Trick-or-Treat day was Saturday this year, and the day started early. While Dave went to his class at the U, the kids and I went with Amy at Kneaders Bakery, which just opened, in Woods Cross for breakfast. It was delicious! We had the stuffed French toast, and Emma had a cinnamon roll. Cal couldn’t really eat anything there. ): But he was happy with his food we brought him and trying to run around. We had a great time together, I love my sis!
That day, we finished up final preparations for our Halloween costumes, painting nails (Cal loved that we could finally paint his nails, he always wants to when Emma and I do), re-applying silver stars to boots, and giving the guitar (that actually hooked up to our phones to play KISS music) a makeover. We played for a while and hung out with everyone. We set my mom up with Facebook. Then Dave got back and we had lunch and talked and made more final touches to our costumes. We have had the best time looking for stuff, making, sewing, and putting together our costumes this year. We love it. For us, we don’t just go buy them. We get creative, stick to a budget, and then go with the theme! It’s made for some great family memories. This week, well, actually month, well, actually, about a year ago, we began preparing for Halloween by making our costumes. We decided to be the rock band KISS as a family, as we are always something together. We always decide long before Halloween. Dave came up with the concept this year, and Emma loved it! I wasn’t so sure at first, but glad we stuck with it. For us, Halloween is no small event. We take it pretty seriously and are hard-core about costumes! We don’t just go out and buy costumes; we work and make what we wear, which makes it fun and challenging. We’ve been ransacking every DI, thrift store, retail place, theatre yard sale, costume shop, family member’s closets, hardware stores and more to get everything we needed to make our costumes. Thanks to all who helped contribute to the cause – Mom for helping work a few sewing things out, and Mom Sue (and Julie) for helping with the makeup and wig department!
And then it was time to rock and roll and get our costumes and makeup on. We put Cal’s hairspray on, he looked so different with black hair! He wouldn’t keep his wig on, so we thought this would be the closest we could get. After my dad saw Cal, he joked “He looks like me at Amy’s wedding!” My dad tries to tell jokes a lot, and usually they are pretty lame, but that one actually was a good one! The morning of my sister’s wedding, he tried to dye his hair, as he realized he was getting some grey hairs. He did it himself, and let’s just say, it didn’t turn out very great. He he! SO that was funny. We took a picture of the two black-haired boys.
Cal got so worn out, he fell asleep. While he was asleep, he must have been moving around a lot, because this is what I saw when I went up to get him. He looks like a coal miner! Poor boy! Note to self: never buy $2 hair spray from Wal-Mart again.
We went to the in-laws to put our makeup on. That took a while, but it was well worth it. Cal did pretty good this time, and Emma was so excited all day and kept asking when it was time to put her costume and makeup on. Here’s how we turned out.
Dave was Gene Simmons, I was the Star Child, Emma was the Cat Man, and Cal was Spaceman. How do we look?
We went to Bountiful’s Main Street Trick-or-Treating for a little while, which we usually do. Luckily, the rain held out, and so it was a good time. Many were asking to take pictures of us, so we obliged, it was kind of fun to be in the spotlight and see the excitement in others when they saw us. Lots of people honked their horns at us. We were told that these were the best costume’s they’d seen. Many people went to get special treats for us, because the candy in their bowls just didn’t do. We got lots of fun feedback from others. It was quite the night.
My husband…I never thought Gene Simmons was good looking until this man took over!
Rock and roll all nite, and party every day!
Cal and Grandpa walk down Main Street.
Cal and Grandpa walk down Main Street.
We then went to South Davis Jr. High school and went to their Trick-or-Treat event for a little, since it was indoors – warm and dry. They had all sorts of sponsors, there were games inside, food, and a bounce house, and the kids got a huge bag of candy and freebies at the end! It was a lot of fun! We’d never done that one before until this year, but figured, though we had umbrellas, our KISS face paint wouldn’t last long in the rain. The kids loved the bouncy toys!
Emma shooting the turkey down.
Cal rolling the ball.
After that, it was to the Stoddard’s house for the traditional chili, witches broomstick breadsticks, veggies (gotta counteract that sugar somehow, eh?), pumpkin bread, pop, and homemade donuts my mom and Am made. MmmmmMmmm…. Oh, and my mom also had dirt cups…Emma enjoyed making her and eating it. Here she is with Grammie.
Happy Halloween!
Then we went to my mom’s immediate neighbors to see them and trick-or-treat, and then we were back to the Ryerse’s. Emma couldn’t get enough trick-or-treating! And Cal learned how to say “Trick-or-treat!” And they did really well remembering to say “thank you” to everyone, which we practiced. We went to a few of the Ryerse’s neighbors, with Grandma (she was dressed as a Wompa from Star Wars), who we see quite a bit, but some of them didn’t even recognize us! It was hilarious! Then we washed up, and got real clothes back on, which felt good. It’s fun to be a rock star for a few hours, but I don’t know if I could be live in concert every night. The kids watched A Scooby Doo Halloween, which featured the band KISS in the cartoon, which was awesome! Then they zonked out, falling asleep before we could even brush their teeth, probably with visions of cavities dancing in their heads. Dave finished watching the U football game and some other Halloween show, and I fell asleep also before we left for home.
Now, like I said, I'll be moving backwards. Friday, we made Jack-O-Lantern pancakes…with bananas for the eyes and mouth. Emma always gets a kick out of food made fun.
We went to a Halloween party with some friends from our old married’s ward at Katie Park’s house. It was great, thanks Katie! We painted pumpkins, ate snacks, decorated sugar cookies, and played outside!
Emma and Cal loved everything about Halloween this year!
Cal goes and goes until he crashes. I love how he wouldn't let go of his sucker, even after he was asleep.
We love Halloween!
We did our Halloween Party for Preschool. We held it at the church and did a little carnival, and each of the kids were given a punch card. We played all sorts of games, did a few little crafts, and decorated sugar cookies, the kids got a punch at each station and a prize when they completed the game or task, and I tried to tie in learning as well, making the games fun yet educational. It was great fun. The kids are adorable!
Blowing up balloons to make hats and swords.
Wesley decorating cookies.
We love Halloween!
We did our Halloween Party for Preschool. We held it at the church and did a little carnival, and each of the kids were given a punch card. We played all sorts of games, did a few little crafts, and decorated sugar cookies, the kids got a punch at each station and a prize when they completed the game or task, and I tried to tie in learning as well, making the games fun yet educational. It was great fun. The kids are adorable!
Blowing up balloons to make hats and swords.
Wesley decorating cookies.
Logan loved his balloon!
Ghost ball throw.
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Ghost ball throw.
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Hyrum pins the nose on the pumpkin.
Emmy plays Halloween Twister.
Emmy plays Halloween Twister.
Emma making a pumpkin picture frame.
Letter Duck Pond.
We always go to the Tolman Elementary Halloween Carnival. A lot of work is always put into it and it is a blast! They have hot dogs, cider, donuts, and popcorn in the cafeteria. There’s face painting, tons of games, and activities. Here are the kids!
Emma and Cal waiting for the bowling game.
Aunt Julie helped set up and give out gummy worms to the kids. Here she is with the boys. They sure love her!
My mother-in-law, Sue always helps out with that, as she works there. She dressed up as a witch this year, and told stories. She loves dressing up like a witch and loves Halloween, and she was so cute! All of the kids got a kick out of it! Our favorite witch…
Our ward Halloween party was great! We won the costume contest…everyone died when they saw us! Some said we were so cute (though I replied I wasn’t quite sure if “cute” was the right word), others said that these were the best costumes they’d seen before. Some didn’t even recognize us. One of my friends came up and asked me where Dave was. I pointed him out, “That’s Dave?!” she replied, and busted up laughing. Many took pictures of us on their own cameras, especially the parents of the kids who are in Dave’s Sunday School Class. He teaches the 16 to 18 year olds, and many of them were on dates, at a dance, or out with their own friends. Lots of the parents took pics with their phones and sent them to their kids. The parents told us their kids couldn’t guess who Gene Simmons was before they told them it was Dave. Ha! They loved it! We had trunk-or-treat indoors, due to the rain, which was fun. Emma’s been telling her friends for a while who she’s going to be. Even her Primary teachers were a little confused when she told them she was going to be kiss. Emma told me they thought she was going to be a Hershey kiss. Boy, were they surprised when they saw sweet little Emma dressed up like a rocker! Our Bishop loved it and asked on Sunday why we took the face make-up off. Then we had a chili dinner, I made witches breadsticks, shaped like broomsticks, which went fast. The Young Women performed Thriller on stage, which was cool. Then the kids played some games and did face painting. It was a fun night!
We always go to the Tolman Elementary Halloween Carnival. A lot of work is always put into it and it is a blast! They have hot dogs, cider, donuts, and popcorn in the cafeteria. There’s face painting, tons of games, and activities. Here are the kids!
Emma and Cal waiting for the bowling game.
Aunt Julie helped set up and give out gummy worms to the kids. Here she is with the boys. They sure love her!
My mother-in-law, Sue always helps out with that, as she works there. She dressed up as a witch this year, and told stories. She loves dressing up like a witch and loves Halloween, and she was so cute! All of the kids got a kick out of it! Our favorite witch…
Our ward Halloween party was great! We won the costume contest…everyone died when they saw us! Some said we were so cute (though I replied I wasn’t quite sure if “cute” was the right word), others said that these were the best costumes they’d seen before. Some didn’t even recognize us. One of my friends came up and asked me where Dave was. I pointed him out, “That’s Dave?!” she replied, and busted up laughing. Many took pictures of us on their own cameras, especially the parents of the kids who are in Dave’s Sunday School Class. He teaches the 16 to 18 year olds, and many of them were on dates, at a dance, or out with their own friends. Lots of the parents took pics with their phones and sent them to their kids. The parents told us their kids couldn’t guess who Gene Simmons was before they told them it was Dave. Ha! They loved it! We had trunk-or-treat indoors, due to the rain, which was fun. Emma’s been telling her friends for a while who she’s going to be. Even her Primary teachers were a little confused when she told them she was going to be kiss. Emma told me they thought she was going to be a Hershey kiss. Boy, were they surprised when they saw sweet little Emma dressed up like a rocker! Our Bishop loved it and asked on Sunday why we took the face make-up off. Then we had a chili dinner, I made witches breadsticks, shaped like broomsticks, which went fast. The Young Women performed Thriller on stage, which was cool. Then the kids played some games and did face painting. It was a fun night!
Made a few Halloween crafts. Here's one little jar I made. It was fun to make, and easy too.
A few weeks ago, my friend Katrina invited us to a Halloween playgroup at Bountiful 5 Points Park. We made little spiders and mummy crafts. It was a nice, warm day!
The kids decorating cookies - yum!
Emma and Cal making mummies.
Yum! Frosting!
Yum! Frosting!
I’ve done a couple of Preschool Halloween-themed classes. At the one, the letter was “H” and the theme Halloween. We did a science experiment with air, and blew up plastic bags, we named Mr. Ghost and talked simply about air and matter a little. We read a Halloween book. We made haunted houses collages out of H’s and other shapes. We made caramel apples and made H’s with the popsicle sticks. We learned the “Halloween” song. We made Halloween countdown chains, using black and orange paper, and put simple activities for the kids to do each day before Halloween on the back. Preschool is so much fun!
Dipping the apples in the caramel. 
We always decorate pumpkins. The kids painted theirs (as you can see) and they helped Dave and I carve ours. Here's Cal, after decorating pumpkins. 
My KISS pumpkin.
KISS pupmkin in the dark.
My KISS pumpkin.
KISS pupmkin in the dark.
Dave's Weber State pumpkin. Great, great, great!
Dave's pumpkin, he did it freestyle. Good job, hon!
The kid's pumpkins. They did a princess and a frog, which was Emma's idea. They painted and used fun foam stickers, and had so much fun! Cal loves to run outside and show everyone his pumpkin and go admire them all!
Hmmm…now what to be next year? How do we top KISS? For us, planning starts long in advance, so when we see something good we need, we can snag it. Any votes? We have lots of ideas we’ve thought of…maybe the Simpsons, M&Ms, Cereal Characters (Tony the Tiger, Honey Smacks frog, Toucan Sam, Capt’n Crunch, Lucky Charms Leprechaun, Trix Bunny), Fingers (since there will be five of us), Scooby Doo cast, Prince Charming & Cinderella, along with the pumpkin and mice, the Muppets, The characters from Green Eggs and Ham ( Sam-I-Am, Green Ham, 2 green eggs), Peanuts characters (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus, Lucy, Sally), or Weather (weatherman, cloud, sunshine, rain, rainbow, snow, lightning). Or we are still thinking of other fun options. Until next year, Happy Halloween bats and ghouls!
