And a Happy Halloween to All

Our ward is like so many. We hold "Trunk or Treat" This is usually on the Fri or Sat before Halloween so all the kids [and adults] get a chance to dress up and go trick or treating, socialize etc. Various wards have their own variations. "Trunk" becaus it is held in the parking lot and the kids make the rounds of the decorated car trunks.

In the past we have gone from our first years of almost no decoration to becoming noted for our fantastick [adide: this is not a spelling error, but the way the musical is spelled. I do it on purpose.] themed vehicle usually icluding music. For example there was the year we turned the van into a pirate's ship [including flying a jolly Roger!] and played the soundtrack of Pirates of the Carribean. The kids dresed as pirates [Erica was a great Jack Sparrow-like Captain.] We took pride in our themed get-ups.

Last year, without Erica's help, and with a different vehicle [CRV "Soctates"{aside:guess what movie we had just seen...pronounce it with a long a} rather than the van] we did Star Wars--decor not quite as good except that Richard built such a great R2D2 out of the round-topped bathroom garbage can, that we had to get a new trash recepticle, for R2D2 remains with us.

Last year the new twist we saw here in CW was that after the candy was all passed out, everyone retired to the cultural hall [gym inside our church building] and the adults visited while the kids had a massave candy swap--you know the kind you'd have at home with your siblings trying to get as much as whatever your favorites were while trading away the kinds you didn't really like. On a ward level it was really funny to watch--and the kids seemed to have just as much fun doing that as they did doing the 'trunk or treating'

This year...Nativity. We have costume and set construction going on in two thirds of the cultural hall, so going inside was not viable. ...Weather. It has been cold and wet and really a mess. Every fall the Hays hold a chili cook-off and hayride at their farm. It was decided to combine the two events and Sat was the appointed day. It was way too cold, and there could be no hayride as the tractor and wagon would have bogged down in the mud in the first 10 feet! So Our bishop [one of the best--and quirkiest--by his own admission--in he world] decided to cancel Sat night.

After consulting with the ward weatherman--my husband of course, he announced at church Sun that we would have a ward Family Home Evening this week--at the Hays farm. Be prepared for the activities: trunk or treating, hay rides and marshmallow roasting. hot dogs would be served as everyone had already eated their chili.

I. of course, was working on Nativity stuff all day--in this case, painting flats. I got home in time o take a shower, dress and go. We had not prepared a theme. Richard and I hardly have said more than Good-night for the past week. So what to do? He was a very cool "Man in Black" for a youth activity while I was gone, so we were going to go with that, but never had he time to turn the back of Socrates into the inside of the locker village...what to do? I grabbed Erica's bridesmaids dress out of her closet tinking I could be a princess. But then I thought...hay ride? I don't think so. Meanwhil, Richard thought about his suit--hayride? He didn't think so.

So in the end after going through about 4 ideas and rejcting them, I borrowed Richard's Calgary Flames jersey and his red [OK they are BU scarlet--but who here would catch it? No one.] Wore them over my grey long john pants which Richard taped for me with red hockey tape,instant hockey socks! and wore my work boots in liu of skates. I used a hockey stick instead of my cane to walk around--handle end down, of course. I got tons of complements on my costume! And I was surprised how comfortable hockey pants really are! Richard threw on his Cubs shirt with "LEE" in the back [unfortunately we had nothing to serve as baseball pants at that point] wih his jeans and Cubs hat. We decorated the back of the car [Socrates] with hockey and baseball gear and Flames and Cubs memorabelia. Again compliments on our ten minute set up! All we were missing was music. Add candy and we were ready.

Incidently, our bishop, who lst year, was Willie Nelson, braids and all, was Elvis this year--with a wig and sunglasses! [And he was out there working on the set all day, too!]

A good time was had by one and all. the weather turned warm, the ground dried up, and even tho. he din't attend [also working on the set all day] my husband was the hero of the day! Great forecasting! Tues turned wet again, hence our ward's FHE.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween--and I expect to see lots of cute pics posted!