A Week of Halloween Fun

What a fun Halloween week the Nutt House had!  It seems we had some Halloween related activity each day of the week, that kept us active and excited for the holiday on Saturday. 

Happy Halloween from the Nutthouse!

We started off our week on Monday completing a service project that we invited some friends to participate in with us.  (This part is written for Kara and Kaden to reflect back on as they get older, not for any type of boasting or bragging) It has been on my mind quite a bit lately to find a service project that as a family we could take part in – including our 3-year-old Nutt, and finding a service project a 3-year-old is able to complete is not easy, so when I found one he could do too, I was quite excited.  We made Halloween trick or treat bags for a shelter to provide to homeless children and those that have been in domestically abusive situations.  As the mom to Kara and Kaden I am quite proud at how willing they were to fill bag after bag after bag with candy to give away to other people.  Then, when we went to the shelter to drop the bags off later in the week they both did such a great job at showing kindness and enthusiasm for helping other kiddos.  As we left we were able to talk about the impact they had on other kids, how that makes their Nutt-y parents feel, Jesus feel, and how it makes them feel.  Needless to say, a very positive experience and one I look forward to finding ways to duplicate.

Putting together decorations for the treat bags

It was my week to teach Kaden’s preschool group and we perfectly studied the letter H.  On Tuesday we built haunted houses out of chocolate graham crackers and chocolate frosting.  It goes without saying that the activity was a home run with the kiddos.  Kara thought the activity sounded so fun that when she was home from her school we spent some time making additional haunted houses. 

Each piece of candy needed to go to just the right spot

According to Kaden, there is no such thing as
 too much chocolate or candy!

Chocolate was the key to Kara's house as well

For Thursday, we invited Kara’s group to join us for a Halloween party.  We had songs, stories, bobbing for apples, eating donuts from a string, and other Halloween party games and activities.  One of my favorite parts of the party came when Kaden cried when he was asked to try to eat a donut without using his hands.  Turned out that all three 3 year olds cried – over eating donuts without a string and their mean-y moms asking them to try caramel.  Crazy, crazy, kids!!!  Kara was a rock star at the donut eating, nailing that activity where Kaden was the master apple bobber – being the only one who could successfully bob for an apple through the entire group.  We had a crazy, chaotic time but one that was full of fun and friends, making it a successful party!

Halloween story time

Dancing to Halloween songs

Donut eating time

The tears associated with being told not to use their hands

Bobbing for apples

Almost got it

Success!

We hadn’t had the chance to visit a pumpkin patch as a family prior to this week so we grabbed an evening and ventured out to Vertuccio Farms for a family pumpkin patch experience.  The little Nutt’s enjoyed the various rides and corn maze but found the bounce pad their favorite.  To make the evening more exciting we chose to bring Uno along.  That made for quite the evening as he attempted to bark at the farm animals, out bark any other dog he saw and generally roll around in the hay.  It was a great evening – good weather, fun adventures, good pumpkin picking and most importantly family time. 

 

Even Uno joined in the photo opp

A non Uno filled photo op

Ready for the barrel train to depart

Loving the ride!

Stuck in the middle of the corn maze

Smartly exiting before the sun set too much

Loving the tractor train ride, because tractor + train
always equals a good time!

Teeter-totter

With our big Nutt joining in on the fun

These two little Nutts are growing too fast!

Water pump duck races

Spider-web climbing

Super slide

Again, an awesome dad joining in!

Jumping fun

Quality daddy-daughter time

Monster pedal bike riding

Parties were key component to the fun of the Nutthouse throughout the week.  Kara and Kaden both attended a party at My Gym where they played, enjoyed a game of pin the nose on Olaf, discovered cake walks, won some prizes and had some treats.  What a great party!

When and where did she learn to rock climb?!?

Pro balance beam walkers

Love when these little Nutts play together!

Pin the nose on Olaf

Pin the nose on Olaf attempt #2

Kara got to attend a party at her dance studio where she sported an old dance outfit and went as a punk rocker ballerina.  Any party that allows for Kara to dress up, put on make-up and dance gets two thumbs up from Kara.

Man on man are we in trouble in about 10 years!
She's got this punk rock ballerina style down!

Dancing with her favorite teacher ever!

Kaden attended his My Gym class Saturday dressed as a sport-y super hero complete with a My Gym cape he had won at the My Gym party.  As always, he loved his class. 

 

Attempting to knock over Mr. Vince

Success!!

Hanging upside down like a monkey

He loves his My Gym coaches!

With Halloween on Saturday we found ourselves celebrating the day with a trip to Arizona Flower Market for trick or treating, free flowers for me and several character meet and greets for the little Nutts.  Kara had zero interest in a photo op with the Super Heroes but eagerly said yes to the chance to take a picture with and hug Arial, Elsa, and Anna. 

Superheroes Unite!

She loved Arial and the attention she gave her!

Of course she wouldn't miss a photo op with Elsa & Anna

Loving the rainbow heart face paint

Kaden chose the more conservative Jack-O-Lantern on the arm

After finishing at the Flower Market we journeyed over to Krispy Kreme where the two little Nutts received free donuts for showing up in costume.  Monster decorated for Kaden and Jack-O-Lantern decorated for Kara were the selections of the day. 

Purple monster donuts taste ohhh so good!

As do pumpkin donuts
*don't mind the long day, post nap make up look

Of course, Halloween couldn’t happen without pumpkin carving.  So, per Nutthouse tradition Kara and Kaden got to draw whatever they wanted on their pumpkin and Brent used all his pumpkin carving skills to bring the jack-o-lantern dreams of two little Nutts to realization. 

Face drawing

Happy that daddy is carving her masterpiece

Helping to get the pieces out...
EWWWW!

Master carving skills at work

One happy Vet with her completed masterpiece

A Pirate and his finished pumpkin

Soon we found ourselves ready for trick or treating Saturday night where with Kara dressed as a veterinarian and Kaden dressed as Jake the Pirate Brent took off with the two little Nutts to fill their trick or treating bags and candy dreams. 

and... their off!

Halloween and all assorted activities that we engaged in we had a blast with.  It seemed Halloween snuck up all too quickly on the Nutthouse this year and we are glad we were able to have the fun that we had.  We are going to make a more concerted effort to enjoy each of the upcoming holidays and all the unique opportunities that each offer.

 

Nutt House, Halloween style

*On a non-Halloween note, Uno started puppy training this week and as the Nutt-y rockstar we believe his to be, he nailed the training!  We are doing well with our homework assignments of having him practice Sit, Down, and Focus.  He enjoys all the extra treats he’s getting and we are enjoying knowing that he’s learning.

Yessss!  Uno, Yesss!