Well... since it is also Connor's birthday we try to really make sure he is having a great time- and he is so easy-going and happy with whatever is going on! Easy to please. So our first party was at the church a few days before actual Halloween- dinner and a trunk-or-treat outside. After the potluck (and the massacre of spilled food and drinks on the carpet floor -ahh!) We stood by our trunk and shoved handfuls of candy into all the kids bags as they shuffled by. It was so cold... I have to wonder why we don't have the kids walk around the gym instead?
HALLOWEEN NIGHT- Bassett Army Community Hospital, where Ben works, has an incredible community event where all through the hospital kids walk around and are given more candy than is possibly healthy for any child to ingest! The time and effort made to decorate and coordinate for each speciality/group throughout the hospital was impressive. The memory I have now as I am writing this (4/1/20) so even 5 months later was the wait in line we suffered (nobody had their coats on!) and it was bitter (not -40 bitter) but a painfully chilling temperature and the kids were whining and poor Brielle with her thin black T-shirt with her arms tucked in to try to conserve her own body heat. We just thought we were going to walk right in and that's why we left our jackets and layers behind... but the gatekeepers were trying to space the people that were entering the building out so the place wouldn't be overrun! At the halfway mark there were some of the outdoor heaters which helped, but also hurt to leave behind when the line started moving along once again.
The boys with all the loot. SO after their bags were full from the hospital, the big kids went out into the neighborhood to collect some more candy treasure. I put Cael in charge of the candy to give away at the door until we ran out - he set up a heater and covered himself with some coats as he sat outside on the porch so he wouldn't freeze!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOY
So after all the trick-or-treating was over it was time for presents and Connor's favorite- pumpkin pie!
That kid was excited about every present we had on the table.. even if he didn't know what it was. AP Biology study cards from Cael... "thanks Cael, I can't wait to read these"--Connor. We just love that Connor kid! He is sure fun to be around!
