A Spooktacular Week

This year we had a full week of Halloween!

Our fun started the Friday before Halloween. The city of Valparaiso had their annual trick or treating around the square. The weather was a little wet which seemed to help lessen the usual crowds. There was still a good turnout of people but not quite the large crowds there have been in the past few years. The kids had fun trick or treating at the shops and going for a John Deere led hay ride.

The Trick Or Treaters

Claudia on the hayride

William checking out the police car

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the kids had Halloween parties at their library programs. Unfortunately I forgot my camera on Tuesday but DID remember it for William's class on Wednesday.

William (the fireman) and class

William's library parade

On Wednesday and Thursday nights, Brian and the kids carved our pumpkins (four this year!) into jack-o-lanterns. Things got a little crazy in the kitchen so I stayed away and let Brian manage the chaos all by himself....

"Let's carve mine first"
"No, mine first"
"No, mine"
"OK, since you two can't stop arguing, we'll carve Mom's first"

"Would you stop grabbing the pumpkin before it falls on the floor and breaks?!"

"Stop touching the knives or the pumpkin will be finished now with only one eye!"

"Would you please stop grabbing my arm when I'm carving?! This knife is sharp!"

The final results - with no injuries!

Then came Friday, the "real" Halloween! First, William's preschool had a short program and trick or treat parade in the church basement. It was fun to watch all the kids sing their spooky songs! Mimi joined us at the program and parade and watched Claudia later in the afternoon so I could return to school and help with the class party. The last half an hour of class was reserved for games and the party. William left school with a bucket full of treats and a huge smile on his face.

Later that evening, Grandma and one of William's friends from school and his family joined us for supper. We attempted to gets the kids to eat so they wouldn't make a meal out of candy. Not much luck..... It was Halloween after all!

We took the kids trick-or-treating down Lafayette and Washington Streets. The boys had fun running from house to house. Claudia, as cute as she was as a green M&M, couldn't quite keep up. In fact, after about four or five houses she wailed pitifully to be carried. She did manage to walk up to most of the doors for treats - nothing gets in her way when candy is involved!
Our neighbors had their usual spooky house complete with music, gore, amazing decorations and the comical commentator! All of the kids, Claudia included, braved the big front porch with scary witches, werewolves, and monsters, the promise of more Halloween treats winning out over any fear or trepidation.
Halloween in our neighborhood is incredible. It actually reminds me of a movie set.... tons of families walking up and down the streets and lots of decorated houses complete with animated "scary guys". Grandma, who handed out candy at our house, said we had a record amount of kids this year. Thank goodness we didn't run out of candy!

Our neighbor's porch

Our neighbor's haunted house

The kids couldn't wait to get home to chow down on their treats!

What a fun week. Both of the kids have been asking when they get to do Halloween again!