Halloween Fun

It seems like we celebrated Halloween and related festivities for about a week or so. It started with our trip to the pumpkin patch, which has become one of my favorite family traditions. We visit the same patch each year and it has been fun to watch Margie Grace experience it in different ways from year to year. This year she spent a lot of time searching for "my very own special pumpkin." She could not be talked into anything. She definitely wanted to pick one for herself and she did a great job! A few nights before Halloween, she and Neil carved it. He let her pick out the design and she actually got to be a little more hands-on with it this year instead of just watching. I thought she would be grossed out by the pumpkin "innards" but she loved putting her hand inside and pulling out the pulp.

Then, last Saturday, Neil and I got to take our turn at dressing up at our friends the Dixons' annual Halloween party. I always enjoy seeing what other couples come up with for costumes and how creative everyone is! Luckily, we were able to borrow both of our costumes from my brother John and we wound up winning the prize for "Best Costume!" I went as a Saguaro cactus (aka a green sweatsuit with pieces of weedeater line hot glued to it) and Neil went as a Mexican Senor. I can't take credit for the cactus idea. John came up with it in high school for a Homecoming week theme day and I think it is just genius!!

Margie Grace got her turn to dress up for her preschool class party on Thursday. She wore her Little Mermaid costume to school and looked so cute! I came for her party and she had a great time celebrating with her friends. Then, that night (for some reason the city of Auburn decided that everyone should trick-or-treat on Thursday, Oct. 29 -- I guess high school and college football truly rule around here) we headed over to the Auburn campus for more Halloween celebrations. All the student organizations on campus set up little booths with games and prizes, which MG really enjoyed. Then all the dorms are open for trick or treating. We had fun walking throughout the quad to the different dorms. MG got a lot of sweet compliments on her outfit from all the college students. And she LOVED going around and collecting all that candy. After trick or treating on campus, we made some special stops in town to visit with family and friends before heading home to bed! When we finally got in, Margie Grace dumped out her pumpkin and began to survey her loot. She was really impressed with her take and began to categorize the candy and count it (which impressed me!). ("Look, Mom, I have three of these and two of these.") We've been rationing out the sweets ever since and I'm sure if you ask her, MG will tell you Halloween is her favorite holiday!

I've taken tons of pictures over the last week or so. To see more, visit here.