October came and went quickly and we are hopeful that maybe the hot summer weather did too, at least for a little while. The month was busily filled with all things Autumn and spooky. We visited a pumpkin patch and picked out the perfect square pumpkin for our porch. (Isabelle loves the character Spookly this time of year who just happens to be a square pumpkin!) Belle had a Halloween party at school and had fun making spiders and cobwebs with her classmates. Aunt Tara came for a quick visit and we made candy corn sugar cookies, carved a pumpkin, and had fun shopping at some festive holiday marketplaces. And Ben and I thoroughly enjoyed the girls in their skinny glow-in-the-dark Halloween pajamas, especially when we checked on them in the night and saw nothing but a glowing white skeleton in their beds!
Of course Halloween weekend was the grande finale of the thrilling month where the girls dressed as black cats per Isabelle's request. I was pleased she wanted to be something sweet and easy to put together and I even ordered a crochet cat hat for me too in honor of the festive season. Grandma and Grandpa came over to get in on the action as well and arrived just in time for the ward Trunk-or-Treat where we had fun eating hot dogs and chili while gathering candy from all the decorated trunks. The following day we had a neighborhood party at the exact same time as Belle's soccer game and we were pleasantly surprised when after given the choice she picked to play in her game instead of attend the party. We then carried on the Christensen tradition of 'Dinner in a Pumpkin' before we headed to bed for another big adventure the following day.
On Halloween day, Isabelle participated in her first Primary Singing Program and wore her spooky twirly skirt while she recited her line Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We then enjoyed visiting with some of our neighbors outside and filling our buckets a little bit more with goodies while handing out some candy as well. Isabelle was excited to be the one to give the candy to the Trick-or-Treaters and was very proud that she wasn't afraid of any of their costumes. The night, and fun, had to end a little bit early unfortunately since Belle was due at the Hospital for a quick surgery at 7am November 1st, but not until Belle had enjoyed the holiday to the fullest! Olivia had fun too all month long with so much to look at, but was happiest when she was tucked in her warm crib and dreaming of pumpkins on her own!
A week or so later, when Isabelle's surgery was over and we were starting to get back into our normal routine again, I gathered up our Halloween decorations to put away until next year and realized that Isabelle had not even looked into her bucket yet to see all of her treats she had gathered over the previous weekend. I dumped it all into another bowl and I think she has maybe had a sucker since. She definitely does not have much of a sweet tooth and I am not eating chocolate on Olivia's behalf, so Ben is doing his best to whittle away at the Halloween loot!
And now, on to the next Fall holiday and jam-packed month...the weather this time of year in San Antonio alone is worth celebrating!
**On a side note, remember that amazing photographer friend I mentioned earlier in the year? Well, she snapped these last two photos and emailed them to me to cherish! Wow, what a difference a "professional" makes, huh? Her boys journals will be filled with wonderful photography!
