Halloween Hullabaloo

 The Dixons had a lot of items on their Halloween checklist this year!

 Halloween essential #1: Carve pumpkin

Ramona requested a scary face, as expected

Halloween essential #2: Costumes

Dressing Ramona up as a unicorn was Mommy's idea--one she soon regretted once paper mache was underway. She quickly realized it would take much longer than anticipated! The finished product, however, was satisfactory, and thankfully stayed on Ramona's little shoulders, too.

 Mika's costume: Pink poodle. But she only kept her ears on for about 30 seconds total.

Halloween essential #3: Halloween party

Our church hosted a party the Saturday before Halloween. The building was brimming with costumed children hunting for candy. A "haunted house" was set up in one of the larger rooms. I crawled through it with Ramona, staying close by in case she got spooked and needed a hand to hold. At the beginning, we had to go around an older girl who was too frightened to go forward or backwards. By the end, I came out with a seven-year-old boy clinging to my arm, who was presumably too scared to finish the adventure by himself. My little Ramona, on the other hand, was about as cool as a cucumber. Nothing seems to scare that kid (except the slides at the playground).

Doing the cake walk

 Halloween essential #4: Trunk or Treat

 Halloween essential #5: Halloween at Avago

Every year Forest's work hosts a huge trick-or-treating event around the cubicles. I only wish we were allowed to take photo/video in the facility. Watching Mika toddle around with her tiny legs, picking candy from office chairs, and carefully dropping it into her bucket is a memory I would love to "replay." She took her first step a month ago and has gradually become more proficient each day--just in time to do her own trick-or-treating!

 Halloween essential #6: Neighborhood Trick-or-Treat

 

Ghost unicorn?

 

 Bonus Halloween Treat: Family over for a visit!

Aunt Maria, Uncle Josh, and Cousin Caleb stayed with us for one night on their way to Illinois, and that night just happened to be Halloween! Caleb snagged a few treats while he was here.

The cousins got a little bit of play time in, too

 

 Halloween essential #7: CANDY
Is it possible that we accumulated enough candy to last until NEXT Halloween? 

Enjoying the artificial fruit flavors of her labors

Halloween checklist: Complete.