So October meant tons of Halloween fun along with the changing of the leaves, cold winds, and colds. The kids enjoyed counting the decorations on houses and seeing all the other kids in costumes. Starting with the second weekend in October we went to the Old Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site Halloween Carnival/Pumpkin Walk. There we went trick or treating, played some games, and got to see the Prison. The following weekend was UW HOMECOMING weekend. We went to the homecoming parade on Ivinson and Grand. The kids got to cheer for candy and necklaces the floats would throw out. IT was fun. Afterwards, we got to got to another Fall Carnival and Pumpkin Patch at the UW Teaching Arena. For $5 I bought some tickets and the kids got to play games. At the end they took the tokens they had earned while playing and picked some prizes. There was a sweet girl who gave little Nancy all of her left over tokens. It was enough that all the kids got to pick a second prize out. There were not Halloween activities the following weekend, but Nathan and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary together on Friday the 22nd. We had food from Corona Village (Mexican food...pretty good) and watched movies together. We did not do anything too costly because at the beginning of the semester we bought our first new mattress set and that is going to cover birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc. I don't mind though because I love our bed. We took the kids to the dinosaur museum at the college on Saturday. It is always neat to look at that stuff. Then of course the next weekend was the 29th, 30th, and 31st was....HALLOWEEN WEEKEND! The kids did so much. On Friday they went to Spring Wind (an assisted living place) and got to do a free carnival. They played all kinds of games, met the elderly folks as they handed out candy (who loved having them there), did face painting, and even cookie decorating. After that we went over to the UW Law school where the kids did trick or treating throughout the building and library. They got to meet a duck dressed up in a pumpkin outfit. After that we went over to the UW Union Center for Safe Treat. The place was packed (probably with every kid in town) and the students had two floors filled with games and activities and of course treats. After we couldn't take the crowds anymore, we headed over to the Doctor's office that was also putting on an office trick or treat. They loved getting glow sticks from the black light room. When it was all done we headed home to eat some dinner ( ya right after all that candy they ate), and bed time. In the morning on the 30th, we went to the Temple. We had to take turns going in of course because we had the kids, but it was lovely as always. When we got home we did an early dinner and got ready to go to the Stake Trunk or Treat. It was a nice day, but got a bit cold with the sun going down. The stake center was full of cars and families ready to enjoy getting and giving candy. One truck gave away pumpkins to all the kids. When that was done it was time for bed. As for Halloween on the 31st, Elaine and I went to church (everyone else was still fighting off colds), and when we got back we carved pumpkins and watched Halloween movies (Casper meets Wendy and Corpse Bride). We let them stay up late because there was no school on the 1st or 2nd. And that's it. They ended up with a big bucket of candy to share and lots or little toys and prizes and cute pumpkins. Laramie is a fun place during Halloween. Here are some pictures from our adventures in the month of October.
Daddy and Nathan having fun together shaking like an earthquake.
Elaine, McKeltie, and Nancy sliding together.
My brother Philip and Me.