Halloween festivities

This year the kids had three different days to dress up, have fun, hoard candy and celebrate! 
The first big day was our Trunk-or-Treat at our church.  All the kids got dressed up and had a great time!

Morley and his friends have been saying "Deacon Power" for months and wanted to become super heroes for Halloween.  With the help of my awesome Silhouette machine and the moms, we were able to turn our boys into DP Super Hero's for the night!  They were a hit at the party!

Friday was the annual Trick-or-Treat Street at Cabelas corporate offices.  It was SO well done this year.  Each department has a room they decorate with a theme and they were amazing!  Ella switched up costumes and wanted to be a GOOD witch.  Morley woke up SO sick and stayed home and Drew didn't want his picture taken.  Our favorite room was the Willy Wonka factory!  Hobbes was an awesome Willy Wonka!  He asked me to help him make his costume a little more authentic so I added the purple ruffle and big bow tie to his shirt!  Well done, Cabelas!

Friday Pa came to town for a weekend visit!!!!  We went to dinner on Friday night, sans Morley and had a fun time catching up.  Saturday Matt, Brayden and my dad went hunting for pheasant and then to help with the over population of prairie dogs!  The latter was much more successful and fun, from the reports I heard.  We also enjoyed some swimming at his hotel pool that evening.

Sunday was a great day!  Morley had his first sacrament meeting talk and he did a wonderful job!  I just can't believe how grown up he is!  After church we had our traditional Halloween themed dinner!  Every year it is just a little bit different and it keeps the kids guessing and excited!  I think this year was my favorite!

*dinner in a pumpkin, pumpkin/chocolate cupcakes, boney bread sticks, jack-o-lantern orange peppers stuffed with mashed potatoes, wormy/brain noodles and orange brew*

Then it was time to carve pumpkins.  Somehow we skipped this event last year so the kids were extra excited to do it. 



Today was a crazy day!  My dad and I did some house work and dug through the storage unit trying to find our winter stuff.  We didn't.  There is snow coming soon and no coats or boots for the kids.  I may have to go back ASAP and try again so everyone can stay warm!  Drew and Brayden had Fall Parties at school.  I made "mummy juice boxes" for Brayden and Frankenstein pudding cups for Drew.

Ella had fun playing the in leaves

and then it was time to say goodbye to Pa.  His visits are never long enough and we missed Nana on this trip!  We love you!



Trick-or-treating was so different this year!  Morley went out with his friends and then to a movie.  Matt and Drew went to the "haunted motel" and I took Ella and Brayden out around the neighborhood.  We met up with the Calls and the kids managed to fill their buckets, again.  Phew...we really had a lot of celebrating this year!

pictures snagged from Jenni's blog!  :)

********************

 House update: There have been some "developments" in the last week that are making the purchase of the house nearly impossible.  Yes, we found out 10 days before closing that the underwriters do not want to finance the whole property because they don't like the outbuilding, even though the appraisal report was great.  In a nutshell, the banks don't want to loan on the full property (they want to exclude the value of the outbuilding from the loan amount) and have increased the required down payment by 12%.  It has been very emotional as we are unsure of how we are going to make it work.  Needless to say, we are NOT closing in four days.  IF we can close on the house it will most likely be another 30 days.  We are very hopeful that a contact in Lincoln will be able to work everything out and we'll be able to buy the house without the enormous down payment requirement that the local banks are wanting.  So, we are settling into our little rental for another month.  It is hard to keep the frustration and doubt out of our minds so that the faith can take over and we can receive the answers we are seeking.  I was so thankful for the celebration distractions the last few days and also for having my dad here for a visit!  He is a perpetual optimist and a little bit was able to rub off on me.  We did take him out to the property on Sunday after church and it was a little bitter sweet for me.  I can picture our family there so clearly and perfectly, yet the unknown and possibility that it may not happen made me sad.  We have HOPE and FAITH that it will all work out in the end, whatever that may be.