Halloween

Halloween lasted all week in this house. The only day we didn't celebrate Halloween was on the actual holiday! In our family, dressing up as ghosts and goblins doesn't fit into our appropriate Sabbath day activities. :)

On Monday, we decided to color our pumpkin. Maybe I'll be adventurous next year and have Clara carve a pumpkin, but I think she's still a little young for that big of a mess. Daddy drew in the eyes, nose, and mouth and Clara got to color them. When she was done, she said, "Let's put it outside because everyone wants to see my pumpkin. I decorate it so pretty!" So outside the pumpkin went.On Tuesday, we celebrated a friend's birthday. On the way home, which was way past Clara's bed time, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few needed items. While we were there, it started snowing. It wasn't very much, but it was snowing. Since Clara was not in the best of moods, the store clerk tried to help by asking Clara if she liked the snow. Clara responded with a forceful, "No!" The clerk then started to talk about why she liked the snow and mentioned getting to build a snowman in her list of reasons. When Clara heard that, she immediately got a smile on her face and said, "I want to build a snowman!" The whole way home I kept trying to explain to her how there needs to be a lot of snow to build a snowman. I told her the grass needed to be completely covered, etc. However, she would not let up. So when we got home, we built a mini snowman with the snow we did have and she couldn't have been more proud.After Halloween was over last year, I bought Clara's Halloween costume for this year on clearance. She was obsessed with witches, so I figured I was safe in purchasing a witch costume. About a month ago, I started talking up witches so that she would want to wear her costume. However, the more I talked about it, the more she wanted nothing to do with witches. So one morning, I decided to get out the witch costume and let her try it on. It worked. Clara fell in love with the costume. She then wanted to wear it every day. It was then difficult trying to explain to her we had to save it special for Halloween. So here is Clara as happy as can be after she tried her witch costume on for the first time.On Thursday, Clara celebrated Halloween at preschool. She was taught how to knock on a door rather than just open doors. She was taught to say trick or treat, and then say thank-you. That is when Clara really got into the spirit of Halloween. She loved getting candy. (She doesn't like eating the candy, but she loves getting it.) She also got to decorate a mini pumpkin. She has carried that pumpkin around everywhere. It has gone to to the bank. It's gone outside to play. It's even been the recipient of many hugs and kisses. It makes me laugh how much Clara adores that pumpkin she got at preschool. Here is a picture of Clara with her preschool class.On Friday, we went to Central Utah Gardens to look at the entries of a pumpkin carving contest. We went with our friends Taylor and Jared and their families. I loved getting to visit with the moms and Clara loved getting to run around with her friends. They have speakers throughout the garden that were dressed up as ghosts for Halloween. Clara loved getting to see all the little ghosts as much as she loved looking at all the "happy" pumpkins. For some reason, Clara calls jack-o-lanterns happy pumpkins. It makes me laugh. Clara is obsessed with happy pumpkins and loved getting to look at all of them. Here are the pictures of the winning pumpkins. The pictures below the pumpkins shows what it looks like lit up. The pumpkin on the right is Jack Sparrow, if you zoom in on the night picture, you can really see it better. I was very impressed.Saturday brought lots more trick or treating for Clara. We started the morning with trick or treating at a local grocery store. Clara was so excited that she gave me a great pose before we left. I LOVE the foot!In the afternoon, we headed to our ward trunk or treat. Since it was pouring rain, it was no longer a trunk or treat, but became an inside table or treat. Clara still had a blast and loved looking at all the other costumes. I think she ended up enjoying that more than getting candy!We finished the night by trick or treating at Grandma and Grandpa Beck's. Aunt Melissa and Uncle Eric were there as well. They couldn't get enough of their little witch. Clara even demonstrated how to fly on her broom, which I finally got a picture of! I love how she flies with her broom backwards!