​This year was a very German Halloween. We borrowed dirndls from a friend so that Madeline and I could dress up as German girls and we put something together for Mike to coordinate with us. Madeline looked like the cutest little German girl ever. I had to really suck it in to fit into my dirndl but once it was on it all came together. Abby was Max from Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas movie. Emma wasn't able to join us this year as she was out on a date. Such is life when you are 17 years old. We took our photos at our traditional section behind our house. Then we came home and grabbed a quick dinner before heading out to go trick or treating with Easton and his family. Madeline and Easton loved being together and we made it to most of the houses in our neighborhood. It was cold like every year, but we managed to stay warm. The kids wanted to go to the house down the street to do the haunted house but once we got there Madeline got really scared and started to cry. That was our cue to head home and call it a night. After Easton finished with the haunted house he came out and gave Madeline the biggest hug. It was so sweet. 

​Madeline was so excited for her school Halloween party. I dropped in for a little bit to watch them play games and do fun activities. The class moms for her class are amazing and always put on great holiday parties. Madeline looked so cute in her little German dirndl. I was able to snap a quick photo with her teacher and also a group photo of the entire class with their costumes on. 

​As we were all trying to come up with what our family costume would be this year Mike had the great idea to buy something that we could wear throughout the year. We settled on a New Jersey mob family all dressed in Adidas track suits. Mike and I bought big gold chain necklaces with a big letter W on them for us and the girls wore black beanie caps. For Madeline, we found her the cutest little track suit and gave her a plastic bat. We had a great time showing up for our ward trunk or treat. Mike was totally in character, accent and all. The trunk or treat was probably the lamest one we have ever been to, but the kids still had fun getting candy. We had to do it inside since it was so cold outside. On actual Halloween night, Abby went with her friends and dressed up as a 20’s girl. Each of her friends dressed from one of the eras. Emma went with her friends and dressed up as the red M&M. Her other friends were different colored M&Ms. Peter manned the house for a bit while Mike and I took Madeline out trick or treating. We only went down 2 streets since it was freezing outside. We ended up dressing her up in a 50's poodle skirt since it seemed more kid appropriate. She had so much fun this year knocking on doors to get candy. There were a few blow up props in our neighbors' yard that scared her, but she was definitely braver this year. 

Halloween in Colorado is always so unique because it could either be super warm or freezing cold.  This year it decided to snow on us.  Since this is our 6th Halloween here the kids were not really phased by the snow and cold and were still excited to go trick or treating with their friends.  As in years past, I dropped in on Abby's ES class Halloween party to take a few photos and see all the costumes.  The kids were having a great time playing different games and eating yummy treats.  I can't believe that this is Abby's last year to enjoy these fun class parties since she will be in middle school next year.

For Halloween night the kids were all scattered this year.  Abby went with her A-team friends (Avery, Anna, Addy, and August) while Emma went with her friends Natalie, Grace and Keira. Andrew went to a Halloween party at Sam's house and then went over to Brady's while Peter hung out with Josh and went trick or treating up in Pine Creek.  Mike and I took Madeline down our street of houses to do a little trick or treating.  She thought it was so much fun.  Mike put on his Sulley costume since it was warm and Madeline  loved holding his hand as we walked down the sidewalk.  We decided to dress Madeline up in a warmer costume so we pulled out the giraffe costume that all the kids wore when they were her age.  Everyone thought she was adorable and she was pretty shy when the older kids stopped to tell her how cute she was.  ​Every once in a while we came across some costumes that Madeline did not like but we quickly skirted past and all was well.  

This year we all went as characters from the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit.  Mike was Gandalf, Sara was Arwen, Andrew was Frodo Baggins, Peter was a Ringwraith, Emma was Galadriel, Abby was Tauriel, and Madeline wore the cutest shirt that said My Precious on it while sporting a golden binky.  It was a miracle that we were able to get everyone on board this year to dress up together for Andrew's last Halloween with us.  

We had so much fun at the church Trunk or Treat this year.  The entire family decided to dress up together and go as characters from Lord of the Rings.  It took some convincing to get Andrew to join us but I'm glad he did.  Since  Mike's costume hadn't arrived yet he quickly pulled out the Sulley costume and took the broken door and wrote Boo's door on it.  All of the kids thought it was hilarious.  He had so much fun interacting with all the little kids.  Madeline loved some of the games as well as the girls.  The  boys had fun being in the haunted house again this year.  Peter screamed so much he lost his voice.  When it was time to do the trunk or treat outside I let the girls go off with their friends while I took Madeline around to get candy.  She was SO CUTE and said trick or treat at each of the cars with a little thank you after.  She wasn't even scared and just went from car to car gathering  more goodies in her bag.  After going around once I sat her down on the sidewalk and let her pick out a piece of candy to eat.  She was in heaven.