trick or treat ...

here's the crew ... all ready to head out for trick or treating last night!

trick or treating finished off three evenings full of fun for us!  saturday was the school "dance" (aside from the fact that there's music at a conga line and group dances did occur, I'm not sure why they call it a dance?) and I took Annicka and Jericho to that one.  no photos, because I took the video camera, but we had a lot of fun.  sunday was the fall festival at the chapel here on base.  again, no photos, I had all four kids and decided to be focused on them and not trying to get pics ... but, again, we had lots of fun.  it was really cute that Liam was able to play the games (think bean bag toss & fishing for a price - FUN) and of course they all love getting little prizes!  then, finally, monday night trick or treating!  it was fun and exhausting having three fun-filled nights in a row!

I should mention that yesterday was SO busy.  from the moment I got out of bed I was on a roll.  Annicka was begging me to finish their trick or treat bags (I finished the ones for our friends, cause I felt all bad I had hyped it up and then didn't think I could get it done - but saturday morning I woke up determined to do it, and got those two done) so we went out for a few things at Target and then to JoAnn for more fabric and iron-on letters!  we picked up pizza (and my payday starbucks frappacino) and headed home where the kids enjoyed lunch and movies and I got to work on the bags!  they turned out pretty cute, but if you look close there are some real flaws, that's what I get for doing a rush job - but, hey, I guess I work pretty well under pressure. they're done.  done is better than perfect.  that's my new motto!  (ok, technically they're not done, there's still trim to add - not to mention Zoey's is no where near done - but you get the point)

so, here are the pics from last night ... yes, of course, I had to take some pics so we'd have some photographic evidence of all the fun!!!

 did I forget to mention there was a last minute costume change for 

"buzz lightyear"???  turns out his suit was no where (and I mean

no where, my upside down house is proof that I looked everywhere

for it!) to be found, so while at Target he picked out a new 

costume.  and, lest you think I'm nutty, the buzz costume was a repeat

from last year - so, no, I certainly did not buy two costumes!!!

my adorable muscle mater!!!

my shadow ninja ...

he was insistent on having "weapons" -  just set on

having a sword, which I think was the motivation of his

costume choice!!!

a vampire!  surprise, surprise.

where does she get this fascination for vampires?  I have

no idea (lol).  second year in a row, but she re-wore

her same costume in order to get the "realistic"

vampire teeth!

managed to catch a half decent pic of my girly ewok while

we were out and about trick or treating ... she was not

having it during photo time!!!  let's just say - this costume was

not the best choice for a child who hates stuff on their head!

they're having a great time!

(Zoey's behind Liam in the second seat of the stroller)

and there's my girly ewok!

somehow I don't think this is exactly what daddy was probably

picturing when he said he wanted her to be an ewok - lol!

after finishing the bags for the older kids, I girlied up 

Zoey's costume!!!  I think it's quite lovely myself!

she had a fantastic time!  loved it all!!!

yah, this is what she looked like the majority of the time - 

stinker!  but she is loving when people actually hand

her candy ... doesn't have a clue what it is, but knows it's fun!

she was shaking those milk duds like ... 

like a polaroid picture!!!

can't get a smile out of him, he says he's cold!

finally home and look at that smile!!!

showing off our candy treasure!

look how happy she is!

uh, yah - apparently when I'm really excited I have a super

creepy smile - ha ha.  but it was so cute how I caught

her smiling with me for this pic - so, I'll swallow my pride and share!

Annicka's treasure

my little poser!

 and his treasure!

ready, set ...

dump it all out!!!

I love how Liam is still looking at me and is

just clueless - it's cute how it takes the 

little ones a minute to catch on!

mucho bueno!!!

(that does mean "very good" right???)

so, yes, the "against halloween" mama has made a huge turn.  if anyone is looking for an explanation on that, all I can say is that my convictions changed on the matter.  I had to take a good look at our every day lives and concluded that to dress up, trick or treat, etc. really was not that big of a deal.  the end.

the kids had a great time, I really enjoyed it too!  there was some fun houses - the kids even walked through a little "haunted house" sort of thing (the two oldest) at one house!  it was a fun night of being together, the five of us! 

p.s.  I'm not even gonna lie, though, I felt like such a candy "pimp"!  lol!!!