Fall Party VII and Halloween!!!

 another beautiful halloween day!  we had bentley the rodeo clown, bridon the fighter pilot, emerson as strawberry shortcake, and ellee the 'pig-e-let.'  the older three had school parties earlier in the week.  i brought pin the nose on the jack-o-lantern to bridon and emerson's classes and we participated in the parade thru the school.  bridon scares people with monsters in his lunch bag and of course, there is a picture of him with his stache and an ice pack over his eye from a bump at recess.  we even had a fun, fhe where we read a scripture and then guessed which part of the 'witch' was in the bag (they could only feel what was in a brown paper bag).  the peanut butter was the absolute best!  we had green olives for eyes, canned apricot for a tongue and so on...

 i still love to make the kids costumes or help them find what they love.  emerson's was the most work this year. i made her wig, shirt, and apron, and painted her leggings.  i sewed ellee's leggings and revamped the 'pig' costume from when bentley was a little guy.  we went to the annual trunk-or-treat, brought our cornbread and had a cup of chili before all the candy madness.  this year we didn't have to clean up, so we left with all the brothers and went to all of our neighbors here that we like to stop and visit...floyd's, gibbens', svaty's, etc.  everyone made a haul and we got home at a decent hour to light our pumpkin and set back our clocks.  the boys thought ben was the meanest dad ever when he locked their treat bags in the safe :).

 i dressed as a pirate and this time of year always makes me extra grateful for the blessing of health and strength.  i am blessed to be a wife and mother...and to be here and not in a hospital somewhere!

the saturday before halloween, we hosted our annual fall party here at the house.  it has been going 7 years strong!  the kids invited a few friends over and our cousins came too.   we did all of our traditional games including tug o war, bobbing for apples, costume relay, decorating sugar cookies, pumpkin bowling, donuts on a string, and treats afterwards.  we had a great time with family and friends!