Pumpkin Carving, Leaf Jumping, and Pre Trick-or-Treating

Pumpkin carving is always fun and messy.  Ross loved the idea of using a knife to cut the pumpkin, but didn't want to do any of the scooping pumpkin guts out.  "My hands will get all sticky!" - his mom's issue of sticky fingers has been passed down to him.  He did scoop some out so he could help carve the face in the end. :)
 

Carving pumpkin fun :) Ross coming to terms with scooping out pumpkin guts

Ruby trying to figure out what's going on.

Ross decided he wanted a happy face for his pumpkin that had shark teeth - quite creative.  He was really excited to see the finished product and dad did a great job getting just the look Ross wanted. :)
 

Love this face :)

A happy shark in the back next to a car (of course).

We carved a kitty face for Ruby and she adored it - still adores it every time she sees it.  She, of course, had to color it - she's obsessed with coloring.  I have a feeling my walls are in danger - she's already gotten to tables, chairs, toys - anything she can get her hands on.  She colored on her belly and the rest of the day she'd lift up her shirt and say, "Oh no!  Color!  Uh-oh!  Color!" as she'd point to the marker all over her belly that she intentionally drew.  She cracks us up.
 

Ruby's colorful kitty :)

She won't hold still :)

Steve tried a new tactic for his pumpkin and mine was just a classic face this year.  Grandpa Don decided to do a self portrait - just kidding. :)  But the best part of all was when we lit them up outside.  Steve's dad was a fire investigator for a lot of years so you can imagine how many candles they really keep on hand - like nil. ;)  They found a long stick one and split it between the five of them - it burned out within about 3 minutes, but gave us enough time to see them in all their glory. :)

The lighting of the pumpkin pictures are pending...
 
The leaves have been falling like crazy lately and Ross and Ruby have been loving it.  We can't make a pile before they're jumping on it and throwing the leaves everywhere.  Ross prefers jumping - Ruby prefers tromping. :)

Steve letting Ruby do the work ;)

Ruby was very possessive of the rake.

LOVE this picture :)

We also tried out trick or treating with our cousin Alex at the Riverwoods which was super cute - except for Ruby throwing a handful of tantrums.  It's so funny how quickly kids understand the candy part of Halloween more than even the dressing up part.  Every time someone handed Ruby a candy she immediately wanted it opened so she could eat it.  We only went to five places because of that - it was either that or deal with insane tantrums.  Ross had a great time there though and was so sweet saying Trick-or-Treat and Thank-you for every candy he got.  Fun festivities :)

Ruby went as a fairy - loved her skirt and wings but didn't want the crown or wand.

Ross took a break from being a fireman and went for a motorcycle dude. :)  Sound effects and all!

The even had a s'more station and Grandma and Ross roasted some marshmallows :)

Halloween FHE Party

Grandma Claudia threw a fun Halloween Party for family night this week.  We had a ton of fun dressing up, playing Halloween games and eating Halloween food.  We're all about Halloween parties.

All month I've been asking Ross what he'd like to be for Halloween and he very adamantly has proclaimed, "I'm Ross Charles White!" every time.  I tried to explain that we just pretend and he's still Ross Charles White no matter what, but he wouldn't have any of it.  UNTIL, finally one day he told me he wouldn't mind being a firefighter.  It was SOMETHING to work with. :)  I decided Ruby could be a dalmatian dog and Steve and I could be the victims Ross saved from the burning building - easy, simple, and cheap!  Luckily Grammy Joanne had given Ruby a cute dalmatian onsie and tights that she was JUST too big for, but we made do.  I found a black skirt for $2 and a little tail/ears set for $3.  Ross had a raincoat that would totally pass for a firefighter and I found his hat at Target for $1 (all of this was on the same day thank-you very much - score!).  The tricky part was getting Ruby to keep her ears and tail on - she really just wanted to wear Ross's fireman hat.

Ross the Firefighter posing for the camera :)

Muscles!

Ruby our Dalmatian :)

And the ears...

are off!

My mom and dad came as Bob the Builder (perfect for my dad!) and Wendy his business partner - perfect!  Steve's parents came as a hippie and the Mad Hatter.  Claudia managed to singe her wig as she was checking her casserole in a pumpkin in the oven haha.  Nate and Beka came as pirates with Alex being the cutest Winnie the Pooh I've ever seen!

Bob the Builder and Wendy!

Hippies and Mad Hatters totally hang out together

Claudia's new look - singed bangs ;)

Pirates and Winnie the Pooh

Isn't his way too cute for his own good?

Cousins picture fail!

Thomas and Young came as lame college students - okay they had a late class and didn't have time to dress up, and my brother, Dallas came as the guy from Matrix - complete with weaponry!

Matrix Man!

A Matrix Pirate would be totally awesome!

We had dinner.  Claudia had her casserole in a pumpkin which was yummy and festive, Beka made candy corn fruit, and I made Lionhouse rolls - which accidently turned in to a triple batch due to measurement issues on my part - letting the dough rise was insane - it was a TON.  We had eyeball punch as well and for dessert we had Pumpkin sugar cookies, pumpkin bread, and Halloween Oreo's.  YUM.

Casserole in a pumpkin - yum!

Candy corn fruit cup!

Lionhouse Rolls yum!

We played pass the pumpkin, Who Am I? and guessed the answers to Halloween riddles.  We finished off watching a few of Dallas's awesome video's he's made.  He currently is in the top competition for winning a scuba diving trip to the Bahamas and you can vote for his awesome video here  .  Please make his dreams come true!

Cute Rubes

She is loving these rainboots :)

It was a pretty fun family night.  October is such a fun month :)  Here are some Halloween words from Ruby :)