Halloween Festivities

So the kids definitely got good use out of their Halloween costumes this year.  Since the scary carnival at cousin Zacks' school, we've had many different opportunities to get the kids all dressed up...and each time, Hunter  has mentioned the scary mask.  Sadly, the same scary mask that was at the carnival, was at the trunk or treat we went to at my sisters' church.  I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone or at the very least experiencing deja vu when Hunter literally jumped into my arms from the terror of having to look at that thing again.

Last weekend we went to a pumpkin patch to pick out our porch pumpkins.  I don't think I've ever waited this late in the month to go, but our life is crazy right now and time really got away from me.  Somehow, the only picture I got from the entire outing was this one...

 Charlotte was really excited about her two mini pumpkins!

After the pumpkin patch we headed to my sisters' to change clothes and go to their church's trunk or treat.  When we first got there, Hunter ran to the slides, and in true Buzz character, flew down them...

Not long after that, he spotted the scary skeleton mask and was really clingy and timid throughout the entire trunk or treating process.  He still got TONS of candy though!

By the end of the night we were pooped!  And once again, when we pulled into the dark garage, Hunter said "There's a scary mask inside!"  Luckily, he is calmed down pretty easily...his rational side comes from his daddy, and we all know who his fearful side comes from.  At least I can relate to him...

Then this weekend we had the Martinez's annual Halloween party.  Picture taking was not at the top of my priority list this night, so we ended the night with this one lone picture...

 Hunter would not pose alone for the picture, so lucky James got to be the one adult in the group kids in their costumes photo.

Tonight for Halloween, we went over to my sisters' house as always.  Charlotte was itching to get out and start trick or treating!

 But we were able to distract her with some pizza until we were all ready to go...

Finally it was time!! We loaded up the car for the short drive to Nanny and Grandad's house...

Right when we walked in Vanesa, Zack and Hunter swarmed the candy bowl while Charlotte just stood back.  But after she finally realized what was in the bowl, she charged over to it and started grunting for bites!

 She was a big fan of Nanny's candy choices, as was her brother...

After 2 starbursts (given in little bites), I cut Char off, but that didn't stop her from pleading for more...

 When I wouldn't give in, she decided it was time to work Grandad...

 Look at that sweet face...how could anyone tell her no?

After Hunter and Zack played us some Halloween tunes on the organ, it was time to go.

 But not before Charlotte put some more candy in her bucket...

 and tried to eat it with the wrapper still on...

 We headed to several houses on Nanny and Grandad's street and then went back to Katie's neighborhood to finish trick or treating.  Here's our first house...

 As we were walking away, they called out, "Happy Halloween!" to which Hunter responded, "Happy tricking!"

 Poor Charlotte.  In case you hadn't noticed yet, her Minnie dress was constantly riding up.  After a while, I gave up on pulling it down, and convinced myself it was okay for her behind to show as long as she had ruffle bloomers, which you know she did.

We tried to pick her up, but she was adamant about walking.  She twisted and turned and whined when we tried to hold her to speed the process along a little.

Nothing was going to distract Hunter from his trick or treating, though.  He was really focused...

 Whenever someone would give him candy, he'd say, "I'm gonna have so much candy!!!!"

When the woman at this house was passing out the candy, the door was blocking Hunter at first, and he loudly exclaimed in a panic, "I need my tricks!"

 It was so funny.  I can't stop laughing about it.  Really.  I just laughed out loud typing it.

After my sister's neighborhood, we packed up the car and headed for one last stop at Grandee and Poppy's house...

 Both of my children promptly headed for the stairs...

 Until Grandee told them she had candy and that sent them rushing down.  Hunter gave me the best pictures of the night here.  I can always count on Poppy to make him smile...

 Grandee kept asking him who he was, and he'd say, "I'm Buzz Candy."  That you are Hunter, that you are...

Armstrong Fall Festival

My nephew's school had a carnival on Friday with dinner, games, a silent auction, and a hay ride.  We were really excited to get the kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes for the first time...

As soon as we got there, Hunter wanted to eat!  So we bought some tickets and went to get some pizza...which ended up taking up ALL of our tickets.  Think we underestimated a bit?  The kids definitely thought it was worth it, though...

Look at those wings.  Hunter was whacking people with them all night.  His new favorite quote is to say, "That's not flying.  That's falling with style."  I think he's a little confused on which character he is...and you know I fought for him to be Woody, but that kid is a Buzz fan all the way...

Hunter was really slow to finish because he was a little scared by that vampire across the table...

He was also scared of the preteen in the Scream mask at the end of our table.  To be honest, so was I.

After dinner, we bought some more tickets and headed over to the games.  Hunter spotted this sucker pull in .5 seconds, and couldn't wait to get his candy...

He didn't win, so he got to keep his sucker...which you know he actually preferred.

Then we went to the gym where he wanted to play the football game.  Of course.  Football is so his sport of choice.  If you ask him if he wants to play soccer or t-ball, he'll tell you he wants to play football. 

Well it looks like we have a future Romo on our hands because he made both shots!

We were so proud:)

After the games, we headed over to stand in line for a hayride.  We had to wait for a while, and Hunter spotted this boy right away...

He had that skeleton mask on at the time, and y'all, my son freaked. out.  There is really no way I can explain how terrified he was.  He literally screamed and shook and grabbed on to my shirt so tightly that his knuckles were completely white.  He also said, "I'm scared!  It's scary" over and over and over, which you'd think would cue the kid's father to make him remove the mask, but it didn't.  I don't know why I was surprised since that was his idea of a "kid-friendly" costume, which is what the elementary school had advertised needed to be worn. 

Finally the boy did take it off, which somewhat helped Hunter to see that mommy and daddy weren't lying when we told him it was just a mask for pretend.  He was still terrified though, and gripped on to me as tightly as he could, making sure to leave this look plastered on his face for the rest of the time we waited...

It was like a train wreck.  He could not look away from that boy.
The hay ride finally came, and thank the Lord we were the last ones on so the scary skeleton kid didn't have to ride with us.  Hunter did make sure to explain to Vanesa just how much he was traumatized by that scary mask, though...

Toward the end he was able to calm down a little and enjoy it with his sister...

When we got home that night and pulled into the garage, Hunter said, "The scary mask is in there."  I was so worried he wouldn't go inside the house and just knew he wouldn't go to bed, but once again, he surprised me.  He's so much braver than his mommy:)

The Pumpkin House

Hunter has been asking to go to "the pumpkin house" for weeks now.  Y'all know I jumped right on that since the Arboretum is every mother's picture taking dream.  So last Saturday we ventured out there, and $41 later, we were in pumpkin paradise.  (And yes, I seriously considered picking up my cell phone to schedule James's vasectomy that very moment.  Clearly we can't afford anymore kids when it costs $41 for our family of 4 to go on a 1 hour outing.)

As usual, Hunter wanted nothing to do with picture taking when we first got there, but Charlotte was happy to pose for me...

We made our way back toward the pumpkin houses and passed these HUGE pumpkins...

I couldn't get the kids to stop climbing on them!

We finally made it to the pumpkin houses, and Hunter was in awe (to be honest, so was I!)...

Inside one of the pumpkin houses...

They are so cute!

After the little rest at the table, we went to the smaller pumpkin house...

As much as I love pictures, I am so not a skilled photographer.  I had such high hopes for cute pictures on these pumpkin piles, but couldn't position well...

Same thing with the hay, except this time I couldn't position the camera...

Hunter saw the fountains when we were in pumpkin area, and H was dying to get over to them...

It's so weird to me that he loved it so much, because he hates spray parks, but he couldn't get enough!  He was running around and laughing hysterically...

Charlotte loved the water too...

After the frog fountains, we walked for a while and found another one with pumpkins floating in it...

Y'all know that bridge that goes over the swampy area?  Well you can totally go into the swampy area.  Who knew that!  We thought it was so cool.  Hunter was looking at the fish here...

We loved it so much we sat and relaxed for a while...

We had such a fun pumpkin house visit!  Can't wait for next year!