Boo

Our community has the greatest tradition at Halloween time. At the beginning of October all of the sudden "Boo" signs start to appear on neighbor's front doors. These signs are put on the doors by other neighbors who knock on the door late in the evening and leave an unanimous note and treats or goodies. The note informs you that you have been "Boo'd" by a neighbor and in the next 2 days you are to deliver a treat and Boo sign to 2 other neighbors that do not yet have a sign. The hope is that by Halloween every house in the neighborhood will have received a treat and have a sign.

Isn't that fun!!

Our ward also joins in the fun so we have been "Boo'd" twice and have been able to spread the fun to neighbors and ward friends. The kids love it when the door bell rings at night. They run to see if they can get a glimpse of who has left a treat. We had a good time making treats and running away from doors without being caught. Audrey and Carter and I would laugh as we watched each other make a mad dash after we would ring the bells. Brady wasn't as excited about running in the dark so he and Dave opted to watch us for a few of the houses. I'll tell you it is fun all around. It's neat to see all the houses on streets and streets in our community with all sorts of creative Boo signs on their doors. What fun!

Our front door with the Boo signs. We thought the Boo was so cleaver with each letter turned into a Halloween scene. The bottom sign was from the Ward.

I've also come to the realization that I am slightly obsessed with pumpkins. Our Trader Joe's has the cutest Fall display - I can hardly stand it!! It has all kinds of pumpkins I have never seen before. They have big fat ones, white ones, Cinderella, Fairy Tail, sugar, gourds and these ones that look like they have barnacles all over them. I love how some are so perfect they look like they came straight out of a Halloween book. Then I also love the ones that have different shapes and markings. I might have a pumpkin problem.

Well this past week I was shopping with the boys and couldn't stand it any more. I took out my camera and started to take pictures. Carter thought I was crazy when I asked him to smile for me. "Mom, at the store???" After I bribed him with a little pumpkin he could keep on his dresser, he agreed to smile for me a few times. I had a few funny looks from people but then there was a lady that shared my same obsession. She asked if I wanted her to take a picture of the 3 of us. Sure, why not! I just love Fall colors and Trader Joe's.

Brady is getting so old. This past Sunday he was dressed for church and I just had to get a picture. He loves to wear a jacket and tie like Dave.

A few weeks ago we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving. I have always thought it is wonderful that we get to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. I have been thinking for a while now that I wanted to find something that would help us focus on gratitude in the weeks we have between the two Thanksgiving celebrations. I came up with our Thanksgiving Tree and I think it is just what I had in mind. I had Dave paint a tree on canvas. I have absolutely no artistic ability so I am grateful that Dave possesses this talent. He doesn't think he is that talented but I think the tree looks great! We have displayed the bare tree and each week we all consider something we are thankful for and write it on a leaf. By the time American Thanksgiving comes around the tree should be full of leaves to remind us of all our wonderful blessings. It will be a fun tradition to continue each year.

Thanksgiving dinner

The Tree

The tree with a few of the "blessing leaves" displayed