Halloween Finally

At last Halloween arrived (and I have finally managed to put together a blog). This is Ashley and Caitlin's favorite event of the year. They anticipate it's arrival all year long (and this year they even started planning costumes for next Halloween before I sewed my first stitch in this year's costumes!)

The Halloween Countdown is complete:

Admiring pumpkins on the way to school:

Waving Dad off to work:

I have to say I am very proud of James. Since he started work again just over a month ago he has commuted by bike everyday (even in ugly weather). This is the James I first knew when we met at University. He cycled everywhere in Dublin. It's a great way for him to keep training (a triathalon is his next goal) and reduce the use of two cars by our family.  I think he is amazingly disciplined and sometimes a little nuts, given how much he will endure when he cycles (for example, in crazy weather and for his own personal cycling goals). Nonetheless, he is an inspiration to us.

Scary Monster Pumpkin visits neighborhood bread shop:

Scary Monster Pumpkin attends library story time:

She asked Pamela for two lollipops so that Ashley could have one when she got home from school. Pamela is used to Caitlin selecting two stories after two story time (again one for Ashley and one for her) and when I take Ashley to the Pajama story time once a month Pamela knows that Ashley will be making two of whatever craft she has been planned so that Caitlin can have one too.

Pumpkin enjoys preschool Halloween Party:

Eliza, Oliver and Scary Monster Pumpkin at preschool Halloween party:

Scary Monster Pumpkin takes a break and Caitlin enjoys the leaves with Isabella when we pick Ashley up from school:

Ashley, Isabella and Caitlin enjoying the leaves: 

Ashley and the leaves:

Cailtlin walking home with Juliana after school: 

Caitlin and Juliana climbing a tree (can you tell how much she loves Julaina?):

Neighborhood Halloween scene 1:

Neighborhood Halloween scene 2:

Neighborhood Halloween scene 3: 

Fairy and Scary Monster Pumpkin frolic in the leaves before Trick or Treating:

At last the gang is all assembled (Ashley, Caitlin, Pauline, Elmo, Susan, Jennifer, Christian...and James behind the camera). Time to hit the neighborhood and cheer HAPPY HALLOWEEN!: