Happy Halloween!!

We started our Halloween preparations early this year with a visit to Oma's Pumpkin Patch with one of Keira's best buddies, Jackson.  We went last year and when Keira was a baby, but this year was definitely the funnest year we've had so far.  She was able to play all the games, go in the hay maze, and participate in almost everything!  We started with a little basketball, unfortunately, she seems to take after me in her basketball skills... we may have to focus on softball.  :) 

After the basketball, Keira and Jackson went in the hay maze, played with bean bags, and played too many games to list. By far, their FAVORITE activity was sledding down the cotton seed hill.  Last year, she was too small, but this year, they could have stayed all day.  I wished I could slide down the hill, it looked incredibly fun!

 After they got the hang of sledding and they did a few races, James and Jason decided to have them ride down together, which Keira and Jackson found even MORE fun!

 We got on the hay ride again for a trip through the "maternity wing" of the dairy farm... I totally felt the cow's pain... It was hot and we were uncomfortable! 
In case you were wondering, no, I'm not hiding a pumpkin under my shirt.  :)

 We went to the petting zoo, always one of Keira's favorite things.  They had a baby calf and a baby goat, they were so cute, I was hoping Keira wouldn't hurt them...

 And, as always, there were tons of places to get good fall family pictures- in the 90 degree heat. 

 We finished out our day by picking the perfect pumpkin, then heading out.  As always, we had a great day!

 

The Wednesday before Halloween, Keira and two of her BFFs, Aidan and Kaitlyn, went to an art night at my school.  These little friends are too cute, walking the halls of my school like they own the place!

 Then, that Friday, Aidan invited Keira to his preschool's Halloween Carnival.  The preschool is down the street from our house, and we're hoping to send her there next year, so we were excited to see the school and Aidan's friends from school.  We had a great time, and Keira loved getting a treat or a prize at every game!
Kaitlyn decided she had very little interest in her (very cute) Tinkerbell costume, but Princess Keira and Pirate Aidan showed off their costumes all night!

I think this might have been her favorite event.  Give a ticket, pick a lollipop?  Yes, please!

Aidan was a great host, showing Keira the playground and his classroom. 

This was the most difficult shot to get.  The kids wouldn't look at the camera at the same time... this was definitely the best of multiple attempts.  

 Keira made art projects, played games, and surprised James and I by sitting to have her face painted.  We have tried to do this before, and she wanted no part of it.  This time, I think she sat because SHE chose what went on her cheek- a scary ghost!  She sat very still and did a great job!  We had a great time, and can't wait to go again next year- hopefully Keira will be a student for the next carnival!

 On Sunday, the day before Halloween, we celebrated Aunt Catherine's birthday by taking everyone to Keira's favorite place, the Zoo.  Keira is an old pro at the zoo, and we enjoyed showing John and Catherine around, looking at all the animals.

 One of the funnier things from the day was the Polar Bear.  We haven't seen this guy around the zoo before, and at first, Keira was intrigued.  She walked over, but quickly turned and ran to James.

 I convinced her to go and take a picture with him, and she was okay, until he reached his hand toward her.  The second she thought he was going to touch her, she started to cry, and wouldn't stop, even when Aunt Catherine went to take a picture.  After this traumatic experience, I took her to the bathroom, and she talked about the "scary polar bear" the entire time.  After the bathroom, I had to carry her, because we had to walk by the Polar Bear again, and she was scared to be anywhere near him.  We're thinking about Disneyland sometime this year, hopefully she's less scared of costumed characters by then...

 That night, we carved and painted pumpkins.  Catherine had never carved a pumpkin before, so it was fun to be there for her inaugural pumpkin carving.  Keira painted several pumpkins this year, and did an awesome job!  All the pumpkins turned out great!

 We finished off the night with a delicious cake, compliments of Cortney.  It tasted better than it looks!

 Keira was very excited about the cake, especially the blowing out of the candles and the singing.

 Happy Birthday, Aunt Catherine!

 The next day, I dressed up and headed out to work.  My school is one of the few remaining  Elementary Schools that still have Halloween parades, and the teachers love dressing up and celebrating with the kids.  This year, the first grade teachers decided to go with a sports theme, and I volunteered my four years of cheerleading uniforms.  Unfortunately, the uniforms don't fit me right now... so I went as a basketball.  We were a big hit!

 Halloween night, we met some friends and their kids from our neighborhood for trick or treating.  Our street is pretty quiet on Halloween, and now I know why!  I swear, every kid from our neighborhood (and MANY other neighborhoods) were all on Maury Drive!  We got started around 6 PM, and there were already HUNDREDS of kids walking up and down the street!  Keira started off a little shy (notice how far she is sitting from the group), but ended up loving it and talking about her "friends" for a week.

 "Trick or Treat!"

 Once she remembered that she got candy at every house, the shyness was gone.  She'd march up to every house, put out her bucket, and say "trick or treat," then "thank you!"  Because we went with the big kids, she ended up with quite a full bucket!

 After we left our friends, we trick or treated at Aunt Catherine and Uncle John's,

 Then went home for our annual posing next to the pumpkin picture and visits to our neighbors.  We had a fantastic Halloween this year!  It's hard to believe next year we'll have TWO trick or treaters!