It's lots of Fun on Halloween

It's a lot different not being in Utah for Halloween, especially when Halloween lands on a Sunday. I did let the boys go Trick-or-Treating tonight, but some of our friends decided not to so we had a little Halloween Party with them last night. We began the night next door at the Nordgren's playing games and then we all came over to our house for chili and treats!

 Halloween BINGO

 Bean Bag Toss

 Doughnuts on a String

Then the Big Day came and we got all dressed up for Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. I love our neighbors, everyone is so nice and they go all out for Halloween. The kids got so much candy that I had to dump out their buckets twice because they were too full to hold anymore treats!

The Boys with our Friends Superman and Darth Vader

 Neigh!

 Aarrrrgh!

This Ambulance as well as a Firetruck from the Local Volunteer 

Fire Department came by to give treats and glow-sticks to the kids.

 "Trick-or-Treat"

Happy Halloween!

Harvest Party

Braden had a Harvest Party at school on Friday. The kids played games, made crafts, frosted cookies and ate lots of Treats. Pastor came and carved a pumpkin with the kids and related the carving to Jesus. He talked about how we can get rid of all the "yucky, goop" inside of us through Jesus and that Jesus makes us happy. He also shared that it's His light that Shines through us just like the candle does in the Pumpkin.

Crafts

 Carter could have played with this for Hours

 Decorating Cookies

This One's For Goo

Our local Walmart with the help of the Boy/Girl Scouts sponsored a Trick-or-Treat night for the kids earlier this week. Even though there were a lot of people it was really fun.

Carter was ornery at first...then he Realized he got TREATS!

Primary Halloween Party

Last weekend was our Ward Halloween Party. This year we did a Halloween Carnival. We started with a costume parade and then broke the kids up into several small groups to play the carnival games.

 Yee-Haw!

 Ring Toss

 Clark Kent

 

Apparently Pirates and Michael Jackson Dress Alike

After playing games the kids danced the Monster Mash, ran sack races, traded the tickets they earned from the carnival for prizes and we handed out awards for the BEST costumes (everyone got one). There was also a SPOOKY room for the big kids where they got to touch brains and eyeballs and other creepy things. Lastly was a Frightfully Tasty Lunch.  (I was in charge of the food.)

p-ahh-nnn-kins

Today we finally carved our pumpkins. Braden has been begging for days..but we finally did it. This year we let Braden draw his own face. I don't know why I didn't let him do it before because they turned out so cute and with much more personality!

Carter's Pumpkin (Mom helped Carter draw his face)

 Braden's Pumpkin Face ("it's real scary")

 Cleaning out the Guts

Dad helped with the Dangerous Part

 Finished!

*I just love how cheesy Carter is...."CHEESE!"

eighty years young

This is my Gramma Goodie. (Isn't she Beautiful!)

Growing up, one of my favorite things to do was go to Gramma's house. Her house was magical. The minute you walked in you just knew something wonderful was going to happen. She had a magic cupboard that always held treats left by the magic mouse and the best dress-ups and if you were lucky enough to take a bath at her house you could look forward to being pampered with rose powder after toweling off. My favorite thing I got to do with my Gramma were special sleepovers at her house. She always tucked us in and read us amazing stories (Gramma is the best story teller) and made the best scrambled eggs for breakfast. And if it was your birthday sleepover, you got to go out to lunch and then go shopping to pick out your birthday present with her.

I may not have sleepovers at her house now, and our visits seem few and far between, but I still love to be with my Gramma to hear of the amazing things she is doing with her volunteer work or her sharing her testimony of the gospel with me. She truly is an elect lady.

 Grampa & Gramma Johnsen

Happy Birthday Gramma! I love you!

Cap'n Braden's Party

We decided that Braden could have his first Friend Party this year. Braden has made so many good friends here in Pennsylvania and we wanted to take this opportunity to really have some fun. I let Braden chose the theme: PIRATES!

 As the kids arrived we played pass the Skull (Hot Potato).

I downloaded some pirate music to play while they played.

Once everyone arrived we did a craft. The kids made Spyglasses and Pirate Ships...

 ...and everyone got a Pirate Hat...

 ...and an Eye Patch.

Next we played Pin the "X" on the Map.

 Then we went outside for a Treasure Hunt.

 The final clue lead them back inside to the Treasure Box...

 ...where everyone got their share of the booty!

(Inside each goody-bag was: fish candy, a ring pop, gold coins, tatoos, a skull ring, a compass and pirate teeth.)

 

After the kids got their treats, Braden opened his presents...

 ...and then we ate cake and ice cream!

 It all went so fast to me but I think they all had a Great Time!

 

 This guy I think had a little too much fun!