Halloween has never been a huge holiday for me. I've always loved seeing the kids all dressed up in their costumes and I wouldn't miss seeing their excitement when we go trick or treating, but its not really a holiday a count down the days for. I decorate for fall as soon as I can get away with it. I love how cozy it makes my house feel. I'm not a big fan a skeletons and spiders, but there is something about a big orange pumpkin that makes me excited for the holidays ahead! Halloween is kind of like a Wednesday... it means Friday and Saturday are just a few days away.
This year, I had Halloween on my mind MUCH earlier than I ever had before. Jason and I were put in charge our ward's Activities Committee. Our first big assignment was the ward Halloween party. It ended up being a much bigger job than we thought it would be. Our ward recently split and we don't have much of a committee. Luckily for us, the Young Women were willing to take on the carnival games and the Primary agreed to be responsible for the cake walk. That left advertising, food, decorations, music, chili cook off, chili cook off prizes, pie eating contest, costumes contest and prizes, trunk or treat, set up and take down to us!
Jason's brother, Sam, and his wife, Mindy, had planned on coming to visit us that weekend, but when we learned that no one on our
committee would even be at the party, we warned them that we would be REALLY busy. They said they didn't mind and would be happy to help us out. Jason and I set up as much as we could on Friday, but there was still so much to do. They came down on Saturday and jumped right in helping out! Mindy helped me decorate while Sam and Jason set us the grill and started making hot dogs!
Mindy and Sam to the rescue!
The party actually went really well and everyone had a great time! I really don't know what we would have done without Sam and Mindy though! They were so awesome and totally saved us!
Here are a few pictures from the party
King Jason announcing the pie eating contest
the contestant while they were still clean!
Sam
Snow Princess Lauren at Trunk or Treat
Austin showing off the candy he got while NOT wearing a costume!
Ashlyn trunk or treating
Ashlyn was so excited that you could just say trick or treat and they would put candy right in her bag! She would get so excited and say "Thank you!" Then she would look at me and say "Candy for me!" It was so cute!
Our Ward Halloween Party was a week before Halloween (it was the only time we could get the building) and every day after that, Ashlyn would talk about trick or treating. She loves to tell stories! She would say, "Trick or Treat and they put the candy right in my princess bag! Oh! Candy for me! Then I say thank you. Happy Halloween!" Then she would laugh like she just told a funny joke. Trust me, it's much cuter when she says it! :-)
So, this year, I was really looking forward to Halloween! I couldn't wait to take her trick or treating! I thought it was so cute that she actually says trick or treat and thank you and even Happy Halloween! It's adorable! I think its fun that she will finally eat sweets. I'm sure she would be thrilled if they passed out broccoli and mushrooms, but its fun to see her excited like the rest of the kids.
We started the night off by going to the McCauley's now annual Halloween party! It is always so fun to get together with our friends!
Haley
Ashlyn Tara and Jason
Jason and Tara
Jessica the Pirate
Talli (can you believe this is her High School uniform and she still fits into it?!!)Then, we headed over to my parents house
and meet up with Travis (who was in town looking for a place to live)
and Jen and Jeff and Brynne to do a little trick or treating
BUT
Ashlyn fell asleep on the way there!!!
She had been so excited all week! I knew she was tired, but I was afraid she would wake up and be so sad she missed tick or treating! We decided to let her sleep in the stroller while we took the kids around the neighborhood.
It wasn't too late when we got back over to the McCauley's party, so we decided to wake Ashlyn up so she wouldn't miss out on everything. It takes her a little bit to fully wake up (like me!), but we took her to a few houses before the streets were empty and all the porch lights turned off. Haley and Peyton came with us. She was a little shy, but happy to go trick or treating!
We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with our friends!
Jason and Jeff
Jen,
Talli, Haley, Tara
It was a fun Halloween and I'm actually looking forward to next year!
Justin and Danale hosted Thanksgiving at their house again this year. It was so fun to get together with Jason's family and to see Justin's family too!
Jason's Dad (Danny), Grandma Joy, Jason, Uncle Kirk
The big kids were visiting their dad in Arizona this year, so it was just the three of us from our family.
These days, Ashlyn only wants to wear her pajamas or her princess skirt and her cupcake shirt! She is only 2 and already knows what she wants!
The 
The 
The 
Our Family.JPG)
Jason, Austin, Tyler, Jeff, Garrett, Wes, Aaron
Jessica and Wesa.jpg)
Jason, Tara, .JPG)
Jason and Austin
Lauren, Abby, and 
Garrett
Drew, Garrett and Austin
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All the boys being goofy
Jessica.JPG)
Jason and Taraa.jpg)
It doesn't matter where we are or what we are doing, with this group, we will always have a good time! I know these are the days we will look back on and think, "Those were the good old days!" Life long memories and life long friendships... I love you guys!
Kylie and Jessica
It was fun to watch her grow and improve and she pushed herself to new limits. 
