Halloween and the Huskers

Halloween

I grew up in a conservative Christian community that rarely celebrated Halloween in a "traditional" way.  We definitely never wore "scary" costumes, and were more likely to be found dressed up as our "favorite Bible character" or not dressed up at all.  And we wouldn't trick or treat - we'd go to a "Halloween alternative" where you'd go around and get candy...  (In retrospect, that whole "favorite Bible character" thing doesn't really make any sense.  Shouldn't Jesus be everyone's favorite Bible character?  I mean, Savior of the World who conquers death kind of makes everyone else pale in comparison, right?)

I definitely see the dangers of many Halloween traditions, but let's be honest - there are a few traditions that are, at face value, harmless.  For example, dressing up as fun things and going door to door to get candy.  Or on the flip side, handing out candy to kids who come to your door dressed up in adorable or interesting or crazy or Elsa costumes.  (I quit counting Elsa's when I'd seen 10, and it was only about 6:30!)

So we dressed up our kids and took them trick or treating.  Here is the obligatory picture of kids in costumes on the front step by the pumpkins: 

It was cold, so I did put coats and shoes and all manner of warm clothes on my kids.  And truth be told, Connor was only a pumpkin for this picture.  After we took it, the pumpkin came off and his puffy coat went on, and once he was bundled in a blanket and hat, we put him in the stroller.  The poor guy couldn't even move, but he didn't seem to mind.  :)

Here is our trick or treating partner, Bob the Builder:

Lily's little friend is about a year and a half older than her, so he had the trick or treating thing down!  It took a little coaching at the beginning ("Next time they let you pick out of the bowl, only take ONE piece, not a handful."  "Tell them 'thank you.'"  "Take the orange Reeses, not the brown Tootsie Rolls if they give you the choice.")  Ok, so the first two bits of advice were given by me; the last was Chase's contribution.  It got to the point toward the end of the evening where Lily and her little friend would run up to the door themselves, say trick or treat, get candy, say thank you, and then skip back to us with Lily saying, "I got the good stuff, Dad!"

Toward the end of the night, we actually had to unload Lily's overflowing candy bucket so she could keep trick or treating!  It was a huge success - lots of great candy, a few Halloween rings, a pencil, and two tracts.  I hope you all had as good of an experience trick or treating as we did!

Huskers

The next day we left the kids with Chase's mom for the day, and my mom took Chase and me to the Husker game.  It was chilly, but it was fun - good company, good food, and a win.  What a marvelous weekend!

The seats were really, really good.  They were just a few rows up over the tunnel where the visiting team comes out onto the field.  So we got to see some action in the end zone up close!

We took our time getting out of the game, and ate at Chipotle afterwards (I wish you could each experience what that's like with Chase.  It is his FAVORITE place to eat.  He literally bounced the entire walk from the stadium to Chipotle...  If he's ever in a bad mood or struggling, if I can get him Chipotle it instantly changes his outlook.  I'm not even kidding.  It's crazy.)

All in all a great weekend!