Halloween

(Jenn) It's true. Halloween is one of my least favorite holidays. I'm just not really into all the spider webs and jack-o-lanterns, probably because I feel these morbid decorations seem to desecrate my favorite season of the year. Still, I learned a few things this year about how to enjoy Halloween. #1: Ignore the tacky decorations and don't judge! #2: Have kids! It really is a lot more fun with kids. As you can tell, Henry dressed up as Frankenstein. I know, it's not very "cute," and I'm probably not a good, cute Mormon mom, but the costume was $3.50 at a consignment store. AND, Henry came away with the "funniest costume" prize at our branch's Fall Festival, which was really fun. I probably should also say that Henry's costume was appropriate, since one of his favorite things right now is monsters. Rrraaaaaarrrr!

Halloween 2

Okay, so this part didn't work the first time, so here's the sequel: On the afternoon of Halloween, we went with some friends to the "Ragamuffins Parade" in Hoboken. I have never been to anything like it! The parade had floats, a band, and people in extravagant costumes. Then, all the kids who were dressed up got to join the parade. I guess the most impressive part was how much people got into "decorating" themselves and their kids! Many of the kids would not only have over-elaborate costumes, but their strollers or wagons were decked out as well. The trend was to make their "ride" match the theme of their costumes. We saw pirates in pirate ships; Nemo in an aquarium, a bat with "other bats" swarming around him, and a boxer in a ring. I wondered how much some of them paid their personal costume-designers. Hoboken is a pretty up-and-coming place, perhaps the most popular place in the NYC area for affluent young parents to live. We trick-or-treated in their Brownstone neighborhoods after the parade, and I couldn't help but envy the striking couples who sat on their elegant (and tastefully decorated) front steps asking if the kids wanted "chips, a candy bar, or Play Doh." And then Ben and I spent the evening, after Henry went to bed, having the conversation: "Since we're never going to be rich . . ."

Autumn Swinging

(Jenn) Henry and I try to go to the park 3 times a week in the mornings. It is just so beautiful right now, and Henry loves it so much that I had to take some pictures. I added a cute little movie of him swinging to our video page as well. I love the fall!