Halloween

What should a Christian family do with Halloween? I've thought about that a good bit over the last few years and wasn't sure I found an answer I really liked. Over the years, we've trick or treated, we've trunk or treated, we've fall festival'd, we've harvest festival'd. Never felt quite right. I do enjoy the dressing up- true confessions I like the candy too. But the pagan roots of halloween not my favorite.

This year we really enjoyed this whole time. We started last week with Princess and Pirate Night at Chick Fila. We had such a fun night. We had 2 beautiful princesses and 3 handsome pirates! 5 free kids' meals was fun for me :) and the kids loved the princess cow and pirate- well the kids minus Baby C who did not like either of them! Everyone at Chick-Fil-A was so friendly and helpful and that restaurant is really doing a lot of good- in addition to making yummy chicken!

We've also been making some yummy treats like this candy corn smoothie. It's hard to see but there are 3 layers- pineapple, mango, and banana. Not quite candy corn but pretty good! Last Friday we went to Pizza Hut- we really like their book it program. 4 free personal pan pizzas was nice and we had a super waitress too. She was so helpful with our dairy free orders. The rectangular pizza has no milk in the crust so we ordered that with no cheese for C. The kids and I enjoyed our night out. Just wish James could have been with us. 

 Baby C was a little bigger than list year but doing about the same thing- napping on me!

 Until she woke up and found bread sticks!! Yum! Especially if you get dairy free ones!

 After Pizza hut, a great consignment sale, Dollar Tree for Operation Christmas Tree shopping, and Mom's organic, we went to Grace Fellowship's Trunk or Treat. Even though I was worn out :) we had a really fun night. The trunks were all decked out, the games were fun, even bounce houses! A fun night! (and did I say free?)

 There was even a pirate ship for our 5 pirates!

 and face painting

Our fun didn't end there. Wednesday night we went to Trinity's Harvest Party and had lots of fun too. Tons of games, tons of candy, dinner, funnel fries, a pumpkin patch, ... K's highlight was winning at Bingo. T loved the marshmallow shooter. KG loved more face painting. 

But still the fun went on. Before all the fun, we told the kids we were going to do something different this year. Instead of keeping the candy from the fun events, we would give that candy away and give the kids a "switcheroo basket." The kids weren't really sure how to take that but chose the switcheroo given the other option was no events :) We had other fun crafts like our spider sausage

 Not a great pic but I don't want to forget all the fun the kids had splitting the candy into 3 bowls- candy to pass out 31 Oct, candy for Operation Christmas Child, and candy for Mommy and Daddy. and had a blast doing it- and some math practice!

 Our one treat we won't repeat was homemade candy corn. lots of work and didn't turn out so hot

 The kids enjoyed trail rides at the fall festival- beautiful day out

 Baby C enjoyed her car ride :) She got to pet bunnies too. I can't believe how fast she's growing!

 One of the highlights from Trinity was the Indiana (and Arizona) Jones show- I loved the message given at both fall festivals.

 Our cute bunny was too busy to sit still for a picture

 but isn't she cute heading up the stairs :)

 One of our yummy treats tonight

Yes, this is a long post but we had lots of fun and had the best time today. This morning we gave the kids their switcheroo baskets which had a few pieces of candy, a couple small fun things, a few fun needed things, in a lego box. So exciting. We spent most of the day learning about Reformation Day, All Saints Day, Martin Luther, indulgences, justification by faith, priesthood of believers. but it was fun. 

We made yummy treats- banana ghosts, caramel apples/ pears, and super fudge- definitely making that one again. We talked about being a light and the kids had a blast passing out candy to all the trick or treaters. Such a good night!