Happy Halloween!

Halloween began at our house in late August/early September when Simon declared that he wanted to be a snowman! He never changed his mind; we hope that his strong decision making skills continue with him throughout life! My hunch for his costume was a lion, as he had perfected a ferocious ROAR. I never predicted a snowman. We read the book "Snowmen at Night" in August because he refused to put it away, so yes, we read winter books in the summer. Anyways, he picked out a striped, long hat and scarf from the pictures in the book - which was fantastic. Because a long time ago I knitted him a stocking cap that he wore twice. The second time he dropped it in a store and it was never to be found again. So, I knitted another hat, that was much too big and it finally fits him now! So, he had a striped, long hat with a matching scarf! Norah was a candy corn, which was Simon's first costume.

Preparations for Halloween included making a snowman costume, carving pumpkins, and making "famous pumpkin cookies". We have adopted a treasured family tradition from when I grew up. We only trick or treated to the neighbors we knew, and in order to get a treat, we brought pumpkin bread. So we now say "in order to get a treat, we give a treat". And we deliver pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to all of our neighbors. Enjoy the pics.

Just after Norah was born, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Masato sent us this black and white hooded outfit. I was told that parents dress their little ones like this quite frequently in Japan. Luckily I remembered to pull this outfit out a few days before Halloween! Norah wore it all day on October 30th and on Halloween when she was changed out of her candy corn. It can be tricky to crawl all around dressed as a candy corn! Simon called her "little penguin" when she wore the outfit!

Simon went to preschool in his costume. There was a parade in the "gym"/parish hall where the kiddos trick-or-treated around the room. Just way too cute to see 14 little kiddos enjoying childhood! He is loving preschool and it is amazing to see and hear what he is learning.