On the sabbath

 On one hand, Halloween fell on Sunday this year. 

What is a parent to do?

Do we go trick or treating? Do we go full pagan on the Lord's Day?

I don't really know the answer to any of those questions. 

I just know that parenting is hard and a total mystery. 

We opted for pumpkin carving with the Flynns and trick or treating inside our own house. 

When the pumkins were lit and put out front, we let the kids run around and "trick or treat" at different doors and stations in the house. It was SOOO fast and completely anticlimactic. 

 

Dad still collected his snicker tax.

And the girls had fun handing out candy to the neighbor kids. 

On the bright side, it was good to have someone to guard our severed foot. It's been in the family for many years. We'd be sad if it was stolen by unsavory youths. 

Niche Halloween

I should have had a longer talk with the kids about how many times they would answer the question, "Who are you supposed to be?"

2021 was a year of homage. 

Laney went as Dipper Pines:

Anna went as Marci from Amphibia:

And Everly went as Dendy from O.K.K.O. 

I have long since given up trying to coordinate costumes. It's not happening. Someday I might pass down those fox tails and those bird wings to some grandbabies. But for now, these chicas need to be free to express themselves, don't ya know?

Megan is at a band competition this weekend, so she didn't bother with a costume. Band memories were made!

Mathew pulled together a greaser look for the ward party. Ashlyn is always up for a cute photo!

And lest we forget Maybe and her bat wings!

We decided that we'd go to Night of the Living Farm this year, since Halloween falls on a Sunday (inconvenient).

I took care to buy the tickets well in advance so as to ward off my Inner Thrifter that threatens to ruin our fun plans buy pointing out to me that it is more expensive to do stuff than to not do stuff. 

First stop was the fortune teller. She was SOOO COOOL. Pretty sure she knew more that she was willing to say.

We joined the ghost fire circle...It felt dark and mysterious.

And stopped for a quick roasted marshmallow. Check out that killer squat form!

It took us a solid 45 minutes in line, but we finally made it to the haunted hayride. It was mostly not scary, but there was one poor kid that happened to be standing very close to the trail and suprised Mark with his nearness. That kid almost got punched in the face. 

Me.

Us.

Happy Halloween! Who are you supposed to be?

 

The Halloween Throwdown

I did a CrossFit competition. 

It was hard and I am proud of myself. But I really hated it. And I promise I will never do one again. 

Why do we feel compelled to pay a hundred dollars for the privilege of doing 5 workouts in ONE DAY. 

WHILE PEOPLE WATCH.

And yell at you that "you can do it!" when you cannot, in fact "do it".

Still. 

Here is photographic evidence that I participated. 

Mark did too!

I really hate this picture. 

But On Track one the Affiliate trophy. Which was the whole point. So at least I didn't suffer in vain. 

 CrossFit.

The Art of mk

Megan is an artist. 

She knows it and we know it. 

She's coming home with this drawings and paintings. 

And it's making me realize that I'm watching her find herself. 

Word from Washington

I love these calls!

 We even get to listen in on Elder Hufford's baptisms!

Zones, districts, service, activities and companions!