Halloween

Halloween snuck up on me this year.  It's hard to feel "in the season" when it's 80 degrees out and I still haven't accepted the end of summer.  But, come it did, and with a bang!

The girls had a couple of pumpkin patch adventures.  First, with daddy at the Clayton Pumpkin Patch (a recent switch from our usual San Ramon Pumpkin Patch) and then at Pumpkin Days at preschool.

Here is Whitney's little preschool class of 6 kids - too adorable if you ask me!

The girls then carved a jack-o-lantern out of one of the pumpkins they brought home.  Gwen dug in with a little coaxing from Adam.  Whitney was not so easily convinced and sat by the sidelines, not wanting to dirty her hands with pumpkin slime.

Then, the costumes began.  This year, Gwen was Rapunzel, utilizing an existing Rapunzel costume - one of her many, many princess costumes.  Easy enough!  I wasn't sure Whitney would dress up this year, but we had a stash of costumes from when Gwen was two and went with the most appropriate for the balmy weather - a little bumble bee!

This year, our Halloween activities included a weekend practice run at the shops in La Fiesta square...

Where we ran into another pair of sisters wearing the exact same costumes!

The next day, on Halloween Eve, was a Halloween party at the Cecchin house.  There the kids really tested the durability of a residential grade jumpy house - I now scoff at the 3 kid limit the manufacturer puts on those things.  Whitney really held her own in the mosh pit, even with a couple of 5 year olds boys wreaking havoc!  It took a kick in the face to phase her, but she still kicked and screamed when I finally pulled her out of danger's way.

Finally, Halloween Day arrived.  Gwen had a huge day ahead of her, starting with a Halloween party at her preschool.  Whitney didn't have school, so instead her nanny Katrina took her to a special Halloween storytime.  Then, during Whit's nap, Gwen met up with her friend Jordan (also dressed as Rapunzel) at the Rheem Shopping Center for their annual trick-or-treating event.  

After collecting some loot, the girls sat down and started trading candies.  This reminds me of trading stickers when I was a kid!

Finally, it was time for the big event.  Real trick-or-treating!  

We started with dinner at the Herrington's house where we met up with the neighborhood crew.

Eloise, Michael, Grace, Whitney, Gwen and Molly

And then door to door we went.  I was worried Whitney would slow us down, but she could trick-or-treat with the best of them!

Whitney with a big smile on her face.  After each house, she ran up to show
me the new candy additions to her pumpkin

At the end of the night - Happy Halloween!