Pumpkins, Trick-or-Treating & More...

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. From decorating, to pumpkin carving to trick-or-treating, we really enjoyed the fun of it all.
Friday after school Payton had a "Mario Halloween Playdate" with his pal Lilly. She dressed up as another Super Mario Bros character named "Princess Peach" for Halloween. So we had to get them together for some costumed fun before the big day. We met up at the Village by our house and let them get ice cream and then play by the fountain. Of course they had a blast.

I wish I had pictures to post of the two "scary" events we did last weekend. Friday night, the rec center by Payton's school put on a Halloween Haunted House. Payton was so excited to go! We walked up there after dinner and met some of his classmates and neighbors. I think he was expecting it to be like the Haunted Mansion at Disney, but it turned out to be more like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. I didn't go in, but Brian said it was a lot of blood and gore and people grabbing at you. NO THANK YOU! Not my style. When Payton came out, I asked, "Was it fun!?!" He said, "NO! IT WAS NOT FUN!" I think he was a little mad that it turned out to be so scary. Fortunately, there were no nightmares that evening.

On Saturday night, we went with some friends to a local "Haunted Hayride." It was much more tame and not scary at all, but since it was through the woods and it was completely dark out, it was just scary enough for Payton.
Yesterday, we had fun carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating. Payton was thrilled when Brian let him use the pumpkin carving tools to help him carve his "Chicago Bear eating a Brett Favre Packer" pumpkin. It turned out pretty darn funny actually.

 

 Payton is old enough now that the act of getting free candy from neighbors has taken on a whole new level of fun. He ran from house to house last night with some other neighbor friends of his. He was so proud of his "loot" at the end of the route.

 

We had a great Halloween, now on to Thanksgiving! Anyone have any cute Thanksgiving crafts or recipes they want to share???