Halloween 2011 - a gypsy, a ninja, and Mr. Mayhem

This year's Halloween costumes for the younger 2 kids.

Derek with his female friends at the ward Halloween chili cookoff. (Samantha, Emily, Derek, KaLyn, and Tiffany)

Roger was "Mr. Mayhem" for Halloween (from the Allstate Commercials). He made up his own scenario which would be more applicable to the FWC and wildlife. It was pretty clever, but not everyone got it!

The sign says: "I'm a Florida Black Bear. The bacon grease that you left sitting on the counter after breakfast is calling to me like scent to a bloodhound, and your flimsy screen door just isn't going to stop me from reaching my culinary nirvana. Once inside, your kitchen becomes my personal playground...until you walk in and surprise me. Then I'm taking the closest escape route out of Dodge - which happens to be through your picture window. And if you named your own price with a cut-rate home insurer, you're most likely going to be stuck paying for these repairs yourself. So listen to 'our state' - FWC - and protect yourself from mayhem like me. Are you in good hands?"

Halloween Happenings

It seemed like we attended lots of fall festivals this year. Here is the cake we made to donate to the Elementary School cake walk.

At the Southport Elementary fall festival, Kaylee got her face painted and Brandon opted for hair paint.

A few days later, we helped out a sick friend by taking her 3 kids to their school fall festival.
Then came the Stake fall festival in Bonifay. Lots of free fun - the best kind! They had a bounce house that kept Brandon hot and sweaty!
Kaylee's hair clip taking a ride on Roger's shoulder. It almost looked like he brought along his pet spider.
Kaylee and her friend Savannah after visiting the face painting booth.

Brandon the tiger

Derek waiting for a number to be called and hoping to FINALLY get a cupcake in the cake walk. He's trying to pretend like doesn't realize or care that Ashton is stranded on the same hay bale.

This year's pumpkin - Derek's design

Brandon the ninja

Kaylee the vampire

At the ward trunk or treat

This was taken when we headed out to trick or treat on Saturday (not that we needed any more candy!). Dustin is ninja #2, but he refused to turn around for me. I don't think we have any good Halloween pictures of him!

Halloween Festivities

The Panama City Stake did a really fun fall festival up in Bonifay. The temperatures dropped off and it felt seasonably cool. The kids had a great time.
I think Kaylee and Brandon would have done the cake walk all night if we didn't stop them!
Carving Pumpkins - Kaylee & Brandon helped cut the top and clean it out. Derek and Dustin each designed and cut out one side. It was a reversible pumpkin!
The Kindergarten through 3rd grade participated in a "candy parade" at school. Basically they walked around and around in the courtyard "trick-or-treating" at each door until the candy ran out.

It was a super hot day and Hermione couldn't stand wearing her robe any longer.

The kids went for a swim after school to cool off before the trunk or treat.

The ward trunk or treat - Kaylee and Brandon's primary teacher

This next picture really made me laugh, but you probably had to be there. The kids were all lined up for the costume contest when the parking lot light went out, plunging everyone into darkness. Several of us aimed our cameras into the dark to see what was going on with the kids. When the flash lit up this picture, everyone else was standing calmly against the wall. Brandon, on the other hand, decided to make the most of the darkness and started dancing.
Getting ready to trick-or-treat with friends. Derek's mummy costume was really funny. He kept losing paper, and by the time we finished our 4 mile trek, his legs and arms were bare. I think he has finally decided that it's not worth the humiliation of dressing up for free candy. We told him this was the last year he had the option anyway!