Spooktacular 2008!

We decided to take the boys to Spooktacular at the Jax Zoo this year. Its a huge Halloween event with hundreds of carved pumpkins, an enchanted garden, a pirate's cove, and lots of trick or treat stations.

The boys look like cat burglars! :) I love when they hold hands in the car.

Here is a close up of Josiah in his ladybug costume!

And here is Jared in his bumblebee costume. Although he really liked being a bumblebee this year, I think it is the last year I get to dress him up in a baby-ish costume!

Finally, we arrived at Spooktacular-- I had to get one picture of the boys with hay and pumpkins! Naturally, I can never get both boys to look at the camera at one time. :)

The path to the Enchanted Forest was fairly long and lined with pumpkins. Here I am cozy with my boys! Jared was distracted by all the sights and ready to find his cousins!

Josiah LOVED walking around in his costume (and dancing to the DJ they had playing) but he usually liked to walk in the opposite direction, so Dalvin was often Josiah's mode of transport!

We finally found JR, Laurel and the kids at the entrance to Pumpkinville! I managed to get one shot of all the kids. :)

Sarah looked stunning and WAY too grown as Cleopatra! :)

Micah was a mighty Power Ranger!

Many of the animals were asleep, but there were a few available for viewing-- including this giraffe-- Jared's current favorite animal!

Here is Jared posing in front of another of the huge pumpkin displays! The carvings were so cool-- we may add pumpkin carving to our traditions NEXT year!

Our two little ladybugs, Josiah and Baby Hannah stopped for a hug and a kiss!

Another close up of Josiah...

And a similar close up of Jared...

Here's a family shot of Bro and his clan...

On our way out of the enchanted garden, we passed a troll! He was a very patient troll, because some of the kids were quite liberal with the insults!

Jared studied the map to see where we should go next! Off to the pirates cove we went!

Sarah and Jared were the first to enter the Pirate's Cove.

After a long night of checking out animals, fish, jaguars, trick or treat stations, a black light display, play areas, and dancing to old school tunes, we finally headed out! Spooktacular (and our Halloween with the boys) was a success! Happy Halloween to all!

Trick or Treat!

On Halloween night we took the boys Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. Traci came up from Orlando with her daughter Taylor to join the boys. Our neighborhood is small, so it was a brief, but fun adventure!

The boys were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their friend, Taylor. They were dressed in their matching glow in the dark Halloween t-shirts to answer the door for early trick or treaters!

After tearing the playroom apart, the kids finally got dressed to go trick or treating! They were fast friends.

Josiah joined them for a photo, but he wasn't happy about it! He was ready to go for a walk!

At one of the houses, they had headstones that were set off by motion detectors, a crime scene and more. Jared had mixed feelings as he is not fond of the scary parts of the holiday!

Taylor and Jared had a blast ringing doorbells and exclaiming "trick or treat!" They didn't really care if anyone answered the door, although it was more fun when they were given handfuls of candy.

Apparently a flying witch had a little accident at one neighbor's home!

Josiah was just excited when we let him run around the cul-de-sacs!

All in all, Jared and Taylor had so much fun and declared that they were best friends. :)