Halloween

And just like that, it was Halloween.  I have to plan early for Halloween here.  For example, Kate's Tinker Bell costume took 6 weeks to arrive.  That's a lot of waiting, so we decide on costumes early.  In Zac's case, he planned to be Harry Potter October 15th of last year.  He would have loved to be Harry Potter last October, but he didn't start reading the books until October, and you know, what I said about planning costumes early...

First up in the Halloween festivities was a birthday party for the "hot dog man," our friend Justin who has a food truck named "Porky's" that specializes in hot dogs topped with pulled pork and pineapple BBQ sauce.  He carves pumpkins every year on his birthday and we joined in for a fun night.  

Brady was gone for the school's annual pumpkin carving contest a few days later, but the night before, he helped by gutting both of the kids' pumpkins.  We showed up and in 30 minutes, we had both pumpkins up and ready to be judged.  Zachary drew up 15 different designs with the same idea--a cyclops pumpkin eating a little pumpkin.  Kate was so excited about having a Cinderella pumpkin and I was excited that it only involved cutting out the door to the carriage.

When the judging began for the Kindergarten/1st grade pumpkins, I could see Kate sitting anxiously, hoping her name would be one of the three winners.  She jumped up and quickly walked to the front of the cafeteria when "Cinderella's Carriage" was announced, and won us a dinner at Keoki's.  Zachary was equally as hopeful that his pumpkin would win, but also saw some stiff, creative competition.  He was so happy for Kate, and at the same time, anxious to improve his designs for next year so he can "maybe win us some hula pie."

He painted the pumpkin inside gory, although you can't tell in these pictures.

Saturday was our Trunk or Treat, and also Zachary's last two soccer games of the season.  They played in the Friendship Tournament and tied their first game and won the second.  Zachary played as well as we've seen him play all season, and finished his last game scoring a big goal.  It was well-deserved after all his mid-field play.  He works hard on the field and most games, he doesn't seem winded even after running his heart out.  That should not surprise us--he's the same kid that comes home with stamps all over his arms each day for completing laps in his 100 Mile Club.  He runs 2-3 miles almost every day and has 76 miles logged since school started.  We don't push it at all--he's super motivated.

We will miss this team. It's the best team he's participated with and his coach taught him so much about passing and field position.  He will be playing for the same coach this spring, although in the competitive league.  I have very mixed feelings about club soccer and the emphasis on winning as opposed to learning the game and friendly competition--the focus of the recreational fall league.  (Yet again I notice the lack of pictures from Zachary's games.  It was windy and rainy that day, so we didn't take the camera out of the car.)

We raced home after the tournament to prepare for the ward Trunk or Treat.  Kate agreed to be part of our Harry Potter line-up as long as she could be Tinker Bell for the "real Halloween."  She loved wearing Hermione's wig and I think she might have preferred Hermione to Tink in the end.

Zachary of course loved being Harry, but didn't use his Quidditch broom.  It got plenty of use, though, with him dressing up and zooming around with it almost every day of October.

I'm a lame attempt at Luna Lovegood, and we were all excited about Owen's Dobby ears and outfit.  He kept those ears on for hours.  Everyone at the party assumed he was Yoda.  

Brady was a good sport and played Dumbledore.  It's so hot here.  That costume is love for his 8-year-old.  He even painted his eyebrows white.

Sunday night, we threw together Edwards Eerie Edibles, nearly forgetting about the tradition until we saw Cory and Kristen's post.  Zachary planned and helped cook the entire dinner, excited about carving peppers.  We had the missionaries to dinner and they cheerfully read through all the descriptions of creepy food.  The kids raced around the house for hours, preparing the entrance with scary signs and decor, setting the table perfectly, and helping with cooking every step of the way.

Pepp'olanterns with stuffed goblin brains (quinoa), topped with troll boogers (avocado), ghost poop (sour cream), and witch eyes (olives), and on a bed of dragon toenails (Fritos).

Kate, tucking a pencil behind her ear while brainstorming gross food descriptions.

"I'll use my scary pen for the menu!"

Monday was "real Halloween," and started early with the kids marching in the Halloween parade at their school.  Kate finally got to deck out as Tink, including the shoes she wanted so badly, she saved up for months.

The Kindergarten kids went trunk or treating to our cars mid-morning.

Kate and one of her besties, Daysha.

I need to step up my decorating game.

Kate's gigantic class.

I was determined to get some Dobby shots before the day passed by and we no longer cared.  My favorite picture ever of Halloween came when Kate was just younger than Owen and dressed in her witch tutu and hat.  Owen did not want pictures taken before Trunk or Treat, but I got a few smiles from him before Trick or Treat.

He hated getting tripped up by the pillowcase.

Yeah, yeah, too many pictures.

The kids came home from school, zoomed through piano and homework, and then we headed to a friend's pre-Trick or Treat party.  (This is the point when I felt like Halloween has gone from a one-time event to a very involved series of events lasting most of October...)  The kids loved playing with friends and jumping on bounce houses, and we enjoyed chatting it up before heading out to Trick or Treat on the famous Wiliwili track.  This neighborhood goes all out with haunted houses, bands, and decor galore.  Kate and 4 other girls zoomed ahead holding hands while I hung back with Zachary and his friend Noah.  They came home tired and sugar-dazed.

"Hey guys, save some for me."

I like Halloween plenty, but this picture perfectly sums up how I feel about the next two holidays.