Halloween

Halloween was a lot of fun this year.  Luke was really into it, and Claire could actually participate this year.  Actually, Luke was not so into dressing up and leading up to the big day he wouldn't pick a costume.  We went to the Halloween store and he roamed around with Claire admiring all the decorations, especially fascinated with the scary life-like zombies, but still wouldn't pick a costume.  It wasn't until we told him he wouldn't be able to trick or treat without a costume that I swear he picked the first costume he saw, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.  We didn't even think he knew what that was!  Anyway, he made his choice and was good with it!  Claire wore the little ladybug costume that Mom and Dad had given her, she was so cute.  After a pretty mild week, it turned really cold that day, so it was a bit of a short trick or treat run.  Enough to get more candy than we needed and cement in those memories, though.  Like last year, we spent the evening at the Hartman's, enjoying the holiday with them and the Cohen's.  

Before I go into the rest of the pics from Halloween and the week, I wanted to post some cute pics from last weekend that Matt took while I was in Annapolis at the wedding.  They were having a great time, too!

Ice cream sundae bar at G&G's

Luke's good buddy Joey's bd party

Daddy/son bike ride

Daddy/daughter breakfast

Here are the pics from the rest of last week and Halloween.  

Tuesday night we celebrated Emil's birthday.  Happy Birthday Emil/Grandpa!

Trying on his mask at dinner one night before Halloween

Mom was kind enough to give us all of my childhood Halloween decorations - they sure do bring back the memories!  The kids loved them.

I went to Luke's Halloween party that morning at his preschool, so cute.

Getting ready to start trick or treating - we had a little scuffle over who would get to carry our one Mickey Mouse pumpkin, and who would get the regular pumpkin pail.  Since it was technically Luke's, he ended up with the prize.

Obviously I'm wearing a crow on my head.

And obviously Claire is clutching a tropical bird beanie baby (Eloise's) along with her pumpkin

Luke ran so fast between each house, but this year Eloise and Sarah kept up with him instead of him being totally on his own.  Eloise was pretty competitive about who would get there first to ring the doorbell, it was a fierce competition!

Claire and I were not so fast....we were constantly trying to catch up, Claire so wanted to be with the big kids.

Eloise is so sweet with Claire.

Here's a little video to give you a little taste for yourself of the trick or treating experience.

Basement bounce house action - the three girls were wrestling in there.

Who can resist trying on the crow, I ask you?  Not this girl!

Not pleased to report that we experienced our first snow of the season this week.  Can't wait until I'm reporting on our last snow of the season (check back in 8 months...).

Claire took this picture of us - she's very serious about her photography