Happy Halloween!

Halloween this year was really fun. Braden is at an age where life is exciting no matter what you're doing. His boundless energy and curiosity make what could be a ho-hum experience an adventure.

Steve took the day off Friday as did Judy and we had a houseful! Judy and Darrell got to our house just before lunch. We had soup and sandwiches and then put the kiddos down for their naps. It was amazingly beautiful outside. In fact, one could have easily thought it was a summer day in mid-June. The sun was shining and the air was warm.

The afternoon was spent cleaning up the yard. Darrell helped Steve put up a rabbit fence around some bushes that they all but killed last winter while Judy and I cut back plants. My parents arrived mid-afternoon and helped us as well. My dad helped supervise :) and my mom helped trim the bushes. It's crazy how much they grow in a year and how nice it looks when you trim them with the electric saw. I remember thinking the same thing last year and wondering why I waited until late fall. I'll have to remember to do it earlier next year and enjoy the clean lines during more of the summer.

When Braden and Olivia woke up we played in the front yard. They LOVE when their grandparents are here. Braden especially loves to get his "Bapa" going - running, chasing, hiding, wrestling and anything else physically exhausting. Olivia, as usual, tried hard to keep up, running behind her brother.

Before getting ready for trick or treat we had a great dinner! We figured it was one of the last times we had to grill out so we grilled hamburgers and veggie burgers! We also had a really yummy salad with dried cranberries, blueberries, almonds, and grated parmesan, boiled red potatoes and spinach-artichoke dip. YUM, YUM!

Kristin, Evan and Andrew joined us for trick-or-treating. Braden was a BLUE Power Ranger, Olivia a Rooster, Evan and Andrew - the famous Buzz Lightyear. The women and kids headed out to collect candy while the men held the fort down. Being that it was so beautiful outside, Steve pulled a chair out and read the paper on our front porch while greeting the little ghosts and goblins that approached.

The neighborhood was quite decorated. I realized that Steve and I need to step it up next year - our jack o lanterns and few other decorations pale in comparison to some of the houses down the street. Braden and Evan took off running. They were so excited and loudly said, "Thank You" to each person handing them a treat. The conversation mostly surrounded who had more candy when in fact they had the exact same amount! :) Andrew kept up quite well and Olivia spent most of the night in the stroller.

As we were nearing home I decided to let her out of the stroller and she headed up to a house. She was delighted that someone gave her a treat and didn't want to leave. She had figured out what this trick-or-treating was all about and she wasn't going to let anyone stop her. When we finally got home I gave her a mini-twix bar and she then attacked the treat bowl. She got my sweet tooth I guess. It was hilarious.

We put her down for the night fairly soon after we got home and Braden enjoyed digging through his bag and eating way too much sugar but hey - isn't that what Halloween is all about? I clearly remember dumping out my whole bag and sifting through picking out my favorite things to save for later. My mom would then put all of our candy in these huge gallon jars on top of the refrigerator. I would sneak pieces when I could since she would only allow us to have a little at a time. At this point for Braden I don't think he's sneaking the candy - it's more Steve and I!!