As Requested

Halloween Pictures.
Emma went as Auntie J-Loyce. Well, not really.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, there were a few other activities to report on. In the weeks before Halloween we had a couple fun outings. The pumpkin patch for example. We went to the same place that we have gone to for the past couple of years.


Long-time readers may remember a photo very similar to this one with a younger and smaller Diamond D...it may even be the same tractor. He was kinda crabby on this day, so it was good to find a picture with him smiling. Though, don't tractors make everyone happy?


A nice shot of the more photogenic members of the family.



Another photo that is reminiscent of past pumpkin patch visits...D kicking pumpkins. The last time there was some question as to whether he was kicking them because he dislikes them or to test the ripeness. This year there is no question: he was in a foul mood and the pumpkins couldn't defend themselves, so he gave them the boot.

Later that day a still crabby Diamond D and Pops went to "Touch a Truck" downtown. It was a fund raiser for something. There was just a bunch of trucks in the parking lot of the baseball stadium for the kids to climb in and check out.


We knew we were in the right place as soon as we got within earshot of all of the truck horns sounding. The kids were allowed into some of the truck's cabs, and they of course went straight for the horn. There were horns going off all over. At first it was a little unnerving...random and very loud horns going off all over the parking lot. D wanted to go home as soon as we got there, but got used to it and had a good time. Any time he was in a cab of a truck though he refused to add to the chaos by honking the horn...no thanks.

Some punk they arrested escaped from custody while we were there.

Some trucks were very big.

And there were inflatables. Super cool.


Later that week we had to carve the pumpkins. Nana helped, though I'm not sure that she had any fun; she was very nervous that someone would cut themselves with a carving knife. We kept trying to reassure her that Lady E is a pro a wielding a blade...it didn't help, but no one got hurt so we were right!

Don't be scared, they're just pumpkins.


Hey, wait...there's that punk that escaped from Touch a Truck. Lock yer doors and board up yer winduhs, that there fellah looks dangerous.

The evening before Halloween Jen's church had their party. The kids got to dress up and go play games.


It would not be accurate to say that everyone had a great time. Rather, there was lots of fun with a tantrum interspersed here and there.

We got a bunch of candy too. There was a "trunk-or-treat" after the games and costume contest, and the kiddos raked in the sweets. But there would be more.

The day of Halloween we went to a Cessna-sponsored Halloween party.


There were balloon clowns...Emma's popped as she was playing with it and she was very upset by the sound. She was not the same after that, and it took some time before she could relax again and enjoy herself. Meanwhile D jumped in all of the inflatables and played all of the games. He and Emma both got a bunch of prizes and candy.


Here Desmond is trying on a pair of glasses that Emma won at the ring toss.


Afterward, we took advantage of the nice weather and went to the nearby playgound. Grandma and Grandpa came to visit for Halloween, and got to go to the party too. And they got to go out on the big night as well.


Really, Emma went as a spider, not her Auntie Joyce. Desmond was allowed to wear his ill-fitting dragon costume from last year.


The motley crew.


Desmond was very grabby with the candy. He would reach in and take huge handfuls of candy. His pail had quite a bit more candy than Emma's even after the first few houses.

After we filled both pails we headed over to Nana and Dawn's house for snacks. By then everyone was pretty tired from a day full of scariness and candy, so we went home and the kiddos fell sound asleep in the car on the ride home.

Other news:

Congratulations Aunt Dawn on closing on her new house, and no you can't borrow Pop's drill to hang curtain rods.

Anyone who wants a tour of the Cessna plant only has one more week to get in with Pops as a guide. He took a position at Airbus, and starts on the 16th of November.