The Summary

It was a very busy Halloween. It seems that every year I pile as much into that one day as I possibly can but somehow we still always manage to have a fabulous time.

The day started out with dancing and singing, "It's Halloween! It's Halloween" by the boys, and turning on all our pumpkin decorations and even a Halloween movie. Then the boys eagerly ate breakfast and we put our costumes on. Well, not me. I just dressed festively. I wasn't about to wear tons of makeup and my high heeled boots all day.

After we got our costumes on the boys and I headed out to show the grandparents. This has become an annual tradition that started when Joey was just eight months old. First we go to my MIL's work and parade the boys around in their costumes while all the employees ohh and ahh and give the boys candy. We take pictures with grandma, visit for a while, and then head on over to my FIL's house. Again, the boys are given much candy, we visit and take a few pictures, and then head out again. Normally we don't stop at my folks house because they are on our trick or treating route, but this year we stopped to see my dad at the nursing home.

It was a great visit. Dad got to see the boys in their costumes, though I'm not sure he really knew who they were this time. Still, he seemed happy to see us, and we even got a couple of pictures. We also found out that the nursing home staff had sponsered trick or treating (which meant more candy for the boys!) for area kids so that all the residents could hand out candy and see children in costumes. There were decorations every where and tons of kids showed up. It makes me so happy that the nursing home staff always take such measures to try and make the residents feel like they are at home. It was wonderful to see.

After that visit we went back home and ate lunch. I had kind of forgotten about carving pumpkins so immediately after eating lunch we went outside for some carving fun. It was unseasonally warm. The warmest Halloween I can remember, actually, and we had a great time. The boys showed us what they wanted their pumpkins to look like and we got to work.

(First we drew the faces on the pumpkins)

(Then we began digging all the guts out. That's the fun part!)

(And here is the final product. They boys were very pleased.)

When the pumpkins were all done it was time for a nap. The boys climbed the stairs to their rooms with instructions to go right to sleep so that they had enough energy for trick or treating. I'm not sure they followed the instructions, but it was quiet, and that was all I could ask for.

I woke the boys up in full costume, which was enough to get them excited and bounding down the stairs. They got into thier costumes, waited for our friends to show, and then went out trick or treating.

(Yes. Both Joey and Tommy wanted to be Spiderman. Whatcha gonna do?)

The boys did great. They are such troopers and I'm always amazed at how far they can walk. Even Ben! He wouldn't even let me hold his hand or help him carry his bucket when it got full. Not even when it was so full he couldn't lift it up to put the candy in anymore. Such a little man. And I loved his adorable "Teet teet" version of "trick or treat". So much fun.

We walked for almost two hours and then headed home for some dinner. The boys ate really well and then were each allowed three picks of candy from their pumpkins. We watched more Halloween shows and as it neared bedtime my mom came over to watch the boys so Todd and I could enjoy a night out with friends.

(We are such a devilish couple.)

It was a great time hanging with our friends again. But I will say that there is nothing to make you feel old like hanging in a bar with girls in their early twenties who are all dressed in costume. I couldn't find ONE non-slutty Halloween costume. It was so funny. Slutty witch, slutty nurse, slutty referee, slutty Raggedy Ann, slutty Batgirl, slutty WonderWoman, slutty Queen of Hearts card. Who knew a card could be slutty? It seriously kept us in stitches all night.

Once again, Halloween did not disappoint. We had a blast!

(Sarah is the angel and I'm the devil. How cute are we? Best friends since first grade and still cracking each other up.)

(I suppose we'll let the boys get in on some pics too.)