Happy Halloween!

I can't believe how this holiday creeped up on me! I feel ashamed that I wasn't able to get it together in the true spirits that I usually do. We weren't able to do the Halloween countdown, I wasn't able to find a cleaver costume for myself, and we finally carved our pumpkins on Friday night. Liv's haunted house was my most ambitious to date and I am quite proud. As is Abby, who carved hers all by herself for the first time.

When Saturday arrived we were busy most of the day building in our family room, but I was determined to celebrate! So out came the costumes and the girls were all dolled up and very pleased with themselves.

Olivia has a love affair with her Jesse doll from Toy Story. When she saw this costume there was no discussion- she would have it for her own.

(Never mind the Lady bug perched on her finger)

I think she makes a pretty darling little red head!!
Eva declared, yet again, several weeks ago that she was going to be a bat, a spooky bat. So I said, at least you can be a cute little "girly" spooky bat that hangs about the graveyard.
It is really too bad that PG doesn't have an older, more ominous cemetery to accompany THIS kind of attitude!!

Abby, after all the butterfly hunting action this summer, was excited to become her most favorite variety- the majestic Monarch. We sprayed her hair a glittery orange to complete the look.

Cory, Jill and clan, made an appearance for the annual costume photos and then my Dad once again put on his mask and prepared to scare the neighborhood- delightful!!

Alas, it was raining, pouring buckets to be exact. However, we weren't going to let a little monsoon deter us from getting some treats, so with our giant sport umbrella in hand we made our way around the streets until Eva was threatening to pee her pants and Liv took a spill down some front steps when she was certain that death was upon her as a little "HotDog" came running out the door towards her!

Oh Halloween, how we love your adventures and simple childhood joy and the lasting memories you leave behind!!

Every Monday Evening

for the last two and a half months we have been here, watching her.

#53She LOVES it.

I think it is a perfect way to spend family night together.
We enjoy the fresh air, sport, competition and cheering her from the sidelines.
She is making friends, honing her skills and developing some toughness.

S-T
S-T-O
S-T-O-R-M
STORM!!!

She is completely enamored with her coaches (members of the current BYU Women's Soccer Team)- they definitely know everything she ever wanted to know and they are just SOOOO cool - so she tells me anyway. Paul is taking her to see them play later this week. Really, I don't think there could be more excitement dancing in her eyes!

Sometimes we find this:
Liv couldn't even think about holding him. Eva couldn't get her hands on him quick enough! She packed him all over the field, watching him slither around and giggling with unabashed joy.
That child has no fear, but the smell on her hands afterwords almost made me puke- we will not be having reptiles anywhere near me again!!

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam...

Can you even stand it? FINALLY it is October- the month of my most beloved of holidays. Oh, I love me some Halloween and decorating for the holiday is almost- just almost- as fun as the dressing up and the candy corns!!

This year on my annual trip out shopping with my mother in law I found some great things and I decided to mix up the kitchen decor a little. I borrowed an idea to put leaves in my Chandelier from a friend I like to call Jerianne (I have been envious of that creativity for years now), added more spiders, a watchful glittery bat and finally-- the piece I am head over heals about- I placed my skeleton in my glass jar and I am IN LOVE with it!!!

Throw in a ghost and a black cat and don't forget the corns- oh I adore the corns!!
Have you been haunting up your decor? Are you ready for the holiday as well? If it weren't for the rain, cold and chill in the air- October just might have a fight with July as my favorite month of the year!!