Halloween 2012: Little Ninjas

We had a Ninja theme this year around our house.  The boys went through many many ideas for costumes this year but finally came to the ninjas.  Sam selected the "Ice Wolf Ninja" complete with a sword of ice.  Casey went with the "Stealth Ninja" and picked out a sword as well.
Has anyone noticed the expansion into more of a Halloween Season?  The boys had Halloween events spanning about 10 days where they were in full costume, I think, 8 different times.  By the time it was actually Halloween, they were just about over it.  I feel like when I was a kid, there was pretty much just Halloween, on the day it happened to fall.  And then maybe a school party.  Seems different now, and the amount of candy involved in totally out of control.
And fewer people are turning on their light and welcoming trick or treaters - at least in our neighborhood.  Jeff takes the boys out on the golf cart so at least they can move from house to house without walking having to walk to the big gaps.    Anyway, the boys enjoyed the season!  Hear are some pictures....

Jeff helped the boys carve some pumpkins, and as is par for the course these days, Casey wanted to go with something somewhat gory.  The boys had been to the youth group party where we carved pumpkins and he saw this done there, so thats the risk we take letting them be around the youth group :)