Family Pumpkin Carving & Halloween Decor for next year!

This is the LAST Halloween post, I swear! The day before Halloween we carved our pumpkins as a family. The kids had such a blast and behaved really well. Gabriella tried to eat the pumpkin the entire time but she loved getting her hands dirty to get all of the seeds out! 

Instead of buying the kits, we decided to do it the old fashioned way and carve with whatever talent we had (Although, Tyler and I basically did the kids. Ty did try!). Ha ha! Each pumpkin turned out pretty cute. 

Our finished pumpkins!

*****************************************************************

I LOVE shopping after Holidays. You can buy really cute decorations for 50-80%, depending on how long you wait. Each Holiday I buy one regular priced item and spend about $12 after the Holiday to stock up for the following year. My mother in law has the most amazing decorations so I hope to have a festive house like her's once my kids are older. 

This year I bought Starburst Candy Corn. Big disappointment. They DID NOT taste like Starburst. 

Two Hurricane candle holders, a web craft and two little figurines. 

This for Ty! Ty wanted a large skeleton but the day after Halloween all of them were completely wiped out. Luckily, I was able to find this for 0.85 and he was pleased with it! 

I don't have a lot of Thanksgiving decorations so I'm really looking forward to stocking up this year! 

Halloween 2013

Since Ty is a Kindergartner, he was able to participate in the Halloween parade at school. He was looking forward to smiling, waving at people and of course, wearing his cool costume. He wanted his Grandma Maria to come so he called her and she said, "Of course I'll come!" I tried to give her an out but she wasn't having it (and he was getting upset I was trying to tell her not to come) and was so excited to come. So, my darling mother in law drove the two hours to see her grandson walk around the black top (like 5 times) and spend the day with them. It was perfect. The kids enjoyed being with her and I know she had a blast. 

After the parade, Ty had a little party with his class and we went to pick up our Disneyland tickets we won. 

We had plans to go to Apple Hill but those were quickly changed once our battery died. We waited to get jumped then we had to buy a battery but luckily found out it was still under warranty so we drove to another store so we could get it half off. 

After our fun little adventure, she had to go :( It was such a great visit but she had to get on the road to try to miss traffic. After she left, we went Downtown where the kids trick or treated at all of the stores. It was fun! The kids got so much candy! We quickly ate dinner and went trick or treating with Grandma and Grandpa, Mariah and Erick. It was a blast. The kids got so much candy and when they came home they each received post cards from their Great Grandparents who are vacationing in Hawaii. 

It was the most perfect day! We are so grateful for the family we have in our life. Nothing could be better :) 

 Grandma and Gabriella

 Ty waving!

 Ty and Michael

 Grandma and Ty

 The mamas with our boys :)

 Yay!!! We got (4) 2 Day tickets!!!!! 

 Trick or Treating with Erick

Boo and Ty the Clone Trooper 

Trunk or Treat

Our church does a Halloween party called the "Trunk Or Treat" every year and the kids love it! We have dinner, games and the kids are able to go "trick or treating" by collecting candies from the back of cars in a parking lot. This year, I was in charge of one game (Mystery Boxes) and had to make cupcakes for a cake walk. Once again, it was totally fun! 

 There were Tarantulas (Fake ones from dollar store), Brains (Jello mixed with pasta), Eyeballs (Peeled grapes), Ears (Fake ones from dollar store) and Teeth (Corn nuts). It was A HIT!

 Candy Corn Cupcakes from Our Best Bites

 Boo and Sulley

 Padme and the cutest Clone Trooper

 Pumpkin bowling! Gabriella loved it!

 She knocked one down!

 Getting her little prize

Darth Mama and my Clone Trooper! 

We won Disneyland tickets!

So, we won! After a extreme and slightly pathetic amount of text messages sent (thank goodness for unlimited texting) we FINALLY won! I'm cheap. I have no shame in admitting that. I am very tight with money and when radio/tv stations started giving away 4 2 Day pack of Disneyland tickets I was thrilled. I entered contests religiously for over 3 months. I was determined to win. And it paid off. 

As soon as the secret code was said over the air, I would text Tyler (on his work and personal phone) and my mother in law or mom so they could text. And then I would text like over 100 times. I have to admit every time I saw, " Sorry you didn't win..." I kept thinking it was a scam. I was bitter. 

 BEST FEELING EVER!!!

We can't wait!!!!!! :)