Happy Halloween!

This Halloween was perhaps our busiest so far, but we had such great fun! Ez's mom, Jane, came over from Sacramento to spend the day with us, which was really helpful! I know I couldn't have done everything we did without another set of hands.

Jane went and helped in Lily's class for her party today and then Joe, Evelyn, and I came for the parade. We went to Rubio's for a yummy lunch, ran a quick errand to the quilt shop for Grandma, and then made a mad dash for home for the exchange of costumes.

Lily had wanted to wear her little outfit our friend Sarah gave her from India, but I wasn't about to let her wear it to school! So, Lily was Ariel at school and a little girl from India by night. Joe decided midday to change his costume as well. I had originally tried to convince him to be Batman or a firefighter, two outfits we already have at home, but Joe really wanted to be a spider this year. So, I made a simple costume for him which he wore to the Trunk or Treat and this morning, but halfway through the day it was bugging him having so many extra arms, so he swapped it out and became Batman.

From there we headed to the Target strip mall and took the little ones trick or treating. It was so fun to watch them run in and out of stores and be so excited! Evie was my favorite because she just loved it. She walked around with her bag wide open, but always wanted the candy in her hand. She didn't quite get the concept that once she got candy she left and moved on...we had to pick her up and leave the store each time.

We finished in enough time to go pick up Alexis and David from school. We ran backpacks home, grabbed water bottles, and headed to meet Alexis's girl scout troop to go trick or treating downtown. Of course, Alexis forgot that she had left the main part of her costume in her backpack, but we made it work just fine! We got separated from Alexis's group because it was just so busy, so we didn't get to hang out together, but I think she preferred to just be with her friends anyway. I have never taken the kids downtown to trick or treat, but it was so much fun! I think we will have to start heading there each year. We went when it was light out, there is no knocking on doors, and we also got to see a bunch of friends doing the same thing!

We finished up, went and ate some dinner, then went home to unwind a bit. Jane took Alexis and Lily to her house for the weekend and once the rest of us were a bit recovered, we headed out for two more destinations. We headed to our good friends, the Knechts, to visit for a few minutes. We all love their family, but Joe especially loves them, so he is always excited to get to go over there--their girls are Joe's favorite baby sitters! We then went over to a real neat street in the neighborhood that has a huge celebration every Halloween. They get permission to block off these two streets, everyone decorates their houses up amazingly, and it is fun to just go look at all the houses and hang out! One of the houses even put on a haunted house, but there was a rather long line and I am not sure Evie and Joe would have wanted to go, so we skipped that part.

We are worn out! We have walked a ton and gotten far more candy than we ever have or than we need, but we had a blast! We can't wait to go again next year, and can't wait to have Ez come along for all the fun too!


Grandma Jane (the hippie), Joe (as a spider), Evie, and Lily (as Ariel)


Lily (as little girl from India), Evie (our little Minnie Mouse), Alexis (our sunflower, but she forgot the headband!), Joe (as Batman), and David (our USC fan!)


Gold's Gym handed out apples for the kids to have a healthy snack amidst all the junk--I thought it was great, and so did Joe!


Taking a breather downtown


Evie checking out all the goods