Halloween Fun

Last weekend we went to Fort Worth and took the kids to Boo at the Zoo. If you've never been before, it really is not about being at the zoo at all. It is just a lot of fun for the kids. You get candy tickets with each admission and the kids get to go to different candy stations around the zoo to "trick-or-treat." They also have a few shows and as we were nearing the end of the path, we found a neat area set up with carnival games for the kids. Unfortunately, as I tried to snap pictures of the kids playing games, the batteries died. Guess we'll just have to go back and take more pictures next year.

Halloween Night:

Abby as Cinderella and Lauren as Tinker Bell of course! We have gotten our money's worth out of that Tink costume I tell ya.

Look at our SWEET Caleb. As you know, Caleb is obsessed with Thomas. For some reason, he did not want to wear his costume. See below:

We fought with him and fought with him. Finally we just strapped him into his car seat and left.

Yes, she is always this happy!





We started off the night at a festival put on by St. Joseph School. There were plenty of games for the kids. We ran into several of our friends from church but didn't think to stop and get pictures together.

Daddy and Caleb goin' fishin'.

The kids got to decorate their own cookies.

Bean bag toss.

Mommy and Cinderella.

Mommy and Thomas. Look at this boy. Not only did he keep his costume on, but by the end of the night we got him to wear his hat AND smile!

Look at those HUGE pumpkins. After the festival we went home to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood. Unlike our old neighborhood, there were tons of kids. It was a fabulous night.

We are like pumpkins

Every year I get an email from at least one person with the following comparison of a pumpkin and humans. A friend posted this on her blog as well as the amazing Pumpkin Prayer I've posted at the end.

Being a Christian is just like a pumpkin!

First, God picks you from the pumpkin patch and brings you in from the field. The Bible says He selects us out of the world. We are in the world, but no longer of the world.
He then washes all the "dirt" off the outside that we received from being around all the other pumpkins. All the outside influences of our former life must be cleaned up. Old things are passed away and all things are become new.Then, He carefully removes all the "yucky stuff" called "sin" out from the inside. Look at this! Yuk! Sin will not have such internal power. He then changes us from the inside out by the Power of His Word. That's why it is important to go the church and learn about God's Word. He carefully removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and fear. He replaces them with the seeds of faith, hope and love. After Jesus is invited inside, you begin to experience the changing power of God's love in your life.
Then He carves a new smiling face. Our countenance is changed by the power of His presence in our life. We then become so grateful. It can even show on our face! Now we are going to light this candle inside. Look! This pumpkin now reflects the light from inside out. So too, when Jesus, who is called the Son of Light, lives inside of us, He shines through our life for all to see. We can let His light reflect through us to reveal His presence.

"Let your light so shine before men that they may be able to see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in heaven."

So you see, we Christians are really like this pumpkin! We will never be the same with Jesus inside of us. We can say like this jack-o-lantern, "Thy presence, my light!"

The Pumpkin Prayer
{cut off top of pumpkin}Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.
{remove innards}Remove the things in my life that don’t please you. Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.
{cut open eyes}Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.
{cut out nose}I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the good food you provide.
{cut out mouth}Let everything I say please You.
{light the candle}Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do.
Amen
By: Liz Curtis Higgs

Halloween Fun

I want to know what your greatest memory of Halloween is or what you now do for your kids. My greatest memories are of our old neighborhood back in Fort Worth. There were 5 girls around my age and we all had little brothers around the same age. We had the coolest neighborhood! Our parents would dress up and set up someone's garage as a spook house. Lisa, do you remember this? I remember being blindfolded and sticking my hands in different bowls of "mush" like eyeballs (grapes) and brains (pasta noodles). Those were good times. I also remember Lisa, Amy, and I going to haunted houses with our moms. I need to get the pictures from my mom and scan them in.

Now that my children are getting old enough to enjoy the Halloween fun, I want to start collecting ideas and hopefully soon we'll live in a neighborhood with lots of kids, just like good ol' Franwood Terrace. Then I can pass along the traditions too. Ahhh, good times!

This is where I'll start an ongoing post of fun ideas like games and recipes for Halloween. Please share your ideas by clicking on comments below.



Kaboose
Lots of Creepy Recipes
Kids' Turn Central
Family Fun
Family Education
Halloween Fun For Kids


Ghostly Cookies:
Melt white almond bark and dip Nutter Butter cookies in completely. Chill until firm. Add black eyes and a mouth. You may try to attach to a lollipop stick for decoration effects.