Halloween 2015

Halloween has come and gone for 2015 and I have to say I think it was a great success! :)

We started the celebrations with the Lighten Family Halloween party which I blogged about in the last post.

The kids and I had a caramel apple and move night while Trev was in San Diego hanging with his brother, Dan, who is recieving cancer treatments across the border in Mexico.  

Oh, and poor Eliza was sick all week...thus my picture of how she threw up all over me.

It was the perfect time for a night in. :)

Then the kids had all their school festivities which they thoroughly enjoyed, of course.

I will post the parade videos once I figure out how. :)

Finally the BIG day came!  It was on a Saturday so we had lots of time to prep and do my favorite holiday activity...take pictures! :)

The kids used to cringe at this part but I think it is starting to grow on them...

They are actually seeming to like it...or they like the happy mom that comes along with good pictures.  Either way, it works. :)

So here we have it...Halloween 2015 costumes in the Lighten House:

Claire - Greek Goddess (until she threw up all over her dress 5 minutes before leaving to go trick-or-treating.  Then she quickly become a cowgirl.)

"Abby Cat" (who by the way, gets the Sister of the Year award for desiring to stay home with her sick twinster when she could have gone trick-or-treating with the Olders and received A LOT more candy.  She's a gem that one.)

"A Sneaky Burglar" (after being a Greek goddess, and a mime.  Each year this girl can NEVER decide on her costume...just so many options!  I like the final pick the best.)

"A Football Player" (Thank goodness for a neighbor boy that has all the gear.  Oh, and he has not stopped begging to play tackle next year since he put those pads on.  He has been begging for YEARS and I might just cave next season...)

Last but not least...

"Eliza the Skeleton"

This was about the best pictures I could get of this little one.  Poor thing is STILL sick.  She was either in tears or in bed during the picture taking moments. :)

But not to worry, just got her on some antibiotics this morning when her ear infection came charging through.

She should be feeling much better soon.

Trev and I didn't dress up for the actual day but tried to be good sports at the Lighten party.  He was a Cougar Football player and I was a nerd.  We used to dress up.  But then we had 5 kids to dress up.  I still make a small effort for the kids though.  They think it is so fun to see us dress up too. :)  

Once the pictures were complete and it was decided Claire, Eliza, Abby, and I were staying home to trick-or-treat here - Trev headed off to my SIL, Heather's, to let Morgan and Jake go with cousins in a neighborhood that actually has houses.

Ours only has about 10 houses total.

Morgan and Jake both had a blast, got WAY too much candy, and even got to spend the night afterwards with their favorite cousins, Addie and Stone.

Here are the girls heading out for candy after we got Claire all cleaned up.

I started out manning the door, then my sweet neighbor came over to listen for Eliza while I took the girls further up the street.

Only 2 people were home, but luckily a few left bowls of candy on the doorstep.

We were the ONLY trick-or-treaters. :)

They still pulled in a pretty respectable haul given the circumstances.

And Eliza even woke up to help them sort.

Well, that's a wrap!  Until next year. :)

Now on to a month of "Thanks Giving."  Let the Attitudes of Gratitude commence!

Dear Journal and Happy Halloween!

Today I am up early.  It is Tuesday and I usually go running at 6 am with my friends.  It didn't work out this morning to run so I am back home.  I read my scriptures.  Wondered how Nephi did it.  How did he never complain?  I mean seriously, even his father the prophet Lehi did.  How did he not?

This last month has been tough.  So many things going on.  So much to do.  At times I have felt like a mouse on a wheel.  Running as fast as a I can but never getting off the wheel.  Over the weekend I hit the melting point.  The point where you melt down.  Whenever I hit these moments I start taking an inventory of my life. Am I focusing on the right things?  Are there things I can cut out to be less stressed?  Are the things I am doing of eternal consequence?  What do I need to do and what can I ask for help with from others?

Since that time, the Lord has blessed me with an outpouring of support.  He knows me.  He loves me.  He helps me.  If only I could remember to turn to him sooner.  To not let myself get to the melting point before I ask for help.  To share my burdens with others.  To be real about what I need help with.

I have covenanted at baptism to bear others burdens.  I forget that means to share mine too.  Let people help me.

I am a much better me when I turn to my Savior for help.  When I turn to my husband, family, and friends.  The Father wants to bless and help me, but I have to ask.  So I am going to start asking.  I am going to start sharing.  I am also going to try to focus on the positive and not complain - like Nephi.

In other news, Halloween was last week and it was really great!  In the past I have had a love/hate relationship with this holiday because it has seemed like a lot of work without meaning.  I mean Christmas is a lot of work but everything is wrapped up in symbolism and teaching moments that I enjoy it.  But Halloween is just fun.  Don't get me wrong, I love fun too, but the older I get the more fuddy-duddy I become and want the things I take time, effort, and thought into to have lasting significance.  I truly believe you can have a whole lot of fun while learning something of value too.

So Trev and I decided this year that for the month of October leading up to Halloween, we would have our family focus on the importance of family.  We would talk about why families are important.  Why we are in families.  How we can make our family strong.  How we can gain strength and give strength to our extended families.  Then finish the month off with a tribute to our deceased ancestors for All Hallow's Eve.  Get it?  Day of the Dead, All Hallow's Eve, ancestors...right? :)

We would usually discuss these at our Monday Family Night and at dinnertime.

I am not sure how much of this sunk in to the kids, but I think our kids gained a greater appreciation for family and particularly their ancestors as a result.  Or at least they thought about them, and for now that is enough.  I will call it a success. :)

Here are some of the things we learned about our ancestors.

1.  Grandpa Lighten is a modern-day pioneer.  He joined the church (LDS) when he was a young boy.  He left his home in England to come to Utah and follow his faith.  He led his little brother to be strong in the gospel.  Because of him, Trev is here today.  He is a righteous Priesthood holder.  A loving father.  He has followed in the footsteps of his father and we are blessed as family because of that.  How grateful I am for Geoff Lighten.

2.  My grandma Moores was strong and fiesty.  She grew up strong in the heat of Las Vegas, and she was always one that would tell you exactly the way things are - like it or not.  She was fiercely loyal to her faith (LDS) and family.  She was always there to give a listening ear.  If the prophet said it, she would do it.  I believe the strength I have and the fiestiness sometimes comes from her.  Traits of which I have not always understood, but do now and am proud to possess them.  Many of my siblings share these traits as well.  Sometimes that has led to misunderstandings and fabulous disagreements, but we are all learning how to channel those pieces of our personalities in great directions.  We are becoming a stronger family because of them.  What a valiant, special woman Grandma Moores was and is.

Those are just a couple.  There are many, many more.  Trev and I have felt that we need to learn about and draw upon the legacy of strength our ancestors left behind to fortify our family and so even though October is over, we will be continuing to be a focus in our family.  Thank you Halloween for getting us going.

I guess Halloween has deeper meaning after all. :)

But it doesn't diminish the fun!  Here is a picture story of the fun side of things. :)

1.  Skipping a Monster Mash at school to Decorate Pumpkins at home on family night.  My brother and new sister-in-law came over to join in the fun.  So glad we stayed home and soaked in pumpkins, cookies, and each other.

2. Annual Lighten Family Halloween Party.  What a big, loving, strong family Trev comes from.  How glad I am to be a part of it.  How lucky our kids are to be a part of it.

Grandma and Grandpa Lighten - the couple that started it all. :)

How amazing to me how fast this family went from tons of babies to tons of big kids and teenagers!  There are 30+ grandkids in all and what an army of righteous posterity they are becoming.  So glad my kids have these incredible kids to look to and follow.

3.  Lastly, Trick-or-Treat on our Street.  Introducing Pumpkin Jake, Arial, Big Baby, and Sleeping Beauty.

This was the end of Trick or Treating for Abby.  She became really sick on Halloween night. :(  We got her dolled up, took her picture, ended on this one, took her stuff off, put on Jammies, and she hung with me the rest of the night handing out candy.  She loved it!

We had a great time, and she was so cute just happily sharing candy with others and wishing them a Happy Halloween in her raspy, sick voice.  And she didn't even eat one piece of that candy...I on the other hand....well that's another story. :)

Trev wound up taking Claire.  She totally got into it, so into in fact that she decided to go again the next day. Didn't have the same effect. :)  

Jake went with his buddy Luke.

Morgan went over to trick or treat with her cousin Addie in Riverton.  Then stayed after to watch StarStruck.  Is she really old already?

Well, all in all my love-hate relationship has grown this year.  I am just simply loving Halloween now.  My kids have so much fun.  And I figured out how to make it meaningful.  Love, love!