Carved-Out

Scooping

 

 

   

What a thrill this year to get so much help scooping and carving (!) from Harry and Charlotte: a sincere dream-come-true for this pumpkin-lover.

Cutting together

Job Well Done

'Phone Home'

Cinderella

The Gruffalo

People are always asking if we hang out at the local air force bases to be with other Americans. In short: NO, NO and NO. But when it came to Halloween, we knew we wanted to rub shoulders and candy with other like-minded Americans. Bring on the Reese's and the Milky Ways and the costume contests and general door-to-door merriment.

So off to RAF Alconbury we went Saturday night for their annual festival. The highlight was the trick-or-treating on a few blocks of base housing. There are SO many Americans (and Brits who find a way to get invited) there each year that they take up a candy donation in advance to help the homeowners. And they do an amazing job, setting up shop in front of their doors with massive buckets of candy and lit pumpkins and a phenomenal attitude. It's just like being home. And surreal:  the throngs of kids in costume made both Paul and me (SIMULTANEOUSLY) think of the trick-or-treating scene from the movie ET. Just that strange.

But the kids loved it, of course. We'll definitely be back next year.  And a big, final thank you to grandma for investing so much time and love in Charlotte's costume. She felt and looked SO beautiful.

Plastic Fangs, a bit hit.

Tarantula Cupcake, a bit hit.

The Throngs....can you see them behind us?

A Taste of Summer

We've been shocked (!) to hear about the October snow in our beloved Washington. Especially since it is still so unseasonably mild in Cambridge. Dip the toes? Why not.

A Bootiful Surprise

We're sending big hugs and kisses to some of our favorite Alexandria mums (Dinah, Jen, Holly, Amanda and Perrin) for the wonderful box of Halloween treats that arrived last night. You guys rock! Missing you very much and what is sure to be a fun Halloween party at the Dietrick's.


Somehow our Halloween decorations and pumpkin carving tools got left behind (inconceivable to me) in the move, so the little felt trick-or-treating bags that were included are a  godsend.

We head to RAF Alconbury this afternoon for hayrides and door-to-door candy gathering, American style, which will be the highlight of the Halloween experience for us here.

Halloween night proper will likely be a relative dud, still we plan to put out candy and look for a lit jack-o-lantern or two in the hood (case and point: our 15-year-old babysitter last night saw the box of goodies and said, very curiously, 'OH, you celebrate Halloween?!' as if it were the most foreign of concepts. Which I guess it is. So we wowed her with our newly acquired marshmallow ghosts and Pez. You'd have thought we arrived from Mars.

Kick, Kick, Kick

Charlotte with Simon. She has mastered eyelash -batting through goggles.

After a 5-day swim crash course, which the kids both enjoyed, I have discovered two things: my son is not a natural fish (I believe he was a shipwreck victim in a former life. Having clung to the lifeboat for days he is naturally reluctant to put his head under the water). My daughter is part mermaid, part Gossip Girl, and spent much of her lessons with teacher Simon...chatting about butterflies and ponies.

Harry and his American instructor Carolyn.

Pencil or Pen?

Charlotte dives into a refrigerator cake while Harry "tucks in" to the crossword with  a pen and a random smattering of letters -- great amusement for the other diners in Balzano's Cafe.

Monster Mash

Group hug.

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed a raucous (read: loud) play date with our buddy Sofie, who is in Harry's class but is also a favorite of Charlotte. My daughter suggested they dress up. Harry modeled his Halloween costume, taking the role of the princess-eating monster (he's a big fan of the horns).