happy halloween

i must admit, i was very anxious over this halloween. we haven't had great experiences with halloween in the past and honestly, i'd be a happy camper if we could pass up this holiday. a few years ago people jumped out at our kids, chased them, etc, and it was not something i wanted our kids to have to experience again. they had nightmares for weeks. we didn't actually trick or treat for a year or two after that. we would still carve pumpkins and have halloween treats but didn't dress up and go trick or treating. last year we were in such a nice neighborhood in fresno (nothing like the neighborhoods we used to trick or treat in). all these little old ladies handing out candy so it looked like something we would try again. on the day of halloween, i rounded up some costumes i had at home, dressed up the boys and their cousin and away we went. things went smoothly and they had a blast.
this year was a different story. i was far from that neighborhood, my husband had to work and might not be home, i know 3 of my neighbors and no one else in this entire town. plus the previous owners used to go all out and massively decorate the house and pass out candy. i was afraid we might get egged and bombarded with trick or treaters. i was secretly hoping halloween was going to be on saturday so we could head back to fresno and not even be here. but... this was something i had to face. we decided to let our kids trick or treat this year. we were going to head out early, then come home and camp out in the bedroom and have a movie night. abigayle went as minnie mouse. her original costume didn't fit and i dug through her closet and found this cute outfit. she has never successfully wore it more than just a few minutes before taking it off so i was a little concerned but she left it on and quickly figured out this trick or treating business =-)

when we asked brayden what he wanted to be for halloween he said a cowboy, but quickly decided to change his mind when he saw the 'american solider pants' hanging on the rack. mommy liked this idea since they are real clothes and can be used all year =-)

blake stuck with the cowboy theme and i must say... he is a super cute cowboy most days! he prefers to wear wranglers on a daily basis and loves button up 'cowboy' shirts anyways so this was a very natural costume for him.

we stuck with our plan and trick or treated for a while then headed to our room and dug into the candy. all in all it was fun especially since my husband got off of work in enough time to join us!! brayden took off and i couldn't get a good picture of him trick or treating but here are a few of the other two.

abigayle was timid at first but then figured out that if she held out her bucket, they would give her candy so she would wait patiently until her candy was given, say thank you and walk away. one time she didn't see a man actually give her candy so she stood there waiting and waiting and waiting. we finally had to go get her and she cried her little eyes out. she thought she had gotten left out. honestly... that man should have given her another little candy but... oh well. it was really cute!

blake was a little scared the whole way through. he'd only approach a house if we would walk up with him. he sure enjoys his candy now though =-)

here they are, my american solider, my cowboy and my minnie mouse.