Halloween

We trick-or-treated with our friends again this year.  Last year we dished up supper to the kids and they were ready to go out before we sat down to start our own meal.  We thought this strategy would allow them to actually eat real food before they ate candy.  They didn't eat the real food last year anyway, so we switched the order this year and it was perfect.  We trick-or-treated around the block and then enjoyed tacos and wine while our kids played together and exchanged candy.  Our two pirates and two princesses came home with full bags!

 Costume night at Awana

 This morning the kids added chocolate chip and candy corn faces to their pumpkin pancakes.  It was a very unhealthy day.  We embrace that rather than live in denial.

 Ready for trick-or-treating!  William refused to sit.

 And he refused to wear his pirate hat.  And his pirate shirt. But he still got candy.

 Anne and William were covered with snot and sucker slime by the end of the night!

Pumpkin Time!

 After William's middle-of-the-floor nap yesterday, we headed to Ben's Big Pumpkins.

 The kids rode out to the closest field and made a dash in the cold to find the most perfect pumpkin.

 It's too heavy, Mommy!

 We had foolishly saved our pumpkin outing for the late afternoon, thinking that it would warmer than the morning. It wasn't.

 Daddy assured the girls that the dirt would come off.

 Daddy again assured Inga that the dirt would come off.

 After a warm supper and warm baths, we carved!

Michigan

 We stopped at the Albanese Candy Factory in Merrillville, Indiana.  Wonka's it was not, but there was plenty of sugar available to thrill the children.

Warren Dunes State Park

 David tried to drive closer to pick us up as the sky looked ominous.  There's a reason they put those signs there.

 South Haven lighthouse

 Our hotel in Holland had a pool and the kids had their own adjoining room.  They were also thrilled that they could watch tv in bed WITH a remote.  This is what dream vacations are made of.

 We spent some sweet time today playing with our friends in Grand Rapids.  The kids had a great time with their children and all of the leaves!

 Happy, exhausted children who slept most of the way home