This year was a lot of fun. I was in charge of helping with the ward Trunk or Treat party and it turned out really well, beside being a little dark. The girls decided a long time ago what they wanted to be...Annie a witch, Alyse Rapunzel, and Madelyn a black cat to coordinate with Annie. At the last minute, I found a wig for $5 and decide to be a witch with Annie and then I spotted one for Kurt and coaxed him into dressing up also. What a good man!! So, we decided our theme was witches and would pretend that Alyse was the good with of the West instead of Rapunzel(only she didn't know that). And Kurt was to be called a Wizard, not a manwitch :) We had a hay ride, mummy wrap, needle in a haystack, cupcake walk and face painting...everyone brought chili to share and it was an amazing night!
An interesting fact about that night...Annie got herself ready in the bathroom. The next day, after she had left for school, I found hair in the trash can. I asked Alyse and Madelyn if they had cut their hair and they said no. And I really couldn't find any evidence of it either, so we came to the conclusion that Annie had done it. When she got home, Kurt spotted it first and then I started laughing. Annie had cut herself some "bangs." However, not on purpose. She explained to me that while she was getting ready, she put her wig/hat on and there was still some hair sticking out of it. She didn't want it to show, so she decided to cut it off. I could see the logic in it, so she didn't get in trouble. I did tell her if it happened again, she would be busted!!
Then, on Saturday we took the girls trick or treating and it turned out to be quite chilly. Since Kurt is always thinking, he had brought gloves for the girls and it was a good thing or we may have been home after just 15 minutes of being out. Alyse was the best trick or treating...each house she would go to she would come down saying, "I don't like this kind, mom (or dad), you can have it." Unfortunately is was also loud enough for the people who had given her the candy to hear. Or she would come down from the doors saying, "Look another KitKat." That has become her new favorite candy and every house that had them she was thrilled. At the end of the night we counted how many she had...30 KitKats! Annie was in the front of the pack with our good friends' boy, Derek...they couldn't get to the houses fast enough. Needless to say, we still have Halloween candy around the house the is headed to Kurt's office this week!
After Trick or treating we had a get together with our neighbors and friends. It was great! We had chili, snacks, dessert and smores. Jason and Jennifer had a fire pit, which was perfect since it was so cold outside. Eventually I took the kids a few doors down to get to bed and once they were asleep snuck back out to talk some more. I LOVE our neighborhood and the people here. I am going to be so sad when we leave them. Everyone is so friendly and considerate. I don't know how to really explain it, except that we just fit here and are so grateful for the time we had here. We've really felt a part of the community, which we never did in Richmond during dental school. None of our neighbors are members of our church and it's been great to know first hand wonderful people outside of the church and to have them be an example of kindness and charity and service. I was talking to my mom about this and we were saying that as members of the church I think we sometimes feel like we have a "corner on the market" in this category and that we are really good about serving, etc. However, it's been interesting to see my friends here and how willing they are to do anything for anyone and I mean anything. To realize that we are not the only ones helping out. I know I could ask anyone of them to help me and I would not be turned down...they are all so generous. I can only hope I've been that same example to them.
