"Taking part in a Rumble."

via GIPHY

I will never ever get tired of The Great Pumpkin. We watched it only three times this year, but I hope to do better next October. I will never not laugh continuously during a Peanuts special. 

October is behind us, now! How is that possible? 

This walk through campus is my favorite of the many walks I take in the course of my workday. I really am so lucky to have this job. 

Jon wanted to check out Tech or Treat. It was a bit old for our kids, but they enjoyed the conversation with VT students ("real scientists!"). 

My first time in the Maleficent costume! & version 1 of Aurora

Bowser and the Princess(es):

We let them run and tumble on the grass, afterwards. We've got to soak up the mild weather while it lasts!

The sunrises and sunsets have been inspiring these days. 

The night before we carved pumpkins, I got Miles out of a bad mood spiral by commissioning him to sketch some jack 'o lantern ideas:

His ended up being a lot like that top left one. 

See?

This year, I helped plan the Halloween Party at work with my office-mate, Liann. Have I said what a gift she is? She conspired with me to round up a team to enter in the Adrenaline Maze this past spring; she does yoga or talks a walk with me nearly every lunch; she encourage me at every opportunity. In this month of gratitude, she features prominently in my numbered blessings. 

Also, isn't Liann a stunning Cruella DeVille? 

On Saturday, it was up to Maleficent to take the two princesses trickortreating downtown; Bowser was in another castle.

I am so excited I got to write that sentence. Jon was working until 6. But we got a huge candy haul anyway and had a great old time!

Don't jinx me, but I'm only like two straight weeks of near-perfect health! More gratitude. 

With the help of a box of safety pins, I made these dresses seem to fit the kids.

We saw a lot of amazing costumes. Isn't this one brilliant? :

We picked Jon up at 6 from work and snapped a couple pictures before setting off on the kids' first door-to-door neighborhood trick-or-treating experience!

For real, last week Adele said, "When you are Maleficent, don't kill me, ok?" Jon and I were just in gales. 

Here, Bowser kidnaps the Princess: 

Off to the Warship!

I found the houses giving out candy to be fewer and farther between than I remembered from childhood. But it's still done, thankfully! I'd hate to think we were a nation too afraid of each other to trick-or-treat. There were broods of other kids about, and a delightfully spooky atmosphere. And at almost 60 degrees, it was more comfortable than many a trick-or-treating experience I've had.

Our shadows were stunning, if I do say so myself. 

I hugely enjoyed teaching Children's Chapel today, All Saints Day. I asked the children what they thought the dead were doing. They said:

1. "In the graveyard. Maybe talking to each other. Like, on cell phones." 

(I said, "Must be on a different network." He said, "Yeah, the church one." I said, "No wonder it's so slow!")

2. "Like, lying down and talking to themselves. About their lives, and their people."

3. "Hibernating!"

4. (Miles): "They're lying down, like, asleep, on God's hand."

Well, God bless us, everyone.