Pre-Halloween Fun

 Grace has been asking more and more to take pictures with the camera. Paul likes this one because it shows how he looks through her eyes.

 Cute Grace on the day of the primary program last Sunday. That evening, we tried on Halloween costumes, and Paul and I filled out our mail-in ballots.

 On Monday, it rained a lot. The girls were cute on the bus ride home, with Grace's head on Alice's lap the whole way, and Alice stroking her hair. Grace taught FHE out of the Friend that evening, then we went on a short family walk. Here are the girls by the sculpture near our complex.

 On Tuesday, I turned on some Halloween music so I could get some work done. Pretty soon, I went to check on Alice, and I saw that she had set herself up on the couch with all the Halloween buckets. She loves all the Halloween decorations, and is so excited for Halloween! I took her to story time at the library that morning, then home for lunch and a nap. Paul came home from school, and Grace was at a play date, so we got to have a romantic lunch alone together! So fun!

 Grace got home from her playdate around 3:30. We hadn't seen her all day. It doesn't seem right, and makes me glad she only has half-day kindergarten this year. It makes me sad to think that starting next year, she'll be gone much more of the day, and miss out on fun with Alice and Charlie. Grace read Alice some new library books, then we went to the doctor for Alice. It was a painful experience, and we didn't get home until 6:30. Paul had dinner ready, and the girls ate and went to bed. Poor Grace was gone all day!

On Wednesday, it rained again. Alice helped me with the laundry and the dishes. Alice never fell asleep at naptime, so I finally got her up and let her dance to the ballet DVD Grace was watching. They look like zombie ballerinas in this picture!

 Grace loves ballet!

 Cute Alice, a little flushed from lack of sleep. A neighbor friend came over to visit, then Paul came home early! Alice was a basketcase all evening from tiredness.

 We finally finished decorating for Halloween.

 The headless horsegirl. Paul and I looked through our new Food Network magazine that night.

 Thursday was busy. Alice and I took Grace to school, then we went to 2 meetings in a row. Alice was grouchy by the end. Grace came home grouchy from school because she didn't get to do her show-and-tell. The girls watched a movie and played together that afternoon while Paul did homework, and I went to turn in paperwork and put gas in the van. Gas here is so expensive!

 That evening, we went to Grace's school for spooky story night. We surprised the girls by not telling them until the last second that Paul was one of the volunteer readers! They were pretty excited.

 Paul got assigned to read in an out-of-the-way room, so we didn't get much of a crowd, but he did a great job with voices and interaction, and the girls loved it!

 On Friday, Paul and Alice did computer work together. Paul spent a lot of the day doing phone interviews for articles, including one to a famous chef! I took Alice with me to my doctor's appointment in the morning, then Grace came with me to go shopping in the afternoon. It was tiring. That evening, we had pizza and watched Halloween cartoons. Paul and I watched "Monsters Inside Me" after the girls were in bed. It's a TV show about parasites and viruses.

 On Saturday, Alice woke us all up at 6:30. So disappointing! Paul and I got cute for our date, and Grace took a picture of us.

 Then we walked the girls to our friends' house to be babysat. We saw a scary graveyard on the way!

 Paul and I went downtown for a yummy brunch (courtesy of a gift card from last summer's internship), then walked around and looked in shops. We stopped in a pawn shop with an ET statue.

 Paul was very interested in this banjo for $250! We looked around a fun toy store, a bookstore, and even happened to see a zombie dance! Then we got ice cream, and picked up the girls in time for Alice's nap. Fun date!

 In the evening, we got all dressed up for the ward trunk or treat. The three Red Riding Hoods.

 Grace was Little Red Riding Hood last year, but this time she is wearing the dress/apron Mom made for Norah, and the cape I made last year.

 Paul the cowboy.

 I look GIGANTIC in that dress! 39 weeks, baby!

 Alice was darling wearing the cape Mom made Norah.

 Another picture of Paul, now that he added the neckerchief.

 The trunk or treat was really good, and well-attended. It was 2 wards, with games, and every family brought a pizza to share. Alice loved the toddler corral!

 Grace was so excited that one of her kindergarten friends accepted her invitation to the party! She and Alan are so funny together!

 Alice liked digging for pirate treasure.

 Paul said Alice was so cute going around to the trunks and holding up her pumpkin basket for candy. What a sweetie!

 I manned the trunk, and ran out of candy. There were LOTS of people there!

The girls were tired when it was all over, but they had so much fun. Alice LOVED having a bucket full of candy, and wanted to hold it all the way home. When we got home, she placed it back in its spot in the living room, and walked up to her bed. What fun kids we have! Happy Halloween!