,
As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer:

Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)

Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do.
(Clean out the inside)

Open my eyes so Your love I will see;
(Cut the eyes out in heart shapes)

I'm so sorry for turning up my nose to all you've given me.
(Cut a nose in the shape of a cross)

Open my ears so your word I will hear.
(Cut the ears shaped like the Bible)-we did rectangles

Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near
(cut the mouth in the shape of a fish)

Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle inside and light it)

Katie loves our pumpkin because it has heart eyes.  She's so funny.  I have to say that it did turn out pretty.  I cut out templates from pieces of paper.  Taped them on the hulled out pumpkin and began cutting them out. 

Spider Cupcakes

Here are the cupcakes, I promised Katie I would make for her on Halloween. She had to help me out that is until she got tired of having to wash her hands everytime she'd forget and get her hands dirty. A few of them, she helped put the eyes on the spiders.

Table is ready for the party

Colton checking out the Prayer Pumpkin

What's this?

Momma's little goblins ~ ready to go Trick or Treating

Our Trick or Treating experience didn't start out too good because of some kid that wanted to have a little fun.

As we were going from house to house around the neighborhood, we spotted a kid dressed up as Michael Myers from "Halloween" and he was trying to be cute. He was walking up the middle of the street in full costume including the bloody fake knife. There were other older kids, in a group, going from house to house. I just figured he was with them and would leave us alone. You know, since we have practicely babies with us. NOPE! NADA! Katie didn't know what to think and buddy her radar works just fine. She didn't keep her eyes off him for one second. She knew something wasn't right. That kid ended up following us, from a distance, to two houses. He didn't say anything and he kept walking stiff. He stayed with the whole "Halloween" character. Really weird. By the time we got back in the car, we were ready to get out of there. I think all of us girls were a little freaked out by this kid. Unfortunately, he nearly ruined Katie's Halloween. As we stopped to the next house a block down the road, no where near the Michael Myers, Katie announced that she had enough candy and was ready to go home. I got her brave enough to get out of the car. She held Maryann's hand, while I had Colton. Next thing I know, I heard Katie crying and having a fit. She stopped in her tracks and wasn't going any further. We tried our best to explain that some dumb kid thought he was being funny. She wasn't buying it. At that point, I could have gone back over to Michael Myers and cleaned his plow for scaring her.

Me being the person I am, I didn't want this to be Katie's last Trick or Treating experience. I didn't want her to be afraid when there's nothing to be afraid of. She was really upset and I debated on if we needed to go back home and throw in the towel, but call me a hard head. I wasn't giving up. I told her that we would just drive around and see the sights. We went over to one of my favorite neighborhoods and ran into a couple of ladies we knew. Thank the dear Lord because at first, Katie wanted nothing to do with getting out and going up to some house for candy. Forget it! After some enticing, we convinced her to go. I knew the home owners and got to telling them about our terrible experience. I didn't know it, but Katie got upset again. Maryann took her back to the vehicle while I finished talking to Patty. Katie announced again, she was ready to go home. She had candy at home and didn't want anymore. She even added that Colton was ready to go home as well. I didn't say anything and we drove around. When I came across Virginia's house, it was decorated so pretty. I told Katie that I just wanted to take her picture. Hey, anything to get her out there and warmed up. After visiting with Virginia for a little bit, Katie was finally feeling good and ready to find another house to see their decorations. YES! Thank you dear God above.

I have to tell you this one house we went to was FUNNY. By this time, Katie's good. She has long forgotten about Michael Myers. We knocked on this one really pretty home and who should answer the door, but Michael Jackson. HAHA! His daddy was dressed up like Obama that had a big sign on his shirt that read "VOTE REPUBLICAN." LOL! It hit my funnybone just right. When we told MJ Happy Halloween, Katie turned to me and Maryann and with a puzzled look she asked "that was another Michael?" As to say, how many Michael's are there?

We were going to stop at another area, but as soon as I spotted another Michael Myers, I drove right on by. We were not going through that again. Katie spotted him and asked if that was Michael with the white face. I just acted like I didn't know what she was talking about.

Front porch of a former co-worker ~ her house was decorated so cute.  Katie had a fit over it.  Virginia had to show Katie how all of the decorations worked.

Katie sitting on Virginia's porch

Katie goes to her first Haunted House

O.K. me saying this I have to clarify myself. A home owner purchased one of these huge $300 haunted house inflatables and placed it in their driveway. Katie had a fit and had to go see it. She told Whitney, "now that was fun!"  So, they had to go through it a few more times.  Our little girl got braver and braver as the night grew on.  She even walked up to a house that had an adult man dressed up as Shrek.  He played the character perfectly.  He had the accent down pat.  Maryann asked him where his donkey was and he played right along, telling us that he has been looking for his donkey and can't find him.  Katie ate it up. 

Whitney and Katie getting candy

Overall, I think Katie had a great time Trick or Treating for the first time. We let her stay up until 10:00, which is a big treat for her. She was bouncing off walls. I guess it was all the candy. Doug said we only had 5 Trick or Treaters come to our door.

Tonight was our Fall Festival at church, we were so tired. Katie didn't like the fact that she missed it, but I think she understands. She got some money from her grandma and grandpa for Halloween. I told her we would go shopping next weekend, if nothing came up. We could go anywhere she wants to go. It would be just her and I. She liked that idea.

I hope you enjoyed our Halloween weekend story.  It was a blast and am so glad that I've got another 365 days to prepare for next years.  LOL!  Now, we've got to get prepared for Thanksgiving.  YAY!  Katie had me read "Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving" to her and Colton as their bedtime story tonight.  She announced that Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday.  Ugh!