This year, Zachary willingly put on his Halloween costume. In years past, it took bribing and the threat of no candy to get him into the costume that he picked out. This year, he wore it a dozen times before Halloween--trying it on for Facetime with Grandma and Grandpa, posing for his friends, and happy to take pictures.
"Do you want one of my face?"
I was in charge of the Ward Halloween Party this year. I have so much help every year, but no matter how we swing it, it's still a ton of work. I hardly have any pictures, but the chili cook-off, spooky desserts, costume parade, games, haunted rooms, and trunk-or-treat were all successful. It helped that we had just over 200 people this year rather than 300+.
Zachary in the costume parade:
His buddy, Garrett:
A couple of our primary kids:
Right as we finished up the trunk-or-treat, we got word of another tsunami warning. Brady headed home with the kids while I finished cleaning up the building, and then we watched the TV for an hour before deciding we had to evacuate (or it could be the police on intercoms demanding that everyone on our street leave). The Summerhays took us in for the second time in a row and we had a comfy night sleep at their house. The tsunami was tiny and inconsequential, which is exactly what we hoped for.
We carved our pumpkin too early again this year. It rotted out days before Halloween, even though we kept it in a cooler of ice!
Zac really wanted our pumpkin carved just like the one in his Bernstein Bears book. We were happy with his choice because it took 15 minutes.
He is brave enough to wear his costume, but still had nothing to do with the pumpkin innards.
The next series of pictures sends tingles down my spine (although I am aware that there are far too many pictures of us posing by our simple pumpkin). It is a perfect Sunday night on the green belt, with my kids laughing, the sun setting, ideal temperature, waves in the background, calm and love and just HAPPY.
Zac jumped over the pumpkin at least 100 times.
Kate snuggled with me on the grass.
Zachary thought Brady was so cool with his pumpkin head.
As if the trunk or treat were not enough (I don't really understand why we have a trunk-or-treat and trick-or-treating, but I am leaving that alone...), we went around our neighborhood a few days later. Here's our front yard:
We lost Kate's fake apple at the church. She ate most of her real apple before we even got out the door.
I think Brady is the best sport. Zac was so happy to have Robin tagging along with him.
Our neighborhood is full of retirees and vacation homes. The retirees gave full candy bars, which is generous, but meant more candy we sent to the "garbage disposal" at Brady's work. Someday I won't be able to get away with it but the kids had no idea once again this year. (Because, let's be honest: Zac was never going to eat that full candy bar--I would be the one eating it!) We also spent the evening at Kapili St., which is the happening street of Koloa. It was packed full of adults and kids dressed up and around to party. Zachary and Kate loved it.
We read the "The Skeleton in the Closet" book by Alice Schertie one last time that night. Zachary can quote every page and asked for it every day in October. He is suddenly a little more nervous about darkness and when he's out of clean clothes, asks if maybe the skeleton came and took them.
I really do love Halloween.
