Halloween 2010

I have to admit, I was a bit skittish with Halloween this year.  It didn't help that Justin was not a fan of the skeletons and graveyards that everyone had out in their yard in our neighborhood.  We would go on walks in the morning and Justin would ask if the yards that didn't just decorate with pumpkins (like our own home) loved Jesus.  So I would smile and tell him that we could pray that they would come to know him if they didn't already.  So Halloween was filled with lots of prayers on our morning walks.


Since October was filled with trips, and we got back just days before Halloween, I crammed in some last minute pumpkin activities just days before it was all over.  We woke up from a nap on Thursday and took the Wilsons to the pumpkin patch by our old townhome.


Lots o' smiles

Where did his neck go?  :-)

The patch was pretty cleared out by that point, but the kids still had a blast.

They all got to pick out two pumpkins that they could buy and then carry to the car.  Thus why we came home with lots of little ones.

On the count of three Justin jumped his face into the hole

We then headed home where Derek performed out annual pumpkin carving.  We had to miss the neighborhood pumpkin carving event, so we had to get this done pronto.

They didn't love the seeds and guts, but that's part of the fun.

The faces...hilarious!

So intent on what's going on.  And yes, I made them get their faces together so everyone could be in focus.

They all decided on their own name for the pumpkin, and Justin decided to name him Jonathan.

The next morning was our school Halloween parade.  It was chilly that morning, which worked out well for our costume.  It was a group store effort, with Etsy finishing with the mask and cape. 

Justin doesn't know who Batman is, but that's what he wanted to be.  He didn't want the full get-up with muscles, etc.  So I let him pick out the pieces to the outfit he wanted to wear.  Best thing about the cape is the other side has  J on it so he can be Super J!

Justin posing with Jonathan, the pumpkin.

When we got to school we ran into Isabel and John, a fellow superhero.  Love those boots, buddy!

The kids basically stand outside and wait for the passing cars to honk at them waving at them.  It's hilarious.

All the kids in their costumes

Mrs. Walstead's crew

Leslie and Ainsley at the parade

On Sunday morning, Halloween, Justin and I bumped into our neighbors, Jody & Betsy.  I learned that October 31st was also Reformation Day.  Any of us Protestants have Martin Luther to thank for how we worship and study the word today.  Then we went to Sunday School and Jay taught us all about the history of Reformation Day.  Derek and I decided we would start explaining this to Justin as well as celebrate the ole candy grabbing holiday.

Justin micromanaging the candy

I spiced up some fresh pumpkin seeds and made pumpkin bread for us to snack on.

Thanks to the 80 degree forecast, we had to change up the costume a bit.  We had a pair of hand-me-down black and yellow shoes that we grew out of the week before.  Gotta love the foot growth spurts!

The mask didn't stay on for long.

As he was going

going

gone.

Jody & Betsy gave us a bike that all three kids in their family rode.  SO we are awaiting the time when Justin can ride without training wheels!

John tried out the old wheels one last time.

Justin with neighbors Luke, Justin (aka Big Justin), and Jason, our two newest neighbors.

Dawn sporting the holiday cheer

Getting candy from our babysitter, Krupali.  Sadly, this was the only house Derek and I felt comfortable trick-or-treating at this year on our street.  We went to two other streets to walk up to the houses.  It was very disappointing how dark our neighborhood had gotten this year, with our street being the worst!  Boo on everyone spending way too much on scary decor that my 4 year old is still talking about.

This house is not on our street, and we quickly walked past the 5 computer-wired sound and smoke effects.

It was so hot that we shed most of the outfit by the time we got home.

I made pumpkin bread that never made it to the neighbors for Halloween.  So instead I gave them a present on November 1st, All Saints' Day.  I just recently learned that this is a day where Christians observe the faithful men and women who have gone before us, both in Scripture and in the 2000 year church history, and praise them for their examples.  So Justin and I went to 8 of our neighbors' houses and ironically were invited into most of their homes for a long stretch.  It gave us a chance to talk about what the day meant, be purposeful with those that live among us, and just love on our neighbors.  I decided right then and there that we would do this every year. 

The most important thing I gleamed from Halloween this year is how we go forward.  That my son understands we just do it for the fun of candy, while others don't, the importance of the weekend in the church's history, and that it give us a chance to be different from the world.  Until next year, Batman....