Neighborhood kids ready for a night of mischief and fun.

Halloween . . . the one night of the year when people are socially allowed to dress up like hooligans (or chickens, as the case may be) and go around threatening people with illegal mischief if they don’t give them a satisfactory treat.

We wanted to be “that house” on the street, so we got full sized candy bars–only 30. Wyatt was sure we would run out. So far so good (it’s 8:00 pm, and we’ve still got probably 10 left).

Olivia went trick-or-treating with some of her neighborhood buddies–Abby & Alexa, Logan & Jaxon, and Zachary. Calvin went to a couple houses, but after that he was pooped out, and came home to sleep in his swing. Wyatt’s out with Baby O, and I’m handing out the goodies.

What a fun tradition Halloween is!

UPDATE:

Wyatt came home with Olivia. Apparently if we want to be that house in the neighborhood, we’re going to have to do better than full size candy bars . . . apparently there are FIVE other houses just in our ward alone that give out full size. There are also two houses that set up tables and bonfires outside and do hot chocolate and home made scones (we know the people at both of these houses, otherwise I would frown at such a practice). Since I have no interest in competing at that level, I guess we’ll just be another house on the street.

Today was Olivia’s second birthday. We’ve been in celebration all weekend. On Friday Wyatt and Calvin and I went birthday shopping while Olivia played with her cousins at Grandma’s house.

On Saturday we finished up our birthday shopping in the morning, and in the afternoon we met up with Jena and kids at the petting zoo at Thanksgiving Point. It just happened to also be “Barnyard Boo” that day, so in addition to the regular petting zoo, they also had all sorts of activities on the main lawn, including lawn bowling, a clown that made balloon creations, a bean bag toss, a “fishing pond,” a cookie station, and maybe half a dozen other little activites. Then there were the pony and wagon rides. Olivia and the kids really had a blast as we went to each of the activites.

Today I got up early to make a cake before church. I also decorated the house with crepe paper, and a sign that listed all the wonderful things about Olivia (a tradition I stole from a friend of mine). After church Olivia and I decorated the cake. It was a two tier cake, with both chocolate and yellow cake layers. It was frosted in Rainbow chip with pink decorating frosting and flower candy sprinkles and it had 3 miniature “My Little Ponies” on it. It sounds extravagant, I know, and I meant it to be. But lets be honest, I’m not a professional cake-maker, and it didn’t turn out all that cute. But it was fun.

In the evening we loaded up the cake and gifts and went down to Grandma Christensen’s house for dinner with the family. Olivia had so much fun playing with her cousins, and they had so much fun playing with her new toys.

I can’t believe it’s been two years since that soft, rainy morning when Olivia first came into our lives. What a wonderful and breathtaking two years it’s been. She is so much fun to be around. I love her so much! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Click here to read about her 1st Birthday!