Halloween 2009 Trick or Treat, or not at all

Alexis was excited to be a modest Genie! Strike a pose baby girl!!! She loved wearing this costume. It wasn't the witch or princess that the last several Halloween's have been.

This Halloween brought sadness into our home. Why you ask? Because of this....

Three sick kids who could not go out trick or treating or to our community's Fall Festival.

Don't let the little smile fool you. This has been a sick girl who has been confined to the house since Friday morning! She is going stir crazy and starting to drive ME crazy! Normally she is very pleasant, wanting to please. Right now, she is bothering everyone, she doesn't seem to care what it going on - AAAHHHHH!

Brendon relaxing on the ottoman in the living room downstairs. They finished lunch, which I had put a movie on for them to brighten their spirits. When I came in to check on them, this is how I found Brendon.

Poor Bailey - Sadly I had to take Bailey into urgent care yesterday. She had a fever of 103.7. They tested her for the H1N1 and many other things. It turned out that she has a severe case of the "regular" flu and pneumonia. So sad! She took the no trick or treating and festival the hardest. She cried for a long time. My heart broke for this sweet girl.

These poor kids have been fighting off sickness since Thursday/Friday. They are so fed up with any medication right now - and I really don't blame them. They don't understand that I am trying to help them. It has become a wrestling match just to get them to feel better. All I can say is that I am one tired momma! I am grateful though that some friends - The Shumway's brought us dinner last night (it was a feast) and my visiting teacher, Jo-Anne Carter, said she will bring it tonight. I appreciate them so much. Their thoughtfulness is so priceless!!!!!!

Saturday was our community's Fall Festival. We would have bagged it altogether except for the small fact that I am on the board and had to be there. Josh took over my responsibility to go help set up - Thanks Babe, you are awesome!!! The plans changed up a bit with the sickness of the kids. I got there just after it started at 4pm and stayed through clean up at 9pm. It was frustrating that people in our community refused to sign up to help volunteer. Seriously, other than the board we only had four other people help!!!!!!! Then many of the homeowners complained that some of the events we had planned (i.e. face painting) wasn't there. Duh people!!! Help next time!!!!! Then people signed up to help clean up and only one showed up/stayed to do that (she was one of the four people I mentioned)!!! UGH!!! Sorry, had to get that off my chest. Other than that - it was amazing.

Here are a few pics to show our great event!

View of the jumping castles (this is a view from the road by our park and main entrance into our community)

This is Madison. Brendon was able to go to our ward Halloween event on Friday (He came down with his fever after he got home). Madison had on a lot of face paint that night and scared him stiff. For the festival she specifically didn't wear the make up so she could play with him. She was sad that he wasn't there.

These are the Carlton's - Madison's parents

Kendra Rowser (Alisha Shumway in the background with the stroller)

Tyler Shumway working his magic at the Cotton Candy booth (with Daniel from our board to the right of him - with the mask on)

The Parkinson's

The Ertel Family - snuck in from another community! We actually had quite a few from other neighborhoods. We were grateful to host them.

Our neighbor and Treasurer's wife, CJ, working the popcorn machine. Due to the lack of volunteers - she was there all night. Thanks CJ!!!!

Our registration/check-in table. Yes, that is me on the far left. I am embarrassed to put this on because I look mad. Really I wasn't upset - it was just bright. Stacey, in the yellow shirt - standing next to me, is our VP on the board and was co-chair of the event.

Our "Hot Dog Stand"

Last but not least, this is Emily. I shot the picture as she was turning and drinking - oops! She is the other member of our board and the other co-chair. The rest of us helped at the event and helped to kick around ideas and approve things, but Stacey & Emily were the two who put it all into action, with a great deal of help from our President Josh (who single handily ran it last year) - funny enough, he was the only one I didn't get a picture of.