Hectic, Happy Halloween

This Halloween was bit crazy this year. Usually, Brigham and I throw a Halloween party for friends and family and we have a good little turn out with games and treats and a costume contest that I'm told most enjoy. This year, since we moved, I didn't think that we would be throwing a party. Unfortunately, my dad, who is a member in the bishopric of the ward, heard me complaining about this and bragging about our Halloween parties and decided to do something about it.

And that is how we got put in charge of the ENTIRE ward Halloween party. Not cool.

However, I soon caught the party-planning fire and set to work on a fun (in my opinion) Clue Mystery party where I had five people play Clue Characters and one of them smashed the Ward Pumpkin that had been on display (couldn't do murder mystery at a church function, danget). Then the Ward had to figure out how it was smashed (weapon like music stand, chair, etc.) and in what room (primary, young men's, etc.). To figure out they completed challenges (bean bag toss, trivia game, etc.) to get clues revealed to them to narrow down to the answer.

It was stressful, hectic, crazy, complicated (I swear next time I'm just planning a chili cook-off and trunk-or-treat without the mystery game....actually, may there never be a next time), but I've heard good reports back that it was unique and fun. Let's just say I'm glad it's over, and that I prefer 10-20 people parties instead of 150-200 people.

At at the Ward party we had someone take pictures of families in costume and here are ours:

Last year at Halloween, Lydia instead that next year she wanted be Rapunzel. Well she remembered all year long. And much to Brigham's dismay, I insist on family themed costumes while we our kids still let us. So that's how we came to be Rapunzel, Pascal, Flynn Rider, and Mother Gothell.

Aunt Kayleen went as a witch.

Two nights later we dressed up once more for Halloween night.

We decided to go to the senior center so the elderly, who aren't able to get out and have normal trick or treaters, could enjoy some kids in costumes. They were ready and waiting and had glow sticks and face paint for us too!

Ammon couldn't have face paint. For some reason he either breaks out in hives or some other horrible rash.

We finished a lot faster than we thought at the senior center, so we made our way around a small part of the neighborhood. Ammon was not shy and if they said take a handful, he dug both hands in and really went for it. He really did not like when they put the candy in his bag for him; he wanted to pick and feel the candy in his hand, himself. He also kept trying to talk to every person and ask them about their house, animals, why, or just copy what they said. He sure is fun now that he's talking. I also had to ban him from suckers because that's all he would pick. This mom needs some good candy to filch from...meaning chocolate, reeses, and such. Luckily, Lydia is fond of reeses these days and did her momma proud picking her fare share of them to make up for Ammon's lack of taste.

By time we completed the circle through the neighborhood, the kids were done and ready to be home. We watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown while we went through our loot.

I was surprised how much we got from such a small route. I think they scored! They sure are happy about it :)

It was a different Halloween this year, and a good one. I missed our party, our usual trick-or-treating partners and route, but I enjoyed the new fun we had. Lydia is already insisting on being a butterfly next year and that Ammon has to be a moth because that is boy butterfly. I don't know that this costume idea will hold, but we'll see.

The other exciting news, that was making everything 100% more hectic, is we put an offer in on a house and out of six offers that were placed, we received the counteroffer and then we counteroffered the counteroffer and that was just accepted today! I was rushing around on the day of the ward Halloween party trying to get everything ready and set up while simultaneously rushing around and filling out highest bid paperwork and freaking out. Now we get to go through all the mutual acceptance paperwork, inspections, and more. We'll see if it all works out, but here we go!

Here is the google maps shot of the house:

Not a very good picture, but some idea of what we're looking at. It has a huge yard, four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, etc. The only downside is that it's forty minutes away from my parents house :(  But we'll see what happens and hopefully we'll be able to call this home soon. Am I ready to be responsible for a house? Guess we'll find out!