Lighting pumpkins with Uncle Scottie

Wendy and I grew some pumpkins in the backyard garden this year.  Karoline happily helped our two boys empty their carving pumpkins and cut in fancy designs. We had ghosts, a normal pumpkin face, and a cat with a moon. Scott helped the two boys light the pumpkins outside once they finished. 

I have to say that Andrew and Cameron's pumpkins look a lot more fancy than any pumpkins than I ever made as a child. 

Andrew's first trunk or treat

Last year Andrew went trick or treating;  he didn't understand it nor did he get to eat the candy that was obtained. This year is going to be different. Andrew knows what candy is. In fact, he will instantly want anything that has a crinkly wrapper.He will want to eat at least some of the candy that he gets this year. This is a sad fact for Wendy; last year she could exploit the cuteness to score more candy for herself. That won't be quite as effective this year.

About a month ago we had grand plans of turning Andrew's stroller into a pumpkin, dressing Ben up as a butler to push the pumpkin carriage, and having Andrew be a prince. What actually happened bears a remarkable resemblance to what happened last year during Halloween. Andrew is going to be whatever costume we happened to inherit from his older cousins. In this years case; he's a dinosaur...or a dragon...the actual species is still under debate. But it's cute...

It took a little while for Andrew to start to understand trick or treating. The first person we went to gave him a piece of candy. Andrew grabbed it and would not let it go. Putting it his candy container was a non option. It wasn't until we went to four or five trunks for candy that Andrew started to see the potential in the activity. He still didn't let go of his initial piece of candy. But he did start to point, grab, and put candy into the container with his other hand.

Who's more excited for candy, Mom or Baby?

Andrew Trick or Treats

Despite being young Andrew enjoyed trick or treating this year. He got to hang out with all of his cousins in animal outfits. He doesn't understand what candy is yet; but he sure enjoyed watching everyone.

Trick or treating Zoo - Notice Andrew fascinated by the other costumes

Candy!

Frightmares

Last year Wendy and I went to Frightmares as one of our earlier dates. It was a landmark date because it was when we both first realized: hey, this person actually is interested in me and isn’t just going through the motions. We remembered having a lot of fun at the amusement park last year. We decided that we would go again this year. Once again, it was fun.

We do have the strategy down a little bit better this time.  Last year we were still trying to get on rides when it started to get cold. This year we managed to get all the rides finished just in time to watch all of the Halloween shows and to go through all four of the haunted houses. (On that note, Time Warp passes for the haunted houses SO worth the extra $15)

Ben is Wicked

Wendy and lots of webs

Ben in Haunted Junkyard

Halloween Performances

Alimony

 

Wendy and a Big Creepy Crawly

Wendy and Pumpkin Stack

Ben and Pumpkin Stack

Wendy and Ben's Story - Halloween

Wendy was game enough to participate full in Halloween activities with me. She spent an entire day at Lagoon's Frightmares with me; including all three of their spooky haunted houses. She carved pumpkins with me.  The kicker of them all; she watched two scary movies with me in the dark.