trick or treating with a cow and horse/a lake of ice/Tinkerbell in snow boots

Kaci went trunk or treat with her friend Brenna.  It's hard to see, but Brenna is a cowgirl riding a horse. These two little girls are fun to watch when they are together.

This is Kaci's lake FROZEN.  So do you know what a rock sounds like when it hits frozen lake water?  Beearrinnnggg.  It is a most peculiar sound.  I expected a regular rock THUD.  but it has it's own unique sound.

This is what Tinkerbell looks like when she wears snow boots.

We were all sitting in front of the window watching the neighbors load the moving van when what do you think comes walking down the sidewalk--- a daddy moose!  By the time we got our cameras he was already across the street making his way through the elementary school playground.  We put on our boots and coats and went after him.  I guess children are not the only ones who play on the playground in Anchorage.  This animal was huge, his bottom is as tall as I am.  Kaci did her best to get him to slow down so we could get a better picture, but he didn't listen.

A moose is loose A man made of stone and PIZZA

Day one: The entire day was spent getting acquainted with Kaci and Forrest.  Yeah Yahoo!

Day Two went as follows:

Brad invited me to drive him to work, in the dark in a strange city, all by myself, so Kerri could use the car for the day.  Hmmm, I'm not much good at this kind of thing.  But he assured me that all would be well.  Amazingly enough I was able to make my way back to their apartment without getting lost.  WHEW.
When i returned Kerri took me on a tour of the City of Anchorage.  As we were traveling down the road named Northern Lights Kerri mentioned that she hoped that I would be able to see a moose and lo and behold just a  few minutes later we saw one...just taking a stroll on the coastal trail (a bike trail that follows along the road).  So we took a quick pix.  Kerri suggested she take a picture of me  with the moose standing across the street   Then he made his way across the street where we had parked and I got out of the car and got a bit closer to him.  Kaci wanted to follow him through the neighborhood where he chose to wander and we photographed him helping himself to a few crab apples on a tree in one of the homes' front yard.  You may or may not be able to see his itty bitty antlers.  He is just a little guy.

We visited the giant chocolate fountain, took a few photos of the area outside where there stood a giant rock man and had lunch at The Moose Tooth where we ate the most yummy apricot pizza with cream cheese, chicken, carrots, red peppers, cilantro and green onion.  And now it is beginning to snow.  It has been a great day!

Conference and costumes and witches, oh my!

This is conference weekend.   In my opinion Fall can officially begin.  I have spent my weekend preparing for Halloween.  I enjoy making costumes for my grandchildren.  I know the time is coming fast when Ma Verdi's costumes will no longer  be suitable, but for now they let me do this for them.  Why am I so obsessed with making costumes.? It's what I do.  I like the creating process.  When I was a child it was a time of happy memories for me with my little sisters. 

My Father  would give us cash so we could go to the Thrift Store to buy items for our Halloween costumes.  This was always so much fun.  We looked forward to it every year.  The three of us would create the most wonderful costumes and on Halloween night we would stratagize our route through the neighborhood considering where the best candy would be.  When we would get back to out house we immedicately dumped out our candy unto the living room floor and surveyed our treasures.  Of course we sorted out the candy we didn't care for and bartered with each other for candy we preferred.  Our Dad would always come in and try to sneak our favorites away from us, but we always kept our eye on him.  When all was accounted for we would let him come pick what he wanted. 

I always enjoyed Halloween.  I think it's because it was "our" holiday.  No expectations, just fun!
Planning, shopping, creating, trick or treating, sorting candy....it was something we could do all together and there were no disagreements.  It was just delightful, childs play, no strings attached.  I still look forward to planning and creating for this holiday.    Since I joined the church General Conference has become part of my Fall ritual.  I plan nothing for that weekend except watching conference, working on costumes for myself, my children, (when they were at home and before they got married) and now my grand children. 

Isn't it fun to dress up and pretend to be someone, or something.  I think so and I did what I could to encourage my children to do the same. When my children were in grade school we use to choose charactoers from their favorites books or movies.   I just like the fun stuff, not the scary, gory, yucky things so many other people display.  I like jack 'o lanterns with funny faces, cartoon type ghosts and witches.  Witches are my favorite.  Why?  Because they can look like just about anything.  I like the wild fashion sense, the hats, the shoes, the colors, the brooms, the black cats.  There's so much you can do with Witches.  Witches have homes, they cook, they decorate, they have pets and they are loyal to their sisters.  NO!  Ido not believe in Witches.  I just like to pretend for halloween.

So go out and enjoy the season.  I have already bought and eaten my first bag of candy corn which is my favorite fall treat.  Gary brought home halloween  oreo cookies, YUM,  and the halloween cookie cutters have been taken out of storage and will be put to use this year.  I found a very yummy recipe which I have practiced and am ready to make.  I'll be making cookies for my seminary students. 
The other teachers and I are planning 'A Morning with Ghosts ' (pioneer stories) for a fun day before the Halloween weekend.  I have made myself a new costume and can't wait to wear it.  We are all looking forward to performing for the students.

This is a little bit more than what I had intended on sharing, but I hope everyone enjoys the Fall season.  I know I will.  This year I will be spending my Halloween with Kaci and lil Forrest in Alaska.   I'm so excited!