Halloween 2009!

Our neighborhood always celebrates Halloween on a night other than October 31 so things are nice and calm. It is a great night to be out in the neighborhood streets, talking with neighbors and friends and seeing the kids all interacting one with another.
Reid was too much of a big-kid (now that he's in 6th grade) to go trick or treating this year so he stayed home to help hand out candy, but Chase and Ryan sure enjoyed the night.

Our kids really have never been huge trick-or-treaters. They enjoy dressing up and going out to the homes on our street but truthfully it normally stops there - they are done after that (and I'm the one urging them to keep going!). Ryan did well this year - he went to both sides of two full neighborhood streets but then we called Reid and asked him to come meet us so he could walk Ryan home.
Chase on the other hand stuck it out almost going to the entire neighborhood. He got plenty:

Ryan had too much fun at home with our own candy bowl:

I love how they come home from trick-or-treating and immediately start sorting their candy into piles of like items. Kindly offering the ones they dislike off to other family members and hording their favorites:

Last week we had our ward trunk or treat at the church building. Chase had already gone to school, yoga class AND soccer that afternoon so he was DONE for the day and had no desire to leave the house again. SO - it was just James and I with Reid and Ryan. It was a lovely low-key event. They had our Fall Festival earlier in the month so this was a come, trunk or treat, and go. I think we were in and out of there within 45 minutes. It was very fun to see all the costumes and chat with good friends.


I was thankful for these early Halloween celebrations as come Sat., Oct. 31 both Reid and Chase were sick, both missing church on Sunday and school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. They went back to school today but I still think we will skip out on soccer practice today, resting up to finally arrive at complete health. James did not feel well all weekend also but went to work on Monday. He came home and has been on the couch ever since. That is so unlike him - he truly has not moved for three days (except for going to the couch to the rocking chair). This flu has hit us hard, everyone has gotten it except for me. I'm holding out like a rebel - no time for it.