Halloween 2011

We had a great night of trick or treating! Before we get to all the pics, let me give you a little background (for those of you who somehow don't know about my girls and their fears of Halloween.)

We have never gone successfully trick or treating. We tried when the twins were 2 and we got around to a few houses, but it ended badly...with lots of screaming in fright.  

Year 3...all dressed and ready in their cute cheerleader costumes. Never made it out the door. They were terrified! 

Year 4: I didn't even buy costumes that year. I put a bowl of candy on our door step because they were sooooo scared of the kids dressed up in their costumes if I tried to open the door to pass it out.

Anything and everything with a mask has utterly terrified them. 

 

This year I didn't buy costumes either. They told me they wanted to trick or treat indoors. (They get in one bedroom of the house...knock on the door....we answer and give candy. ) Jillian was going to wear the costume that the twins wore and I was going to get a few pictures and that would be it.

Well, yesterday, Kaitlyn told me she wanted to go...for real. Kennedy was a little hesitant. Our cul-de-sac was going to have a pizza party and then all go trick or treating together and so, we decided to go for it! And they did GREAT!!

They literally thought of what they wanted to wear on the way home from school today.  

Don't judge. :)

Kaitlyn wanted to be a ballerina witch (hat made today!), Jillian a bumble bee and Kennedy a ballerina (no witch). I totally expected them to come down in one of their princess dresses, but I guess they felt like this was better! :)

Pizza party time! (Kaitlyn quickly shed the "witch" hat)

 Kennedy

 

 

 

 Jillian

 

 

 

 Madi and Meagan stopped to chat with the girls!

 My ballerinas

 Group photo! (Yes, we ALL went together!!)

 Waiting for trick or treat time

 Kennedy helping Jillian learn the ropes

"Trick or treat!"

 Running to the next house

 The bigger girls stayed behind and walked with Jillian...so sweet

 They had to stop and hug a ninja turtle they saw on their way back home.

 "I'm tired, mommy."

Kaitlyn and Jillian looking at all their loot! Kennedy got just as much. Can we say...too much candy???
I'm soooo proud of the girls for being so brave. They even saw some super scary masks along the way, but they didn't freak out. :) 
Year 5 was a Halloween success! (and year 2 for Jilly...who has no fears of these type of things.)

Fall Fun

  After our pumpkin patch trip, we carved our big pumpkin and the girls painted their little pumpkins!

 Kennedy

 

 Kaitlyn

 

 Tony did a great job carving!

 Their painted pumpkins.

 Our crazy pumpkin!

This Sat we went to a local fall festival with Cooper and my brother and sister-in- law.

 Our "before' picture (bright sun!)

 Train ride!!!

 Sweet Kaitlyn

 Jillian had a blast!

 Next up....pony rides!! This was the first time they have wanted to do this! They loved it. (Kaitlyn)

 Kennedy

 Cooper

 Jilly

 Smile!

 They had to ride the train again!

 And definitely get snow cones!

 This picture makes me laugh! I think at this point they had had enough of me saying" smile" and taking pictures! :)

 Jillian trying some cotton candy along with her snow cone. She loved it!

 Cute girl

 There were lots of games and bounce houses too! They loved winning all the prizes.

At the end, Tony got off work and was able to join us! It was getting dark (and pretty chilly) but I was so thankful that he got to be there for some of it. 

Pumpkin patch

 The girls were sooo excited about going to the pumpkin patch today. We met up with the Fox's and the kids had a great time.

The traditional "on the stairs" picture.  (Kaitlyn, Jillian, Kennedy)

 Having fun!

 Kennedy

 Kaitlyn

 Jillian

 Bounce house fun

 Sweet sisters

 Hmmmm....which one should I pick?

 This one!

 Kaitlyn

 Kennedy

 Kaitlyn, Kennedy, Jillian

 Leigh, Ryan and Kade came! That made it so much fun for all of the kids to be together and it was nice to have friend for me too! :)

All the kiddos!

 There was a playground nearby so that was our next stop.

 Just a swingin'

After the playground, we made one more trip to the bounce house and then picked out our pumpkins. The girls each got one (to paint)  and I bought a big one for us to carve.

Guess where we ended up after the pumpkin patch? Yup! Chick-fil-a. We were sad daddy had to miss all the fun, so we stopped in for a visit and some lunch. Jillian felt like such a big girl sitting at the table with her sisters and Ryan. Kade sat at our table. :)
What a super fun morning! Thank goodness for naptime! I'm gonna need one too! :)