Happy Halloween

Cassidy designed this and carved it all on her own. That is a spider on its left cheek. She was really excited it was her first time carving a pumpkin on her own.

I bought a carving kit that came with tools, stencils and eyes. Thomas picked this design and Stewart created it.



Zachary's pumpkin. He picked out his design from a Halloween book. I did the carving.

Trick or Treat

Here is Jessie, Woody and Buzz.


Can you guess that the kids loved Toy Story 3? And they have watched Toy Story 1 and 2 way too much. And played Toy Story 3 on the PS3 way too much too. But at least they each have their own character and there is no fighting. I have spent many weeks wondering how I was going to make their costumes. I guess I could have bought them, but I hate ordering things off the internet and they are expensive. So I found Dora cowboy hats on clearance and painted Cassidy's red, Thomas' came brown. I added a little embellishment on them and they loved them, so did every one else. I could not find cow print fabric, so I used an old white sheet and spray painted it. Then did a lot of ironing and sewing. I originally thought Zachary would wear the same Buzz Lightyear pajamas he wore last year, but I must have tossed them at some point. I was worrying about how to make a Buzz. But I ran across a costume in his size and snatched it up. Well it is a little big, but that just means he can wear it longer and so can Thomas.

Stewart's boss had a get together before the trick or treating started. The kids and I took a plate of skeleton bones (bread sticks shaped like bones) and joined the party.

This is a much better way to bob for apples. You don't have to mess up your hair or make up dunking your head in a tub full of water. Cassidy finally got a bite after she pushed her apple against Thomas. She had overheard someone who used the fence to trap his apple. Thomas used his hand, though he would tell you that he didn't.

Cassidy discovered she could grab the sting with her tongue then slide down to the marshmallow. She was able to eat three before Thomas ate one.

Working hard.



























Someone caught the marshmallow, I think he used his hands though. After many tries, I told Thomas it was OK to use his hands to hold the string.

The trio in front of the scarecrow. We left the party to start our trick or treating adventure. We walked slowly and stopped for pictures, waiting for Stewart to get off of work.

Zachary loved his big glow stick. One happy Cowboy.


























We just had to get a shot of the vomiting pumpkin.


After trick or treating we headed back to the party. It was winding down, but Stewart was able to say hi and get a bite to eat. While the kids showed off their loot.

Church Halloween Party

Enjoying our Halloween party chili. I brought rolls to share. I gave up on bringing chili for the cook-off a few years ago. I kept loosing my spoons. So now I bring bread or rolls, but never corn bread (my kids don't like it, sorry dad).

Its not the traditional Trunk-or-Treat that the church usually has for Halloween. Instead the kids played games and recieved candy after they played. They had bobbing for apples, fishing, bowling, throwing balls at cans, and a Halloween matching game. They also had a haunted house and a place to touch "worms", "eyeballs", and "brains". Zachary is pitching at tin cans and bowling for ghosts. You could visit the games as often as you wanted. So we came home with lots of candy.

Stewart is mummifying the boys.

The Mummies

Halloween für Kinder

We debated whether or not to take our kids to Castle Frankenstein for Halloween. The kids are not the bravest of kids, and I knew for certain that I would be sleeping with them for weeks to come. But we figured this chance would not come again, so we went. Sunday's they open the castle grounds during the afternoon and it is a family day or a day for the children. Zachary is so excited to see the scary creatures, he is running for the entrance.

Cassidy was the first one caught.

The monsters are still monsters, but they don't jump out and scare you. Instead they do the bunny hop. Well that is what they were doing when we first arrived. I still had my camera packed away, so I didn't get a picture.

There is a witch behind this simmering cauldren.

After a few encounters with demons, witches and bleeding bodies, we finally found a place where our kids would be safe. See how happy Zachary is to be handcuffed?



























Thomas seems a little too happy, while a severed head lays behind him. Zachary is trying to hide behind Stewart.

Cassidy knew at first glance that this scarecrow was real. She was hesitant to get her picture taken with it. She was just waiting for it to jump at her.

The scarecrow came off its post just as Cassidy suspected and was trying to say hi to Zachary. You can see Thomas' head, he is protecting his little brother.

Stewart had to drag Cassidy over to the fake scarecrow. This one was made up pretty realistic and she didn't want to get any closer. That is not Cassidy's happy face posing with the scarecrow. That is a please, please hurry and take the picture mom, face.

The pumpkin patch was pretty cool.

The three demons were scary looking, but were goofing off with each other. It was quite humorous, the German's were especially laughing for they could understand what they were saying.

This demon came out and Thomas the obedient boy he is, posed for a picture with him.



Here is Castle Frankenstein. Some people claim that this castle and its owner Johann Conrad Dippel influenced Mary Shelley to write her Frankenstien novel, but there is no evidence that she ever visited this castle. But it makes for good marketing and incites visitors to visit, especially during Halloween.

We saw Freddy Kruger, Jason and Pinhead at the castle.

The characters performed various plays during the afternoon. We caught the last act. And it was not at all what I expected. They performed a musical number, "Thriller". AT the end of the number all the monsters came on stage and revealed their true identities to the applause of the audience. It was their way of showing the kids that they are not monsters, but just have on a lot of makeup and accessories. The final performers threw out treats to the kids, Moon Pies of all things.

I think Cassidy is pretending to be in a slasher movie, or just want to punch Zachary I am not sure.

I took this picture in a hurry, the family was leaving me. I didn't see the no parking sign in my view. If I had the time, I would learn how to crop it out.

Our stroll back to the bus.

























PS. Everyone slept in their own beds and no one had nightmares.

Drachen Fest

Our town had its Drachen Fest today. So after church the kids and I skipped our Sunday naps and attended the Drachen Fest. It was nearing the end so there were only a few kites left flying. We started by playing a few games.

They had a tisch tennis tent. The boys loved the mini table tennis and the little paddles that went with it. Cassidy on the other hand was having a hard time with the tiny paddle.

The games were set up in the parking lot of one of the schools. There were a few simple games. They had a ring toss and this clown ball toss set up in the back of a van. They had balloons that were supposed to be released into the sky. The balloons had cards attached for you to fill in your name, email and town's name, so the person who found your balloon could contact you and tell you where it ended up. Our kids kept the balloons.

The Ophthalmologist in the town had a fishing game set up. It definitely was not easy. They had a little hook and you had to fish out three pairs of glasses before you received your prize. This would not go over well back in the States. It too way too long for the kids to hook the glasses. But there were awarded with a bouncy ball. The bouncy ball had an eye painted on it which went well with our Halloween decorations.

Cassidy did not want to wait for Thomas and Zachary to fish out the glasses. So she went into the table tennis tent. She did much better with a real size paddle and table. The man serving her the ball was instructing kids on their technique. Table tennis is a pretty popular activity for kids. Cassidy's school has two tables in their courtyard. I bought Cassidy a paddle and balls to take to school, so she could play at recess. They even have cement tables set up in the parks (some with nets some without).



Cassidy got her kite up right way and then walked through the corn field to where I took the boys. This was their first time flying kites and I didn't want the kites all tangled with other kites.

It was a beautiful fall day. The kids had a great time. But they wanted to stand next to each other. I had to keep separating them and making sure they didn't cross strings as they were walking around. Only two lines got crossed and they were easily fixed.

For the most part the wind was just right for the kids enjoy flying their kites. But near the end, I did have to run back and forth between fallen kites to throw them back up into the air.

I was running back and forth between downed kites when I heard a little voice behind me saying "My kite is gone." Zachary was standing there squinting into the sun watching his kite fly away. Luckily the handle got caught on some branches at the edge of the field. I was able to untangle the string and get his kite back down to safety. But I was covered in burrs.


It was time to go home.