Halloween Nor Cal Style!

The night before Halloween we had our pumpkin carving fest.

The kids scooped out the goop while I got the oven heated for the beloved seeds.

What's pumpkin carving without seeds?

Yummo.

I asked a friend if we should do the Disney templates for carving. 

She told me I was crazy and to stick with letting the kids draw and we carve.

It was the best plan. 

The whole thing was done in under 20 minutes.

Abby and Abram scooping...

And Fordy and me, too.

(Aunt Stace and Grant are directing the scene)

And afterward? Chaos on the porch.

There was coloring (huh?), screaming, spitting, funny faces....

all around melting down.

At least no one got burned.

A plus.

And the next day - the big day - we of course had to run to the store in the afternoon.

Spidey and Superman joined me.

"These aren't our costumes, mom. Just what we wear to the store."

Phew. I got confused.

(Notice the flip flops on October 31).

Remember the Trunk or Treat and the cobweb tip?

I endorsed it at home on our front gate, as well.

Instant spooky. Or, "spooky-ooky!" as the kids demanded.

And before we knew it, there was hair brushing and costume getting on-ing and dinner eating....

And Papa arrived with a witch hat (always a stunner)....

With Grandma in tow.

My black lipstick and stitch over my eye were a big contribution to the dress up portion of the night.

Big for a girl who doesn't dress up anymore!

And after a few family pictures...

Tink had on her shoes and Ford actually agreed to Peter Pan.

We headed out with the other local Nieportes (we were quite a crew heading out in the daylight!)...

And the kids started knocking on doors and saying "Look! Look at all this candy!"

It's as if they'd never seen it before.

Wild cousins rocking it together!

Tink, Spiderman and Peter Pan.

They had their fill that night and have forgotten about it almost every day since... (thank you, God).

The sugar crash...

And then the wheels came off.

So thankful to be with family this Halloween and yet I really missed our annual routine in Pasadena. Instagram made it easier.... it almost felt like we were in two places at once.

Now that would be tricky.

1067. a chilly, clear night

1068. a package getting redirected

1069. the press up and running again

1070. instagram when i'm missing my so cal peeps