Halloween 2012

I didn't take a lot of pictures on Halloween.  I really just wanted to enjoy myself and I've found that after dark, the pictures don't turn out great.  We trick-or-treated for about an hour and a half and the kids got tons (too much) candy.  This was the first year that Brian has been off for Halloween in 3 years so it was nice being together as a family.

Watch out neighborhood!

Carving our pumpkin

First of all, can you believe we're able to wear short sleeved shirts and shorts at the end of October?  The weather has been gorgeous lately.  Brian and I finally had a day off together so we carved our pumpkins.  Believe it or not, Kyla practically carved hers all by herself.  She used a template but I couldn't believe she didn't get bored with it.  She spent a good 45 minutes to one hour on hers.  It turned out cute.

Mason for the most part, did his on his own as well.  I don't think he would touch the slimy insides of the pumpkin last year but this year, he digged right in.

Hard at work.

She was determined.

Kyla and her masterpiece.

Mason and his masterpiece.  He carved BOO. 

I had a good time with mine too.  I used a template to carve a skeleton face with hands.  In my last 5 minutes, the entire skeleton face came out.  I was bummed so Brian had to perform neurosurgery with a hammer and nail into his skull.  It worked perfectly.

Awwww.

Halloween Crafts

Around the holidays, we love to do crafts together.  I got some cute Halloween masks at Michaels for the kids to paint - wish I would have gotten one for myself.  I'm so glad that Mason still enjoys things like this.

He sticks his tongue out when he concentrates just like I do.  ;-)

Boy, does he know how to smile for the camera or what?

It's amazing how quickly Kyla can go from such a sweet and patient little girl TO THIS! I can't even remember what the problem was.  I think she was upset because she messed up on her project or something. I couldn't resist taking a picture of that face.  Drama.

She was stiff sniffling a bit here but eventually had fun.

His eyes kind of creep me out here.  

Harvest Festival and Fall in love with Fall Party

Instead of taking all of the Kindergarten children to a Pumpkin Patch they decided to bring the Pumpkin Patch to Westlake Charter School.  With buses being so ridiculously expensive, I think it was a great idea.  They had haystacks, a petting zoo, an obstacle course and had a bunch of pumpkins in a field and the kids each got to choose a pumpkin.  Kyla's teacher asked me if I would take pictures of each of the Kindergarten kids with their pumpkins ... all 100 of them!  I was flattered to be asked and loved every minute of it.  Here's Kyla's.

Kyla, waiting her turn.

I'm surprised the haystack lasted all day, those kids were crazy!

After my time with the Kindergarten kids, I volunteered to help with Mason's Fall in love with Fall Party.  They decorated a pumpkin, did a craft project with fall leaves, ate caramel apples and drank apple cider.  Obviously their favorite part was the caramel apples and I can't say that I blame them.

Cutie, patootie.

Yummmmmy.

Pumpkin Pictures over the years

Here are some of my absolute favorite pumpkin pictures from over the years.

2004

Mason was less than thrilled with this photo op.  He looks like he's content but this is really in between a cry.

LOVE this one.

2005

I could just kiss his chubby cheeks off!

SO heavy! 

2006

Do they look alike or what?

2007

 Couldn't resist - had to post a few from 2007.

2008

Here's the link to my 2008 blog post.

 Mason just wasn't having any of it.  This one cracks me up.  Life of the party girl is all smiles.

Nevermind.  There's always next year, right? 

2009

Here's the link to my 2009 blog post.

 I don't have a good one of the 2 of them together for some reason.

2010

We didn't even go to Apple Hill for pumpkins in 2010.  My health problems (my MS scare) started in Mid-October so Halloween was a tough time for me.  I remember taking the kids to this little pumpkin patch right outside of town one day while Brian was at work because I felt I had to.  The entire time I was worried and walking around with numbness and tingling down my left leg.  Pin and needles.  Not a good time for me.  I didn't even blog this.  :( 

Family Tree Project

Mason had to write out his family tree and make a model of what some of his ancestor's may have worn.  Well, we had a bit of a hard time with this but decided to make a guy from France.  Mason came up with the  beret and Bonjour on his shirt.  Cute, huh?

Apple Hill

We absolutely love going to Apple Hill to get our pumpkins (and of course, eat apple donuts).  This year, we were lucky enough to have Carol (Brian's mom)  in town to go up there with us.  The kids have minimum days on Wednesday so we left right when the kids got out of school.  Our 1st stop, duh, apple donuts.  We always get ours at High Hill Ranch.  They're the best.

Such a cute picture of Mason with his Grammy.

Kyla and Grammy.

For some reason, Kyla was really in the mood for me to take pictures of her.  Everywhere we went, she asked me to take one so I got some great ones of her.

I love this one.

Mason, being a boy and climbing a tree.

Like I said, another great one of Kyla.

Joe-Cool.

If you ever wonder why there aren't more pictures of Brian, he HATES them.  He gives me a very dirty look and probably shakes his head after this one.  I'm telling his mom.

Apples, apples and more apples.

Cute one (finally) of Mason.

Hurry up, lets get outta here.

Kyla LOVES the petting zoo.  She is such an animal lover.

"Be nice."

I really wish Kyla would have had this goofy face in this photo.  Love the background.

We think this pumpkin looks like a skull.

Oooh, it's a heavy one.

We ended the day with a good ol' pumpkin rolling race.  Mason won.

Going to Apple Hill for pumpkins is one of the traditions I look forward to each year.  We'll also go there to get our Christmas tree and occasionally to pick berries in the summer.  With Brian and I working opposite schedules, it's so important that we have quality family time together.  The kids will fondly remember these times and hopefully establish traditions with their family's.  Such a great day.