Halloween is over!! I had fun; I always have fun coming up with costumes and carving pumpkins (Scott's least favorite part I think). Here are pictures of all my little creatures this year!! Erin was a witch. Zach was Two-Face (from Batman). Wally was a dragon. Richie was a spider. And Russell was a bunch of grapes (which Scott commented was maybe a little feminine). I am also posting a picture of our pumpkins that we worked so hard on this year. I am not very artistically talented, but I love it. It is so much fun creating something and looking at it afterwards all finished. So maybe my little Zach does get some of his love of art from me. (Every day, he comes to me and asks, "Mom, can I be crafty?" Which means he wants to make crafts, but I'm never quite sure how to answer that one.) Anyway, that's why I love carving pumpkins! Can you guess which child designed which pumpkin?

But I feel especially glad this year that Halloween is over. Maybe it's because I have such a new little baby. Maybe it's because I'm not quite feeling good enough yet to be tromping all over town with my husband and five kids for hours on end, everyone eating candy to the point that these same kids are bouncing off the walls and I feel like throwing up, and then coming home to try to find some way to entice them to go to sleep. I also think I came down with some bug that night. All day yesterday I still felt achy and tired.

Today is better though! The kids are dressed, I am even SHOWERED and ready before noon, my Thanksgiving wreath is on my door and my Halloween decorations put away, and I may even get to that mountain of laundry on my bed. I just feel excited for Thanksgiving. I was thinking this morning that I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the cool weather outside but no kind of obligation to go out and stay in it until I'm sick. Thanksgiving season to me is perfect... crisp cold biting the air, beautiful fall colors, drinking hot cider or hot chocolate bundled up in a blanket. And then the actual holiday! Lots of family, lots of food, lots of love and fun, but without the stress and financial strain of Christmas. Don't get me wrong -- I love Christmas! Scott has laid down the law that I can't play my Christmas music while he's at home until after Thanksgiving... but I play it plenty when he's not here!! :) I love LOVE Christmas music and the wonderful feeling in the air. Thanksgiving gives me that same wonderful feeling, but without all the commercialism. I just really feel relief that Halloween is over and I can rest a little, and excited for the wonderful Thanksgiving season!! In conclusion, I am going to sing you all one of my favorite songs that I think will put us all in the right mood....

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,

Jack Frost nipping at your nose,

Yuletide carols being sung..."

Ok, ok, honey. I'll give it a few more weeks. :)