The Smith Family In New Orleans: Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween 2011! Abi and Joe had such a fun day of parties and trick-or-treating. Abi dressed as Kiki from The Fresh Beat Band (a kids' show on Nick Jr.) and Joe was Jack from the Magic Treehouse books for Storybook Character Day at school and then Spiderman for trick-or-treating.

Abi and I started the day with her school's Halloween party, which was held at a fellow student's home. Her teachers did a great job setting up lots of games for the kids to play and prizes to win. She ran and played with her friends, sang Halloween songs, played games, decorated a cookie (which was eaten before the sprinkles could set), made a foam mummy craft and jumped on the trampoline, of course. After all, Tiny Tumblers is a gymnastics school! Haha.

Abi and her school friends singing "5 Little Pumpkins"

"Kiki" Abi making a Halloween scene

Abi's spooky scene

"Kiki" jumping on the trampoline

After a picnic lunch at Abi's party, we headed over to Joe's school. First we helped with art class, like we always do on Mondays and then went back to his classroom for his Halloween activities. Technically, they're not supposed to have parties for Halloween, so the teacher and room moms did a great job of setting up some educational activities for the kids.

Joe dressed as "Jack" from the Magic Treehouse book "Vacation Under The Volcano". He's in a tunic (Daddy's undershirt) since the story takes place in ancient Rome. "Jack" wears glasses... Joe just chews on them! Here he is doing flashcards with a classmate's grandma.

Looking pensive with his pencil at the pumpkin decorating station. He had to write down what he did first, next and last while decorating.

Joe's decorated pumpkin

Some of the other pumpkins from classmates

Skeleton cupcakes! My contribution to the party. Little did I know that the food station would include a worksheet where the kids had to write down healthy foods vs. unhealthy foods. Of course I got assigned the unhealthy food. Haha. Oh well, they were yummy!

After Joe's non-party, we came home and got ready to go trick-or-treating. Our neighbors got together for a potluck and we set up a few chairs on our driveway so everyone could hand out candy together. We had a great time talking to neighbors and letting the kids play. The daddies all took the kiddos trick-or-treating while the mommies passed out candy. Lots of trick-or-treaters as always, but I think I overestimated how many we would have and have gobs of candy left over. By the way, the baby likes the candy I bought... it needs to leave my house before I eat it all!