Ward Halloween Party/Trunk-or-Treat

So, first of all, I want to say thanks to everyone for the advice I got on Sam's "sleeping disorder." I have been thinking a lot about what you said, Melissa, and I am beginning to think that might be what is wrong with him some of the time (being scared), though I can't be sure. It sure fits with how he acts sometimes. Last night I tried comforting him more before bed and reading him some stories in his room, singing songs, etc. and he did sleep a lot better...all through the night, in fact! I can't say for sure if that's why, but we'll see I guess, as I do it more. I only heard him wake up once in the middle of the night whimpering "mama" but he quickly fell back asleep. I might need to get him a night light or something too. We will see how things work out!

Secondly, this is going to be another long post because I have a lot of pictures from the party and trunk-or-treat last night! It was lots of fun! First there was a carnival in the primary rooms and then what we called the "Fear Factory" in the nursery room, put on by the R.S. and Y.W. We had it really dark, with just a couple black lights and some orange hanging lights so you couldn't see much and the young women would lead small groups of kids through and have them see and feel different gross things. I will go more into detail with that with each picture. Then when all of that was done, everyone headed outside for the trunk-or-treat. That didn't last too long, of course because there aren't many people in the ward (there was just one line of cars)...that, and the sprinklers came on. :)

Anyway, it was a fun night and Sam had a blast getting into his dragon costume again! In fact, he was upset with me when I tried to take it off of him when it was over!

All the jars of gross specimens in the "Fear Factory"

This table had human hearts (canned whole tomatoes), fingernails (sunflower seed shells), and slimy maggots (over cooked rice in grease...SICK)...

Our "Haunted Village" made up of the gingerbread houses we made in Young Womens last week (you got to love all the roaches, mice, and mouse droppings all over everything...)

This is a human brain (cooked cauliflower), bloody scabby skin (grape skin), eyes (peeled grapes), and human insides (overcooked greasy spiral noodles and jello). Now, mind you, when people are feeling these it's practically dark, so it can be pretty gross at how they actually compare to the real things when you can't see what they look like!

Dead McKayla and her dead, decapitated husband. As people would come in she would say something like, "This is my husband. He killed me then I killed him, and these are all his insides..."

Destiny pooring the candy on Rebeca's head. She had her head in the candy bowl at the end of the "tour" and would scare people. :)

Cassy, the cute witch:

Rebeca waiting... I would have taken out her red eyes, but it kind of adds to the mood...

The darkened room from one angle...

Creepy Rebeca in the cob webs...

Missy heading up the hearts, fingernails, and maggots table...

Another shot of Rebeca in the webs...

Drew and Tara...the family of devils...

Bishop doing his balloon creations again...

The gorilla's (against the back wall...Brother Lopez) own grandson was even afraid of him!

Sarah couldn't decide what to be so she was a mix of everything...

Logan sporting the best costume of the night, in my opinion. It's too bad he had food in the way of his face...he was DANG cute. His brother, Canyon, was a cactus. :)

Destiny and little Tinkerbell (Brooklyn)...

Sam dancing with his balloon...

The little ones seemed to enjoy beating up on the props...Good thing Will doesn't have a real sword in his hands...

Becky and Sam...

Dave handing out candy to Scooby Doo (Andrew Swaner)...