Happy Halloweeeeeen

We went all out to set up a 'treasure hunt' type of party scene for the kids so that they could have one last big 'kid' Halloween this year. Aunt Pat, Carlean, Abi and Shaun strung lights and cobwebs on the side of the house. Shaun and I set up a stone wall 'graveyard' in and around our garden with styrofoam tombstones. Abi and Aunt Pat hunt more cobwebs and vampire bats from the trees on the side. Shaun and Uncle Bear set up the spooky fortune teller tent complete with dangling lanterns and a crystal ball. We got pieces from an old costume Shaun wore in one of their SCA quests - a giant or ogre - and set him up with a bubbling cauldron full of candy. There also was a ghostly dancefloor and a dragon's cave, complete with dragon head poking out to guard the remains of valiant but unlucky knights and a bowl full of glowing gems and chocolate coins. Inside the kids got to decorate cookies and discect a Jell-o brain while the (exhausted) adults watched Labyrith.

On Halloween night, Eli - dressed as Mario - and Abi - dressed as an angel - made their last trick-or-treating rounds. It's hard to believe they are already nearly in high school! Next year we will probably do movies and pizza and maybe a costume party without the trick-or-treating. Growing up doesn't mean they have to stop having fun :)

So Glam

Camping at Great Western War, 2012

The site is at a park in the middle of nowhere in the desert. It's next to a man-made lake, but there was no green grass since the sprinklers broke earlier this year. There were a ton of bugs and the porta-potties kept running out of TP. It was dusty, hotter-than-hot, and the flies were horrible. Would I go back again? YES!

We camped in "Cortha" with old friends of Aunt Pat and Uncle Bear, which meant we were very close to the center of all the activities - and there were so many choices for classes and activities. Shaun got to play with the other fighters, Abi got to be a page for a day, I got to teach, and we all got to hang out with friends. Also, the skyscape was amazing!