I don't know what it is, but this October has felt jam-packed full of Halloween parties. And there is more to come! Don't get me wrong, I love Halloween. But when you've had a hand in planning or helping at 4 out of 6 activites, in one month, it can verge on Halloween overkill. Although, getting to see and participate in the creativity that went into each event has definitely made it a fun and we have really enjoyed each one.
FATHER-DAUGHTER HALLOWEEN PARTY
As part of my calling as 1st counselor in the Primary Presidency I am over the Activity Days program. It is for all the girls 8-11 years old and they meet twice a month to work on goals (gospel learning, talents, service, etc.). In October they held a Father-Daughter Halloween Party and I got to help out a bit with decorating the tables.
(ugh, trying to get a decent picture in the gym is always a hard battle with that lovely yellow glow.)
Our Activity Days leaders are just fantastic. And fun. And creative. Just look at that adorable mummy photo backdrop! They did a great job with this activity. And I know the girls so so so enjoy spending this one-on-one time with their dads - playing games, dressing up, being silly.
During the 1 hour they . . . posed for pictures, enjoyed a soup dinner, decorated a craft pumpkin, and played games (TP mummy, donut on a string, obstacle course, halloween bowling, ghost hunt)
WITCHES SOIREE
Once a month I have a Girls Night Out on the calendar. Hallelujiah! There is a large email list that goes out and whoever is available can come. A different person hosts each month which means they get to decide what we do -- it could be a gathering at her house, dinner out, a movie, or whatever. This month our host planned a Witch's Soiree!
Angela, Steph, Me!, Kari, Kristi, Katie
Ipuna, Garrettson, Angelina, Jean (the host), Kenzy
Stephanie, Shannon, Samantha, Hayley, Lena
Julie
We all came in witch attire, enjoyed some fun Halloween-themed foods, and played a few games. Jean did a great job of bringing everyone together to do something different and fun and silly.
FALL FESTIVAL
Our elementary school puts on a fall festival every year and I have to say that this year was definitely the best! Carnival games, music, free balloon art & face painting, a cakewalk, silent auction for some incredible donated gift baskets, teacher & staff flash mob, food trucks! . . . And the weather is pretty great in October so it can all be held outside.
I helped out a tiny bit with setting up the pumpkin display. Each class is given an pumpkin to decorate -- usually it is done by one of the class moms. These are put on display and then people can "vote" for their favorite pumpkin by dropping $1 raffle tickets into the class bucket. All of the money from those tickets goes directly to the class. And at the end of the night a ticket is drawn from each class and that person wins the pumpkin and gets to take it home.
The creatvitiy of some of these parents amazes me. No, it astounds me. This takes pumpkin decorating to whole new level!
Anna was really excited that we won the pumpkin for her class. It wasn't the most creative pumpkin there -- it is difficult to compete with a 3-tiered pumpkin ice cream cone! -- but, it did come with candy.
TRUNK OR TREAT
Last night our Primary Presidency was in charge of putting on the ward Trunk-or-Treat. We had a dinner to go along with the activity - hot dogs, chili, and apples. I only got a few photos on my iPhone - again, in that wonderful gym lighting - but everything looked really cute. We had a cute display for the donuts
I also made the backdrop for the photobooth and it turned out super cute. Katie made some great signs that people could hold up, including a framed sign that said our ward's name, Trunk or Treat, and the year.
A lady in our ward who is a professional photographer was kind enough to come with all her equipment - lights, reflectors - and take photos of all the families. I can't wait to see them!
After dinner we had all the kids line up and they followed me around the gym in a costume parade. There were a LOT of kids! See Payton there smiling at me? For the record, he is not a cowboy. He is Merlin. When I take and share his real photos on Halloween day I'll explain more about that.
Katie had made a list of 20 costume awards for our judges to mull over and she even put together these cute medals out of York Peppermint Patties to hand out to the kids. So cute! We really have a great presidency and I love seeing how things come together so seamlessly with everyone pitching in to do their part.
Anna won the Prettiest Costume award.
For the Trunk-or-Treat portion of the night I put no time or thought into decorating our trunk so I turned it over to Scott. I went outside and found this . . .
Yep, that would be the LoveSac in the back of Scott's truck. After we finished handing out trunk-or-treat awards (best overall, spookiest, most festive) I came back to the truck and said, "And the Laziest Trunk award goes to you!" They all laughed. Because that was totally what they were going for.
But, he did dress up. Of his own choosing. You can't tell in the photo, but Conner is also dressed up as Captain Kirk.
Like I said, lots of fun parties. But also, lots of parties!
This coming week I am in charge of Anna's 3rd grade class party. Oh, and then there is actual Halloween. Luckily, we have no school on Friday/Halloween because it is also Nevada Day. I think we will spend the day carving our pumpkins, watching The Great Pumpkin and Ghostbusters, make a Halloween treat, and of course take photos for our Halloween Memories Album.
