Twick o Tweet!

Halloween is not my favorite time of year. I mean, I love pumpkins and cute little kiddos in costumes, but being scared silly by a bloody leg hanging out of a trunk or creeped out by the hand sticking out of the ground in our neighbors yard (not to mention all the spiders and spider webs)...not a fan. I usually can't wait until it's over.

However, I'm having a little change of heart. After reading "The Pumpkin Patch Parable" by Liz Curtis Higgs to Zoë several times this year, I'm a little more excited about carving out a pumpkin and putting a candle inside. If you haven't read it - it's great! Very simply, the parable tells of a farmer who grows his pumpkin from seed, picks out his favorite, cleans out all the slime and carves a new face, then puts a light inside to shine for the whole world to see. In the same way, God picks us out, cleans out all the slime in our hearts and gives us new life, then puts the light of Christ in our hearts to shine for all to see. 

We had fun decorating some pumpkins - Zoë loved her Mrs. Potato Head pumpkin lady, and enjoyed coloring on her white pumpkin as well. For the first time in years, I carved a pumpkin (inspired by a Martha Stewart Vine-and-Leaf design). It's beautiful! And I love having a jar of Christmas lights inside - I don't have to worry about the candle going out, and it kind of feels like Christmas. :)

Remember this?

We decided to bring back Zoë's cute island wear from Corby and Mary's rehearsal dinner and dress her as an adorable toddler hula dancer.

The last time she'll wear a bikini 'til she's 25. Lol! ;)

Hula dancing for Daddy

I read a blog this week that really got me thinking about the way I have approached Halloween in the past. [Check it out from TroubleFace Mom here]. She challenges the Christian tendency to either 1) spend Halloween evening hanging out with other Christians at church or 2) Turn off all the lights and pretend not to be home. She says, "This is the only night of the entire year that most of your neighbors and mine are going to come knocking on our doors. The only night." Make the most of it. Open your door wide with a big smile, welcome them in off your doorstep, offer the parents a nice hot drink. Have a conversation that goes beyond "Trick-or-Treat" and "Happy Halloween." "Be a city on a hill."

I like that. A lot. Maybe someday.

Unfortunately, we live in a poorly lit apartment complex that is not very inviting to children on the hunt for candy. Not a soul came by last year. But, we were invited to spend the evening with our friends, our children, their friends, and several dogs. It was great! 

Hula dancer, Princess and Storm Trooper

Zoë serenading us on the ukulele

"Twinkle, Twinkle" is her specialty. :)

Zac and I were required by the Watsons to dress up as well out of the treasures in Clara and Milo's dress up clothes. ;) Zac made a pretty good Transformer, and I have no clue what I was wearing. Lol!

Zoë had a blast following Clara and Milo up to front doors, sweetly saying "Twick o tweet!" and "tanks!" and sometimes even playing a little song on the ukulele. It was precious. And as you can see, she was VERY excited about the candy. ;)

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16