Halloween 2016

I know this post is super late, but thought it would be fun to post it anyway.

We kicked off fall by carving some pumpkins.

Brooke was our vigilant supervisor.

I decided to carve a kitty cat.

These stencils worked out waaaay better than normal.  I would like to claim some sort of artistic skill, but it was really just the kit we bought.

Cameron did a spider's web.

All lit up!

Can you tell it's past our bedtime?

For Halloween we decided to dress up as Snow White and Waldo.

Jonathan was a biker.

Brooke was a witch.  If there were a green race of people, I'm sure her face paint would be considered racist.

I love this picture!  Such cuties!!

Lylah dressed as a butterfly princess and Orin dressed up as raccoon.

My Dad landed himself in the hospital, so we went to visit him.  Those eyebrows are on fleek!!

Family picture!!  Dad is dressed as a poo head.

I had a great time this year!

Love,

Courtney

A Halloweenish Post

First of all, let me apologize for the plethora of posts.  I procrastinated my posting for this month until the very last day.  
I thought it would only be appropriate to have some sort of spooky kinda post on this momentous occasion.  I think we will start out with reviewing some new horror movies that Cameron and I watched these last few years.
****I would just like to note that all of these were watched with a Clearplay filtering system in place!
Also, you can click on the title of the movie to see a trailer.  All synopses will be taken from imdb.com.

1.  Oculus 
A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.  (By supernatural phenomenon they mean super creepy mirror).  
This movie was awesome!  It was suspenseful, creepy and not gory (which is one of the most important aspects of a horror movie).  This movie definitely kept both Cameron and I on the edge of our seats!  Also, Whovians will recognize a recent companion in this movie.  I would definitely recommend this (to adults, this is waaaaay too suspenseful for kids).  9/10

2.  The Purge
In the future, a wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legalized.
The concept of this movie really, really freaked me out.  A LOT.  However, when all is said and done, it is more like a home invasion movie.  If it weren't for the concept of the purge (which is half a day that all crime is legal, including murder) this movie would be only slightly suspenseful and barely creepy.  There is, however, a certain though-provoking aspect to this as well.  The Purge really made me think about the nature of violence and crime.  6/10

3.  The Quiet Ones
A university professor and a team of students conduct an experiment on a young woman, uncovering terrifyingly dark, unexpected forces in the process.
Ugh.  This movie was soooooo disappointing!  It was confusing and so long-winded.  They could have easily cut the time in half.  I thought it was supposed to be about these scientists who try to create a ghost just by believing in it.  (This is actually closer to the supposed "true events" that this story was based on, read more about that here.)  I don't know, maybe I was just biased from the beginning.  3/10

4.  The Pit and the Pendulum (I'm not posting a trailer for this one because it literally gives almost everything about the movie away). 
When his sister Elizabeth dies suddenly, Francis Barnard visits his brother-in-law Don Medina to find out exactly what happened to her. Don Medina lives a lonely life since his wife's death. He loved her dearly and can't explain what she died of. Francis clearly isn't welcome and it is only Don Medina's sister Catherine that seems to have an interest him. As Francis and Catherine explore the events surrounding Elizabeth's death, Francis learns of Don Medina's horrific childhood experiences and discover an attempt to drive him mad.
I know that there are several versions of this movie, the one I'm reviewing is the 1961 version with Vincent Price.  If you've read the book, it won't help you at all because it's completely different.This could easily become a Halloween tradition at the Wadsworth household.  It definitely keeps you captivated until the end.    10/10

5.  Darkness Falls
A vengeful spirit has taken the form of the Tooth Fairy to exact vengeance on the town that lynched her 150 years earlier. Her only opposition is the only child, now grown up, who has survived her before.
Cameron's sister, Heidi showed this movie to me last year.  This movie was one of those, jump out and scare you types.  (And it really succeeds).  I enjoy this movie a lot, it has just he right amount of creepiness and thrilling elements to keep me engaged.  7/10

I think that's all for the horror movies I also wanted to post some fun kid-friendly Halloween cartoons that you can watch on YouTube!

1.  Pinky and the Brain Halloween

2.  Arthur:  The Fright Stuff

3.  The Berenstain Bears:  The Spookiest Pumpkin

4.  Halloween Is Grinch Night

5.  Disney's Halloween Treat

6.  Pink Panther:  Pink Plasma

7.  Popeye:  Fright to the Finish

8.  It's Magic, Charlie Brown

Anyway, I hope that you all have a happy Halloween!

                                    

(Jeremy, this song still makes me think of you).

Love, 

Courtney

PS-Sorry for the horrific length of this post!  

PPS-The highlighting will not go away!!!  Sorry!

Halloween Fun!

Happy fall everyone!  I have really been enjoying this harvest season.  There are so many beautiful sights to see and I love to crunch leaves under my feet.  A few days ago we went over to Wendy's house for dinner and games.  Here are some pictures:

We made some yummy Chex mix (with and without nuts).

Wendy instructing me on rolling the pumpkin roll.

Delicioso!

Seriously, these are so yummy!

We also played Beyond Balderdash, a classic Merrill favorite.  During this particular session, it became apparent that Dillon would be the leader in writing literary masterpieces.  One of the most hilarious was a movie category, in which he described a bored Dr.Frankenstein who started to grind up people in a "ginormous" blender.  This substance was then used as meat for a certain fast food company.  (Oh, the movie title was Mix a Person, by the way.)  I have to say, this story almost rivaled Jake's infamous Life is Cheap, but Toilet Paper is Expensive plot. 

A few days later we carved pumpkins!

All the "insides"

The hollowed out interior.

Cameron smoothing out the eye socket.

I seem to have an evil look in my eyes....

Spooky!

This was a very fun Halloween! Now to go and snap up all of the clearance items!

Love,

Courtney