Happy Halloween!

Another great Halloween! 

We carved our pumpkins on Saturday (after buying new ones at a local stand that morning -- the ones we got at the pumpkin patch two weeks ago had rotted). This was the first year the kids each got to design and carve their own Jack O'Lantern, and they did great!

Little Man did his 100% on his own, after MJ helped him scoop out the pulp inside. He drew the face freehand and cut out all the features himself. Awesome job!

Pepere helped CC scoop out the inside of her pumpkin. She couldn't decide on a carving idea, so we looked online at a bunch of different designs. She picked a bat theme, and we combined a few different ideas into her pumpkin. I drew it, and she very carefully cut it out.

Sweet Pea also coerced Pepere into helping her empty out her pumpkin. She has been talking for weeks how she wants a "duck Jack O'Lantern," (never mind that ducks have nothing do to with Halloween). She would not be dissuaded. So we looked at some duck carvings online until she found one she liked. I drew it, and she cut it out. She was very happy with how smooth she was able to get the rounded edges.

When it was time to trick or treat, the kids carefully dressed in their costumes. Little Man was The Mandalorian (again), because "there isn't any better costume available." Sweet Pea was a yellow m&m (she refused to wear a costume per se, but insisted on a plain yellow t-shirt that we glued a white "m" on). And CC was Cruella DeVille, in a costume to die for. "I want to make a STATEMENT, Mommy!" she kept repeating, when I tried to downplay her grandiose ideas into something reasonable. But what she ended up with was pretty awesome, I have to admit. And she had the hips down perfectly as she strutted down the street.

This was the second year we allowed the kids to go trick or treating on their own, as long as they stayed together and checked in with us occasionally. MJ and I sat on the porch and made good use of last year's candy chute, while occasionally stealing pieces from our big bowl. The kids came home at 7:30, exhausted, chilly, and full of sugar. It was a great night!