Two Halloween parties down, four to go!

Max and I walked the back woods this morning to see how many of the decorations are still standing.  We're having a second Halloween party at our house tomorrow for our little homeschool group!

I'm going to use the same theme, but on a smaller scale, and I'm going to walk the kids around on a tour and read the hints.  We'll be delivering eviction notices (and maps to the new camp sites) to all the monsters in their pumpkin "mailboxes."

Max, pointing to the banner and saying, "Kitty!"  I remember when Gabe went through the same stage where he just loved kitties!

"Turtle" is another one of his new words.  I can't let him see this turtle on display because he always picks it up and runs away with it.

At the last minute tonight, Gabe wound up accompanying Joe and Maya to the Trunk-or-Treat at their church.  That was party #2.

We have the party at our house tomorrow afternoon, then another Trunk-or-Treat with the Cypress Homeschool Association on Friday.

Then Saturday we have a party at another family's house, then Dan's family's party down the road.

And then Sunday is HALLOWEEN!!

My two goofballs.

Did Max steal the camera this morning and take this picture of himself?  Well, that's what it looks like.

Gabe, making a goofy face too.

I can't get Max to sit in the high chair thing anymore, but sometimes he'll sit in the sink.

He makes plenty of mess, but at least a mess in the sink is easy to clean!

"Cut it out, and leave your brother alone."

"Are you listening to me?"

"Gabe!!"

Dad took Gabe to soccer practice tonight, and he said that the coach calls Gabe "Rocket Foot" because he can kick the ball hard!  That makes me proud.  I love my silly boys.

Halloween part 2 ... the party!

Alright this is PART 2 of the Halloween pictures.  There will be no more parts after this ... moving on tomorrow!

Despite the look on his face here, Max was actually very good and content for the whole party!

Thanks to Clari for taking all the party photos.  (Well, except for this one, evidently ...)

Guests started arriving ... Here's Maya with Jerry and Shay's daughter Riley!

Aunt Susie the clown with her granddaughter Kate!

Our two superheroes, Joe as Superman and Gabe as Swampfire!

Carl with Tripp and Erik with Kate ... cute babies!

Last minute preparations ...  (Guess I was still doing those till mid-way through the party!)

All the food looked great!

Katie with Ruby.

Gabe said, "I didn't want my mom to be called the 'Yucky Witch.'"  He was very mad at me for the first part of the party for not planning our usual hunt ... following me around and whining that this was the worst party ever!  After the monsters came out he decided it was one of the best, though!!

The kids came to get their assignment from the Yucky Witch.

Josh and Sandy.

The hay ride is always a hit.

The real fun happens when the monsters come out!

Can't find all my monster pics now, and running low on time!  All the guys did an awesome job:  Dan as the scarecrow, Scott as the mad scientist, Jerry as the werewolf, Josh as the mummy, and Brian as Frankenstein.  Thanks to all!

Another Halloween tradition seems to be making a gelatin brain and finding it, forgotten, in the fridge the next day.  Finally pulled it out for the kids to eat tonight.  Yum!

Halloween part 1 ... the setup.

I can't finish the Halloween blog in one night because (1) it's too big a topic, (2) the photo disc keeps causing my stupid computer to have a "cyclic redundancy error" and shut down, and (3) the only reason Max has quit screaming at me right now is that I'm constantly feeding him pieces of cough drop!

Here's the setup in the barn before the party began!

Sea Monster in the pond ...

Ghosts behind the pond.

The scarecrow in the garden is a new addition this year.

Mom created this garden.  It's the Yucky Witch's garden, to be contrasted with the Cookie Witch's garden, which was beautiful!!

The Pumpkin Goblin in his "home sweet home."

The three hags are brand new!

The Invisible Man is also a new addition.  He was a hit!

Sleepy Hollow was my favorite part to dream up.  Sadly, though, I guess I failed to explain it fully or make adequate signage!  I'm thinking that a lot of people didn't notice the Headless Horseman lurking in the shed behind the fence, holding his head.  I also had a smashed pumpkin in the trail, which was found with his hat ... the last trace of Ichabod Crane.  Someone must have thought that the smashed pumpkin in the trail was an accidental mess, and picked it up and set it on the fence post!  (This is what I am guessing ... maybe there was more to the story than that?)

Gabe said that the "Giant Monster" was his favorite new addition.

The alligator looked great out in the grass.  We had to bring him in today, though, because something was trying to eat his eye or rip it off ...

Frankenstein's lab, where the kids got to play the "Spooky Feel Game" to identify body parts, and also give the heart a few pumps (with a bicycle pump) to help bring Frankenstein back to life.

The front gate, set up by Mom!!

Coming soon, photos from the actual party!  (As soon as I overcome technical difficulties with the disc.)  Cackle, cackle.  But, since you're being good (and so is Max, now), I will add a couple pics from today!

This morning we went walking to see what remained of the decor we left out last night.

Here's the aforementioned Headless Horseman, leaning up against the horse shelter.  (There's a sign pointing to him!)  You can also see where some thoughtful person cleaned up the smashed pumpkin by putting it on fence posts.

I hope some folks made it down the path to see the motion-activated ghost!

And the spooky eye guys in the brush!

Gabe had a soccer game today after these were taken.  Guess what!!  He scored a goal!! 

Fidget overindulged on party day and was seen having explosive diarrhea afterward.

Recuperating from Party Day and discussing what to do next year!

More party pics when I get them!  Goodnight!