Halloween (with pictures!)

Pat me on the back--three posts in a row with pictures!  I might be setting a new record here.  ;) 

Anyway, I would like to know first of all when Halloween became so massive and complicated.  It was simple when I was a kid.  You put on a costume (often homemade) and walked around the neighborhood getting candy on Halloween night itself.  A church or two might have an alternative celebration but those were also on that night.  End of. 

Now?  It's big to-do.  Downtown had its celebration the weekend before Halloween.  Some churches did as well.  I noticed one the day before Halloween.  Parties and celebrations all over the place--but forget about finding a neighborhood with people at home to give out candy.  At least the neighborhoods near us weren't.  :-p

We did find a "trunk or treat" party at the local Shriners' temple to attend on Halloween.  The girls got candy, played games, and generally had a blast.  All's well that ends well. 

And I do admit that I found it incredibly cool that Reformation Day was out-trending Halloween on Twitter for a good couple of hours--even with the big production Halloween has apparently become.

Here are some pictures.  Enjoy! 

This picture cracks me up.  Sarah really enjoyed that caramel apple!

In other news, there was a pumpkin carving contest at church.  Sarah talked about it for weeks.  She drew out possible designs.  She was so hopeful that she might win "scariest" pumpkin.  The night before, she and Nelson carved a pumpkin and placed a flashing blue light inside.  It was an awfully cute pumpkin, but it didn't strike me as terribly scary.

However, the pumpkin did win the "Carver's Choice" award, and Sarah was thrilled.  The prize was a $10 Chick-Fil-A gift card.  They will use that soon.  :)