Carnival & Birthday & Halloween... oh my!

Whoosh, what a crazy week. I figured I should just do one big slide show & combine all the craziness so I don't have 87 posts. Sorry to bombard! Last week was SO busy. Jer's family's ward has a huge Halloween Carnival every year & this is our 4th year going with them. They do it in a member's acre back yard, and they have 4 bounce houses, pony rides, train rides, carnival booths, THE WORKS! Oh and chili, cornbread, hot dogs, snow cones, cotton candy, & the most delicious kettle korn known to man! ... and dang it, its getting more crowded every year!

The next day was our Ward's Trunk or Treat. They had a spooky root beer cauldron & a fire pit, it was so much fun. I bought 3 bags of candy & it was GONE within 5 minutes! Those crazy Mormons have so many kids! :) Then we rushed home to make sure the Birthday Boy got plenty of rest for his big day....

The next day was Brayden's Birthday party. This year since he was turning 5, he requested to have his first ever "friend party" at a "cool place." So I gave in. He has always had a fascination with bowling, but had never done it, so we did his party at the new Bowling Alley. He got to invite 8 of his little friends, and they all wore their costumes. They had the bumpers up & lightweight balls & I was shocked at how well they all did! It was Cosmic Bowling too, so it was extra crazy & fun. It was so cute to see him & all his friends bowl. The kids were all angels! They put on a costume contest & gave all the kids passes to the arcade! Then we went back to our house for yet another family party. What was I thinking? Clearly I was not. I had a momentary lapse in sanity & thought it would be a good idea to get it all done in 1 day? Idiot. I had 1 hour to clean & bake 2 cakes... never again! Speaking of, that is what crazy people do, but what do all you 'normals' do? A friend party, or a family party? separate days? or do you nix one all together? Help me out! It was WAY too overwhelming for me!

Finally came Halloween. I was a naughty procrastinator & sent Brayden to school with literally the "bottom of the barrel" reject pumpkin, after searching 4 stores. Brayden took one look at it & stuck out his bottom lip. :( He was worried the kids would laugh at it. HOW SAD! I said, please Bray, I went to 4 stores. It's this pumpkin or NO pumpkin. He wanted to know why all the other kids moms' found nice pumpkins!? Ouch. Anyways, he had a school party that morning & they didn't even end up decorating the dang thing, so when he came home I let him paint it.

Then some friends/neighbors organized a neighborhood party with all the kids, thanks Jamie for hosting! They played games, made Monster treats, went on an awesome Hay ride (thanks Jason!) and then we got ready for trick or treating. I took them to a few houses & then passed out candy this year while Jer took the boys in the wagon, those wagons are made for Trick-or-Treating! the best! Everyone commented on Kosty as a "she" or "her" or my fav, "look its batgirl!" Of course, it didn't help that he would only wear his mask as a headband. But again, I am only offended that people would think I would dress my 'daughter' in a boy costume! When Brayden came stumbling up the drive way with his candy bag slung over his shoulder, I knew he was FINISHED. Oh my heck, they got way too much candy! Jeremy's family came & we all sat in the driveway with the fire pit & ate chili & cornbread & of course TOO much candy! What a week! I am exhausted, and this week I can't wait to DO absolutely NOTHING! :)