Spooktacular Week

I like where we live. Mostly. But I really really dont like being so far away from my family. I miss getting together with my siblings and celebrating birthdays and holidays and having FHE with everyone. But I mostly miss my mom and dad and the interaction they could have with my kids. My mom, being the cutest grandma that she is, decided that since we couldnt go trick or treating at grandmas house, she would trick or treat us with a fantastic little haunted house kit. The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. So that started out our spooktacular week of celebrating.
This past week we hit the pumpkin patch and the kids picked out their pumpkins. We made the haunted houses, we made spiders and bats and hung them above the table. We made spooky cupcakes with ghosts, spiders and eyeballs. We carved out some seriously awesome jack-o-lanterns, and we hit the trunk or treat and loaded up on lots of cavity inducing candy. It was a party all week long.
But now as Halloween is officially over, it is time for CHRISTMAS!!!! We've got the tree out and its my goal to have it up and decorated before the day is through. The rest of this week will include me getting the rest of the house decked out in its holiday glory. And just so you know, I'm not skipping over Thanksgiving... its included in my Holiday celebrations, as the greatest blessing we have is the Son of God, his birth, his life, his example, his perfect love, his mercy, and his Atonement.. Without Him all other blessings wouldnt really be possible.  To me, this month and next is all about celebrating Him. Thats why its my favorite time of the year. All the songs, all the decorations, all the gifts --it all ties into Him.