Halloween!

In years past, it has always been that I was working on days like Halloween so I am always SO rushed once I get off work to get everything done and everyone ready to head out for festivities.  This year, I purposely tood the day off so I could prepare and have plenty of time to have fun with my kids...and that I did!

Adison and I spent the majority of the day hanging out at home...playing games, cleaning up the house and eventually heading out to the grocery store where we purchased cookies to make and lots of healthy fall foods to cook up during the upcoming week.

Once 3 o'clock rolled around and we were able to get Krystin from school the real fun began...
Cookies, Icing and Jack-O-lantern carving fun!

I always enjoy activities in the kitchen with my girls.  The conversations are usually interesting and the giggling...well, constant!  Anticipating a big mess with the Jack-O-Lantern carving, all 3 of us dug out our aprons and tied them on...bring on the goo!!  Krystin did not hesitate to dig in and get her hands dirty, Adison on the other hand was not so sure.  Needless to say there were a lot of..."EEWWWW, GROSS" expressions coming from my 3 year old.  Of course, being Mommy I just HAD to utilize the opportunity for a teaching moment with the pumpkin so as we went step by step through the carving process...I turned it into a story of sorts.  I explained the the pumpkin was a lot like us to start with...plump and without a lot of shape...just round.  Then when we let God start to work on us, he opens us up (as we cut open the "lid") and Jesus comes inside to start scooping out the 'icky' stuff inside and making us clean from the inside out (as we scoop out the pumpkin "guts").  God then begins to carve us into what he would have us to look like (as we carve the Jack-o-lantern's face) and he places a light in us that will shine out for the world to see (as we place the candle inside).  My desire is that my children would see God in EVERYTHING that they do!

By then, our friends were arriving and it was time to get dressed up and head out for some trick or treat fun!  This year was a little bittersweet for me though considering this was the first year that Krystin decided she was too old to dress up :(

This year Adison decided to be a cowgirl...aka "Outlaw Adi".  YEEHAW!

Dressed and ready to go we headed out and met up with some other friends...ready to take on the neighborhood and collect some serious candy!

Although Adison was one of the youngest of the bunch...she was determined to keep up (literally running) with the big kids and had a blast with the whole trick or treat experience.  Each and every house produced the same reaction as she came away with reward for her effort...."Mommy, Mommy, look I got TREATS!!!!!"  Over and over, house after house, up and down hills until finally she just couldn't take it anymore and ended up finishing the night from Daddy's strong and able shoulders...

By the time we were done trick or treating, everyone was starving...we had worked up quite an appetite! So we headed off to the nearest restaurant and finished up the night, then headed home with our treasures and treats and an exhausted 3 year old who crashed quickly. 

Although Krystin did not dress up this year, she played the amazing role of big sister and helped watch after every step Adison took.  She would guide, direct and even accompany Adison to the door of some houses along the trick or treat route.  Krystin is a supreme example of a protective and AWESOME big sis!

Good times...memories made!

Dear angel girls,

Don't ever take the connection of sisters for granted.  You are so lucky to have each other...take care of and love each other ALWAYS!  Have fun together and enjoy life!  And don't forget to do everything that you do to the glory of the God who made you.

Love,
Mommy