Happy Halloween!

Since Halloween was Sunday, this year it was a 3-day gig for us. Friday was our ward activity, which the Primary was in charge of and it went off without a hitch (albeit it was unbelievably crowded and HOT!). Saturday we went to Will and Karen's for an adult-only bash, and Sunday we ate in Halloween-style with the Ellis clan. I think we definitely got our fill of ghosts, spiders, and all things creepy.

We started by carving our pumpkin Thursday night. I only wish we took a pic of what it looked like just 3 DAYS LATER--covered in mold and dozens of fruit flies. Zachary waited to carve all week long, but his bravery with the pumpkin was limited to observation, not touch.
Brady to Zac: "This is how you pull out the seeds, Zac..."
"...Do you want to try?" Zac's response:
Zachary also took our hands, put them into the pumpkin, and pulled them out for us. He definitely wanted to participate, but he's not quite there with the gooey texture and the unknown insides of a pumpkin.

He came out of his bubble bath to find that Dad had finished up the witch. This kiddo is really good at laying on the praise. He also congratulates us with a "Nice Job, Mom/Dad!" plus a high five anytime we go to the bathroom, make our bed, or put our dishes in the sink.

Buzz Lightyear is Zac's favorite character at present, as I'm sure is the case with almost all toddler boys. We bought him this outfit a month ago. When it came in the mail and we tried to get him to try it on, he cried. We did a mock trick-or-treat on Monday night, and he wore it for 15 minutes. That made us confident he would wear it on Friday at the ward Trunk-r-Treat. He did, but this is the expression he wore all night long:

He was partially excited that his wings lit up. Poor kid, he just does not like the costumes. I had to carry him from trunk to trunk because he was "Scared, Mom!" He religiously said "Trick-or-Treat" and "Thank-you," but he held on tight the entire time.
The pics of us in our wizard and witch get-up from last year (but slightly improved, in our defense) were taken on another camera. We decided not to wear the same thing two nights in a row, so we spent the better part of Saturday morning cutting out poster board. Notice the pink bow--that's the best part. The worst part of these (and all Halloween costumes) is that they are not meant to be worn in Hawaii. It makes me sweat just looking at these pictures.
Some other notable costumes: Wendi made these costumes, as well as three others for her girls to make a family ensemble.
Will and Karen:
Melissa (as Sarah Palin) and Lance (as Glenn Beck):
Matt and Megan (Brady told me I didn't appreciate his costume enough because I haven't seen "Karate Kid"). The day before, Megan dressed her little family in Wizard of Oz attire--Tin Man, Dorothy, the witch, and baby Chase as Todo.
The best costume I saw from adults either night came from Chad and Mary:
Carol and Merv (I think Merv should grow out his hair like this):
It wouldn't be a Will and Karen gathering without games.


I honestly dread coming up with costumes each year, but it is really fun to see what other people come up with, and I have to believe that someday my child will think costumes are fun.