Wow, did we pack a lot into October in the name of Halloween. But it was fun! And we weren't done yet. Danny and I started a tradition a few years back where the Monday night before Halloween we make caramel apples for Family Home Evening treats. The kids love their caramel apples, and look forward to it the whole month of October. The girls always help me take the wrappers off all the caramels, and we were smart and bought little apples at Walmart instead of the gargantuan ones at Costco. It worked out much better for the kids. :)
Once Daddy had gotten the caramel all melted down, and I had the sticks in all the apples, we got started. The kids picked out some candy decorations and sprinkles for their apples, and they were eager and focused in the creation of their delectable masterpieces.
Even Lukey got in on the action. It's crazy, but the year before was his first Halloween, and he was just starting to get sick. It was just a short few weeks later that we learned about his cancer. It was so sweet to see him having fun with us! We were pretty sure he wasn't going to make it to his second Halloween, so to have him in such great health, and in such great spirits, was the sweetest treat of all.
The kids all loved how their apples turned out. Claire was especially proud of hers. She's realizing her artistic talent, and it's made her more confident. I love seeing her mature and blossom.
But really, caramel apples aren't for display. They're for eating! This is always the funnest part for me...watching my kids try to figure out how to eat those things!
Luke was even willing to share. :)
I'd have to say that while we all had a great time, the night really went to Lukey. He was beyond thrilled with every aspect of this Halloween tradition! And that made it all the more enjoyable for the rest of us. We love seeing Lukey enjoy life!
Now, we had already carved pumpkins once with Grandpa Richard and Grandma Ruth Ann. But because we'd done that so early in the month, and because the weather was still so warm, those poor jack o'lanterns had rotted well before Trick or Treats. So, it behooved us to carve some more! And so the evening before Halloween, we set to the task. We even invited Grandma and Papa and their household to join us for the good times. But Danny, my ever-efficient husband, figured we should prep the pumpkins before everyone got there. So he and the kids got started gutting the pumpkins...
Johnny did his job as the eldest son and handled most the guts. :)
Daddy couldn't have asked for a better helper!
At one point, I had walked out of the room for something. When I came back, I was struck by how perfect the scene before me was. My incredible husband, the love of my life, and our beautiful children...carving pumpkins in our beautiful home, on a picturesque fall evening. This is perfection.
And like the caramel apples, this was Luke's first chance to really help with the pumpkins. He picked his tool of choice, and Daddy gave him some guts to play with. He was a happy camper!
While the boys handled gutting the gourds, it was apparently up to the ladies to do the fine carving. Once Aunt Julie and Aunt Katie arrived, we divvied up the pumpkins and got to work. I've become a bit more experienced in pumpkin carving, and was able to chose a pattern that would be both awesome...and manageable. My poor sisters-in-law are not so experienced. :) While their patterns would indeed produced epic jack o'lanterns...they were going to be carving all night! Good thing Claire and Sophie were happy to assist.
Danny had made some wassail for the occasion, and we bought some donuts to go with it. The donuts were good, but Danny's wassail was amazing! Even Luke loved it! He kept wanting a drink, then he'd make the cutest sour face, and then go for more. Pretty much everything Luke does is extraordinarily cute. :)
While I had correctly predicted that Julie and Katie would be carving for a lot longer than I would be, they stayed in good spirits! And their pumpkins were looking pretty epic... :)
The rest of us enjoyed some time visiting. Great Grandma Lovell came to watch the festivities, which was so fun. I miss all the time I had to visit with Great Grandma when we lived with Grandma and Papa. She's such a wonderful woman, and we are so blessed to be able to make so many memories with her. This is four generations of Lovell Love right here!
Finally, the girls were done with the pumpkins, and we set them out on the porch to be lit the following night for Trick or Treats! It was an awesome night together!
The craziness of Halloween was only hours away...but somehow it always come a little early at our house....
Next up...Halloween!!
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