Halloween Night

This year, instead of the usual party in north Phoenix, we stayed in our own neighborhood.  Well, close.  We ventured over to the Phx Country Club with some friends from our marriage group.  They gave us the gate code, which allowed us to enter the complex before the hoard.  We walked the whole loop and the kids made out pretty good.  One house had a whole Despicable Me set-up in the driveway and graciously took photos and posted them on a website later on.  There were too many people for our taste, but it was fun and nice out.  After we got home, I took The Dog for his nightly walk and had the girls accompany me to collect more treats.  MM was very good about going up to each house and was not afraid at all, unlike JoJo.  That was probably the best part, just us three out and about (preggo Bobbins had bowed out after the Country Club).

The next day Bobbins and the girls took all the extra (and there was a ton) to share with kids at Phx Childrens Hospital.

Pumpkin Carving

 

 

 

That's each of us in front of our pumpkins.  Julia went with a harder but neater design, Bobbins with the emoticon (very clever), and me an old school jack-o-lantern.

Halloween Safety Festival

Our neighborhood held its annual safety festival which doubles as a Halloween party.  The LDS meeting house graciously hosts the event in the parking lot.  There's trunk or treating, a tractor ride, a cupcake walk, and food.  Everyone's in their costumes.  The five of us walked up and had a fun time.  It was Julia's first experience with Halloween and she seemed to enjoy it.

 

 

 Julia talked to the female police officer, toured her SUV cruiser (in background), and got a photo with her.  They don't have Halloween like we do in Brazil, so it was an experience.

2013 Halloween Costumes

 (We were a Smore, replete with campfire)

How to Earn a Dollar

The other day the girls really wanted to go swimming, so Bobbins told them they could when Dad got home, thinking that it would be too cold and they would not really get in.  Well, of course they did.  They were in their suits waiting when I walked in the door, and over to the neighbors we went.  The girls got right in to their waists and started playing.  I told them to jump and swim, but MM protested that it was too cold.  I told her I'd give her a dollar if she jumped in and swam from one end to the other.  Without hesitation, she hopped out, ran to the side, jumped in and swam to the other side where I was waiting.  It was a moment of pride for both her and I.  She ran in to tell her Mom of her feat, then collected her earnings.
V I D E O     (http://youtu.be/79WDNWLE_U4)

Where Does She Get the Energy?

We'd just had a long day, including getting up at the crack of dawn for the MP9K, but somehow MM still had a bundle of energy.  If only we could bottle that up.  It was 9:30pm and here she was:
V I D E O    (http://youtu.be/1ckEAqBr-Wg)

MP9K 2013

This year the Schaefer's made it out to join us at the Race for Maggie's Place at Tempe Town Lake.  Kevin and I ran the 10K.  I finished in 51:37, which is just about 8.5min/mile, a little slower than my usual 8's.  But after the long day of yardwork and lack of sleep from the previous day, I wasn't too bummed.  MM wore her yellow shirt while I donned last year's orange shirt.  MM warmed had to warm her hands in the cool temp's.

MM found her ole friend and the kids posed by the water before the start.  Bobbins got a good shot of Kev and I taking off.

 

I was really proud of the girls.  Both ran the whole distance of the kids dash (200 yards), finishing strong.  They are going to be good athletes.  And yes, they had fun.  JoJo esp. liked the chocolate milk at the end.