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[LovelyLadyLux]

I see we've got seasonal ghosts floating about the page.

Just commenting as I don't believe I've ever seen a Hallowe'en theme before on E4U or L4U - just the floating snow flakes

Cute to see the little black bats & ghosties. To me it is the good old orange pumpkin that most symbolizes Hallowe'en. All the stores here have bumper crops of them but most are, at best medium sized. I think we had such an awful growing year I guess we're luck to have them at all as it was such a short growing season.

[Kiya]

I like it

[Grandad]

Most kids around here like to have a pumpkin in the window. This is Louis and a pal selecting theirs at a local farm last Friday. It is then a competition to see whose dad or mum can carve the best one.

[Mad Dilys]

I'm stocked up with sweets, I ran out one year!

Note. I purposely chose things I didn't like in case I had any left and might get tempted - with the exception of Kinder Hippos which I hadn't seen before. When I got home I thought I'd try one.............. Well that's one thing I'm keeping for myself.

[Horus]

I’m afraid that I am a “Ba Humbug” when it comes to Halloween, another American import, I usually lock my gates.

[Grandad]

I’m afraid that I am a “Ba Humbug” when it comes to Halloween, another American import, I usually lock my gates.

Spoil sport

I am with you H but the kids love it and I am not going to spoil their fun. It is little different than Guy Fawkes, Penny for the Guy.

[Horus]

Yes but 'Penny for the Guy' is a part of our history and not some import intended purely to create another market for the shops and half the time the kids are pimply faced youths, they stay locked out!

[LovelyLadyLux]

Just had the first of the Trick 'n Treaters arrive (Grandkids). CinderELLY, her escort Prince Charming and the Dark Knight.

The Knight was staying 'in character' of being stern. The daughter was also dressed up ostensibly as a Pirate too. They came here directly after school as they're walking their own neighbourhood only tonight as Cinderella hasn't been feeling terribly well lately.

[Horus]

Great pictures and my have the twins grown

[LovelyLadyLux]

They're all growing like weeds. The twins biggest issue is that they're reading now at quite an advanced rate. Their teacher is having to give them work quite ahead of where they're at yet they still love playing dress up and being little boys.

They finished the reading challenge of reading 100 books and got their $100. The oldest twin bought himself a Lego U Wing Fighter (961 pieces) for kids 8 to 14. He put most of it together in just over 1 day. He can read and follow the steps and instructions and can just 'see' in 3D. His brother bought another Lego (can't remember) but it was smaller 460 pieces because he wanted something else too but the challenge of assembling anything under 500 pieces isn't even a challenge anymore.

We're going to do another 'challenge' and this time they get to read 60 books for $1.25 each (total $75 they can make) BUT after reading each book they have to write at least a half page telling what it is all about. The youngest twin in particular is writing like a fiend but not particularly leaving spaces between the words because that 'slows me down' however he does randomly add Capitals 'coz it looks interesting' ......

Their teacher last year had a bit of a nervous breakdown come Christmas and they ended up lots of the year with substitutes. So far this teacher seems a bit stronger so keeping fingers cross their enthusiasm won't stop......i.e. Gavin can easily answer loud and clear every question being asked. She has at least got him to stop just shouting out all the answers so now his mouth engages the second his hand goes up like an "on" switch.

The twins have been active and 'on the go' from the day they've been born. Hard for them to slow down so I just hope the teachers stay Skookum and can keep up cause it is not going to stop

[Mad Dilys]

I waited on tenterhooks yesterday evening after my first visitor at 7.15pm and after that ....... No One Came!

I think I had 29 last time. I've been giggling about my silliness ever since.

Any ideas what I can do with a bag of Politically Incorrect Sugary Sweets?

[Grandad]

Any ideas what I can do with a bag of Politically Incorrect Sugary Sweets?

Just enjoy them but in moderation. That way they may last until next Halloween.

[Grandad]

This was our lad Louis last evening.


His dad had hoped to see the end of it this year but next year Louis will be 9 years old and his dad has already said, no more.
I was not too happy to see the bloodthirsty rubber knife. These days I have views about some of the toys that are available to kuds which were considered innocent in our day but we now live in a different world, sadly.

[Horus]

I can see your concern Grandad, it seems to me that the costumes are becoming more gruesome rather than scary as in skeletons, spooks and witches that are innocent enough.

[Kiya]

I'm with you Horus, doors locked

Wow! can hardly believe how much your grand children have grown LLL

[LovelyLadyLux]

I live 4 houses up from an Elementary School. There are sidewalks on both sides of the street out front from me so I get MEGA kids. I had sufficient candy for 300 and it is all gone.

About 5pm I started watching for the kiddies and then saw a wall of smoke come across my front yard. Went outside immediately figuring there could be a fire somewhere (it IS Hallowe'en so this type of mischief does happen here) but it was my next door neighbor testing out her smoke making machine! She goes all out and had created a cemetery with grave markers on her front lawn + plastic rats + her firepit and all manner of ghosts and goblins. She has had that on her front lawn for, at least, the past two weeks and every kid in the City has walked past it knowing it was going to be something so I needed to be prepared too.

The second to last BIG kids were two of my former adult Saudi students wearing jump suits with a skeleton pattern on them yelling "TRUCK or TREAT" at my door! They were just out cruising in their cars to see what was happening in the city. AND I did explain it was "TRICK or treat" but am not really sure they got the "trick" idea although they quite happily took a handful of candies

Gavin was a KNIGHT and he got to bring his sword to my house and his other grandparents house but no way was he allowed to take it to school. NOTHING by way of a weapon is allowed at all.

Must say Luis had a great looking mask and, at nine that is still prime Hallowe'en age here. I think it falls off around 12 but I had a few quite nice kids I'd of put around 14 or 15 going door to door nicely calling 'trick or treat.' The twins are 7 and am sure they'll be out there for another 5 or 6 years minimum and CinderELLY (she can't say the 'ah' at the end OR doesn't want to) will be with them.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Woo Hoo - cute and different effects now Lots of razzle dazzle 'n all

[Horus]

Keefy has obviously done this to celebrate our 'Bonfire Night' which is on November 5th each year.
I bet there are a few moaners over on the other side

[Ruby Slippers]

I'm not getting them!

[LovelyLadyLux]

Don't believe I've ever heard of "Bonfire Night" and didn't relate to that being the reason for fireworks but having this effect is cute, adds a bit of colour and adds an element of aliveness to the site.

As for there being moaners - well - with some I think 'moaning' is the least of their problems both personal and interpersonal. The term dysfunctional immediately comes to mind along with no wonder they're living where they're living ....... gheesh!!