Happy Halloween

Halloween activities started for us at Alina's office for the annual trick-or-treat on the Friday before Halloween. In about 2 hours, we gathered enough candy to feed an army of children. Alina can never tell if it's the candy or riding in the elevator that is the most fun for the kids.

Steve and Alina actually became organized this year and carved the pumpkins the weekend before Halloween. No more last-minute holiday preparations in this family, no-sir-eeeeee.

A cold front finally blew in 2 days before Halloween after weeks of hot fall temperatures. The older kids picked out their own costumes at Costco this year, paying with their own money from their money jars. After the cold front blew in, Steve took them back to Costco to learn the art of returns; we needed bigger sizes that would fit over winter gear.  In our 6 years of doing Halloween with kids, we haven't had any snow yet, but Alina remembers a few snowy Halloweens from growing up in the Midwest. Let's hope none of them return in the next 10 years that Steve and Alina will trail kids through the neighborhood.

After walking around our circle and visiting our neighbors, we picked up the wagon and set off down the bigger street.  The kids loved running up to each house to say "Trick or Treat" and collect candy.  Many people kneel down with a basket, letting the kids select their own treat. Rosemary dutifully asked every time "Is that gluten-free?" Gretchen's pumpkin bucket was so heavy we had to empty it for her.

The cold breeze died down, the sky cleared, and it turned out to be a beautiful Fall evening for walking through the neighborhood with the kids.