Redeeming Halloween

Luigi, Mario & Ellyana Butterfly

Since in my lifetime I have ran the full-range of feelings & actions toward this holiday...I heard a radio program on Friday about "Redeeming Halloween"...and I guess that is what most accurately describes our feelings & actions toward it in the past few years.

Step #1 pray for weeks prior to the time

Step #2 be a "Room Mom" planning the parties for both boys' classrooms

Step #3 be at school all day to see what the boys are seeing to talk about it later (our school may be one of the last schools still doing all out celebrations for the holiday, I won't be sad if some of it disappears)

Zach & Ellyana got to enjoy BJ's party,

Ellyana got treated to a babysitter during Zach's party so she could get a nap

This is my favorite picture of the weekend, 4 little Mario's in Zach's class of 15 kids

Step #4 take the kids to a local church for their HUGE very well-done All Saints Party...to be the fun party in very good taste that the kids always look forward to every year

Zach got to see his dear preschool friend, who happened to be Princess Peach

(its who the boys wanted Ellyana to be since they were Super Mario Bros...

Grandma found the beautiful Butterfly that looks just like Ellyana)

Step #5 invite our closest neighbors for a fajita dinner prior to Trick or Treat, the kids looked so forward to helping & getting ready for them to come (we've been wanting to have them in for a long time...just seemed like a good day to do it)

Step #6 enjoy our neighborhood for the evening...the young kids on the street with their parents, and lots of elderly people in their homes that love to see the kids, their costumes & how they have grown...I can't tell you how many people said they were "waiting" for us to get there...some with little "gifts" prepared for the kids & way too much candy...it is really a "neighborhood night"

The neighbor's 100 lb. pumpkin was the biggest the neighborhood had seen

too much "loot"

Step #7 enjoy some candy & try to get your kids to go to sleep ;)

Ellyana grabbed the boys' costumes & crawled into BJ's bed..

no, she wasn't about to go to sleep

So everything ended well, I'm sure we could have done more to Redeem the weekend and you probably have tons of better ideas, but this seemed exhausting enough. Next year, I told Brian it may just be easier to take a "mini-vacation" and skip the whole thing. We'll see,

but hopefully we were able to bring a blessing to those around us & make some fun family memories in the process.

Ellyana's Butterfly headband

Our 3 little, very precious pumpkins

Happy Redeemed Halloween!!!!!

What is happening to our family!!?!!

I thought my blood ran "Orange & Blue" & Brian's heart beat for the Boilers...but as the kids headed off to school on Friday...I realized something has happened! Living here, you are EITHER a Michigan or Michigan State fan...and with the big game on Saturday...you HAVE to pick a side! And when the pay check comes from one of the schools...let's just say we'll be loyal there...even if they lost the big game! Just know these kinda things can happen when you are "unequally yoked" (as far as college loyalities are concerned ;)
I do have to admit the "Maize & Blue" is growing on me...maybe it is just because the kids look so cute in it , and its just as cute as can be to hear Ellyana say "Go Meechigon"!