10.31.2012

halloween, aka sweet treats day.

 
these pictures are from saturday night, when we went to a neighborhood halloween party.
who knows if this is what my kids will dress up as tonight, because they all love to change their minds daily when it comes to halloween costumes.
i just have them raid their dress up boxes to figure out what they will be.
so we had a count dracula, black cat, princess, tiger, spiderman/batman combo with daddy's snow gloves and a lion who was obviously trying to escape.
i was a cheerleader, while mr. anderson was a soccer player.
creative, i know.
 
listen, i know some don't approve of halloween.  and while we don't practice any of the "evil" things associated with halloween, we have decided to embrace the "holiday".
what other day of the year do you have your neighbors knocking on your door every few minutes?
it's such a great opportunity to meet your neighbors---get to know them. 
find out who they are, and most importantly, love them.
i love what my pastor said about it, which was "let's not make halloween about dark, demonic things, but rather about community, generosity and fun."
and it can be just that. 
that's what we hope to teach our kids about this one day of the year.
 
and p.s. 5 kids trick or treating this year = boatloads of candy for mom.  so i'm totally in.


43 comments:

  1. Such cute kids and cute costumes. I completely agree with your take on Halloween! Its such a fun holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. i can't get over kohen's gloves. and judging by hadley's sassy pose, i think we'd make great friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh you would. for sure. sassinator.

      Delete
  3. i love the escaping lion and the fact that noah wore that same exact costume. BUT i have to ask a question, how did you stomach putting on a black and gold, TIGERS cheerleading outfit?! i am surprised you didn't yack all over it. lol. rock chalk jayhawk!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. now i know that is your high school uniform, so i understand, but i will never like it. and that fact you can still fit into your high school uni after birthing 5 kids makes you super woman!!!

      Delete
    2. girlfriend, i am a jayhawk, forever and ever.

      i'm just rocking my highschool cheerleading outfit!

      Delete
  4. The escaping lion, is just HILARIOUS!

    And I love the attitude about Halloween!! umm.. feel free to mail me some of your candy! :) I am a candy o holic. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i know--she won't stand still for even a second.

      and sorry---no mailing candy to you. i'm kind of selfish.

      Delete
  5. that's the scariest part about it...all the candy. FOR MOM. how can i possibly say no to any of it? those little chocolate bars are pure evil i tell ya. have a super fun night with your lovely children. you are blessed to be in warm Texas for Halloween - we are in Canada my friend - it is snowing and seriously cold out there. which means i am blessed to stay home and hand out candy while my husband takes the kids trick or treating!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. we will have chocolate bars until the end of time. praise jesus.

      Delete
  6. I love it! I love your thoughts about embracing halloween. Have a great night!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks---have a great night too :)

      Delete
  7. Enjoy your boatloads of candy! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh i will. thank you very much :)

      Delete
  8. Have you seen this? http://kuyperiancommentary.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/how-to-celebrate-a-christian-halloween/ It's pretty much a longer version of what you've said re: Halloween, but I thought I'd pass it along anyway! :) Enjoy the day with your cute kiddos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks katie! i'm off to check it out.

      Delete
  9. The wonky superhero snowman is cracking me up! Your kids are so cute!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yah, i'm not quite sure the look he was going for.

      Delete
  10. I just wanted to say you look MUCH better in black & gold than those ugly Jayhawk clothes. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. booooooooooooo.

      that is my highschool uniform. the only time i'll ever rock those colors ;)

      Delete
  11. i wasnt going to comment...but...MIZ-ZOU seems appropriate :) we are moving next week, hopefully going trick-or-treating on our new street to meet our new neighbors tonight!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. whatever. i'll always be a jayhawk.

      have fun with your new neighbors tonight! good idea trick or treating over there!

      Delete
  12. I loveeeee your words today....find a better way to meet and greet and share a little of Jesus' love!

    ReplyDelete
  13. 1. I LOVE that pic of the kids dressed up...so much! Those gloves & that escaping lion...I die.
    2. Totally agree with your thoughts on Halloween.
    3. You all look like a high school couple. Not lying. Adorbs.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I heart Halloween - costumes, candy, friends, neighbors, and sometimes even the creepy. (I know, I need Jesus.)

    I texted Sarah yesterday, "It is a glorious day when Halloween coincides with my period. CHOCOLATE ABOUNDS!"

    Have a super fun night!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cute cute cute! Love that you reused what you already owned! And I think you look pretty darn awesome! (Cute pic of you and your hubs!) Your kiddies are precious!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love this and what your pastor said! A great reminder to use every opportunity to love others-- esp our neighbor :)

    and what's not fantastic about tons of candy that my 2.5 year old couldn't possibly eat all by himself?

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love and completely agree with your thoughts + your pastor's thoughts on Halloween. Growing up, my dad only let my sisters and I be animals, princesses, or angels. And for awhile, we weren't even allowed to go trick-or-treating. But we did pass out candy + glowsticks and I can't wait to see all the costumes tonight when I answer the door. :)

    Anyway, I just wanted to say that I really like how you celebrate. No evil/demonic things, just fun, sweets, and love for our neighbors. And is it creepy to say that I want to be just like you when I'm a mom someday?

    ReplyDelete
  18. AMEN about Halloween. I've always celebrated - my husbands family stopped when he was 7 or 8 because of the anticipated evil aspects. It was a point of contention for a while at the Page Ranch, but I prevailed. We celebrate the fact that you get to dress up like your favorite character and stop by all your friends and neighbors houses and get treats. PERIOD. I think as long as you keep it in the proper perspective, it's all good. There is a hell of a lot more evil in this world than boys and girls running around as Iron Man or Cinderella with pumpkin baskets asking for treats. Plus it's a chance for us to pull out the fire pit in the driveway, give our neighbors something to warm up over and visit for a second as we hand out candy. If that isn't a bit of fellowship, I don't know what is. So enjoy your Halloween and enjoy your candy!

    ReplyDelete
  19. HA - great costumes and I love your P.S.! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Look like such a big ole, happy family. Such a pleasurable family together.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You have such an adorable family!!! :) Too cute for words!! I LOVE the costumes, especially the spider/batman with the gloves and the escaping lion!!! You and your husband look so happy...and young! :) Hope you had a wonderful time of fellowship! Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Just stopping by...I found your link through another person who linked up on "embrace the camera" and BOY do I love love love love LOVE your blog. I've only got one baby girl, but I SO long to have a big family like yours. There is so much joy written all over your home, and I feel so privileged that you share it with us. :) Your blog is going WAAAAY up on my list of favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for sharing this! I totally agree about Halloween. If we celebrate it to have happy memories with our families and friends and free candy (added bonus) it's great! Kind of like Christmas, if it's all about Christ and loving our friends and families we don't get stuck in the commercial crap.
    And I LOVE HALLOWEEN.

    ReplyDelete
  24. you are a devil worshipper. LOL.
    i love that you said something about this. people get all nuts and make christianity look super weird sometimes. me being one of them like a couple years ago. i have repented since. haha. i hope no one reads this and gets made at me.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  26. You and your family inspire me. Thank you for sharing your life with everyone! You've now made me want to have a million children :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I literally laughed out loud looking at the "lion" escaping. I love your blog, I live vicariously through you and your family. My kids are now both away at college (ages 19 and 21). I miss so many things about having my babies at home, but I'm so thankful for two kids that love Jesus. Enjoy EVERY minute, even the hard ones. It was amaze you how fast the years fly by. I feel like I blinked and they were in college. Bless you sweet mommy. PS: I totally agree on your halloween philosophy. We can be light in every situation.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I just stumbled upon your blog from My Little Mustache. I love what you said about Halloween. I was struggling with the "should we, should we nots" about celebrating it with our children. We decided to celebrate the same way you did. By dressing up silly, seeing our neighbors and getting a lot of candy!

    ReplyDelete
  29. For a few years now, our family hasn't participated in Halloween because we weren't really sure how to do so and maintain our Christian values. I think next year, we will follow your lead.

    Sophia
    multipliedlove.com

    ReplyDelete

thank you for your comments! i read each and every one of them, and they make my day (well, the nice ones anyways).
please check back here for answers to your questions, and also feel free to engage with my other readers. we can all support and encourage one another. we all have something to offer.
thanks friends!