Halloween Fun

We had our annual Halloween Open House tonight and it was a blast. Mom and I tried to count and came up with 101 folks! We had all kinds of appetizers, chili, Grannie O sugar cookies (6 batches) donuts, etc. It is so much fun to see friends from church, family, old family friends, etc. The kids come in and grab snacks, etc and head to the basement - we have learned to have some Halloween DVDs playing. Tonight's surprise was that Colton and Kyle were scheduled to work and they went in and it wasn't busy so they got to come :) They came in through the garage door and surprised us all. Here are a few pics from the night - I have a horrible time with pictures. The pirate lady is my cousin Susan, Eric came as Dee Brown, Carla, Kyle and a little guy and Lisa and her nephew Jacob.

Halloween Tag - I'm It - Nancy

Since Alissa named me "The Queen of Halloween" I thought I better get my answers posted!

How much do you enjoy Halloween? I love Halloween. I am not into the scary, bloody, yuck but love the orange, purple, etc! Orange is my very favorite color so you can only imagine how much I adore this season. (I might add that the Illini colors are orange and blue and that we have a winning football team this year!)

Do you think Halloween is too commercial these days? It has become a big market but it depends how you approach it. I am still very traditional in my view of Halloween.

Do you miss the traditional costumes? I do miss the costumes that Mom and Dad made for their kids but understand that time is limited and the important thing is that Mom and Dad spend the evening with you. Carla and I used to have a blast making costumes for the kiddos.

Do you give out candy? You betcha and lots more!

What has been your favorite costume? Probably the year Mom made the three of us Indian costumes. Also, one year they ordered a paper dress made to look like the Yellow Pages and finished my costume to look like the phone book.

When you were growing up what was the weather like during trick or treating? Did you ever have to wear a heavy coat over your costume? Rainy and cold! There were times we had to wear a coat. The first year I lived in Chicago it snowed on Halloween.

What was your favorite candy as a kid to get? That would be a toss up between Reese's Peanut Butter cups and Butterfinger bars (think I like peanut butter :)

Do you think Halloween costumes today are too provocative for kids and teens? Yes. I am always surprised at what some children come dressed like. I am not a big fan of teens trick or treating. Coming dressed up to a party (like my house) or coming dressed to help little kids is awesome but once the big kids start coming to the door (especially those in no costume and a bag) I am done.


What are your Halloween plans this year since it falls on a Wednesday? Well . . . each year my folks and I host the Henley Halloweeen Open House. It has grown from some sugar cookies to a full blown party with chili, appetizers and sweets! Lots of friends, neighbors and family come by during the evening. We started when Colton was born so that other friends could gather and see each other's kids without running all over . . . .Colton is 18 years old now.

If you are out on Halloween feel free to stop by between 5:30 - 8:30 pm. That's where the fun it happening!

GSL Band Competition

Kyle's Chair Colton's Chair

Saturday Colton and Kyle compete in a band tournament (GSL) at the Edward Jones Dome. There are 48 bands in the competition. Tradition at SCW is that you "decorate" their chair on Thursday night for the final practice before GSL. Here are a few shots of what the room looked like. Carla and Nancy had made band scrapbooks as the boys special surprise. (Last week they won their competition!)

Other notes: Eric had his first basketball practice last night! Matt plays his first basketball game of the season tomorrow. Jake got his first college acceptance letter - it has been a good week!

Happy Birthday Marlin Sunday 10/21

Happy Birthday to Dad, Grandpa, and Marlin! Wishing you a spectacular birthday. You mean so much to so many. WE LOVE YOU! This darling picture was taken in 1941 and you were 5 years old . .do the math for this year's birthday!

King's Arm Tavern

We started this morning with a 9 am breakfast at King's Arm Tavern - it was a breakfast with characters from Revolutionary City (interactive presentation) it was kind of like a Disney character b'fast just a historical flair! We toured more of Williamsburg, shopped at Merchant's Square, went to College of William and Mary (2nd oldest college in US) and then ended the day with dinner at King's Arm Tavern. Mom wanted to eat there for the rice pudding! Saturday is going to be some Colonial Williamsburg and then we have a dinner reservation at Shields Tavern. We plan to leave her on Sunday and journey our way back home (don't know how long it will take as we have a couple of stops planned!)

SCW has a band competition on Saturday so we will be waiting to hear how that goes for Colton and Kyle. Matt has started basketball practice with the school team. Eric has signed up to play YMCA ball. Jake has been on a couple of college visits. As you can see the "boys" keep their parents hopping!

Jamestown to Yorktown

Today we did Jamestown (400th anniversary of John Smith and early settlers arriving in America) to Yorktown where 10.19 is the 226th anniversary of the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown and basically the end of the Revolutionary War. Aren't you glad for a history lesson? We ended the evening with a myths,legends and ghosts tour at Colonial Williamsburg - it was a rainy, drizzly night so that added to the mix.

I can't seem to drag and drop on the mac laptop like on my pc - the rainy pic is us leaving for tour - the water is where John Smith arrived (as close as they can pinpoint) and the house is the Moore house where the treaty between George Washington and Cornwallis was negotiated.

Colonial Williamsburg

We spent all dayn today at Colonial Wiliamsburg. I must say it is much different than when I was there at 12! We started the morning at the Governor's Palace, took in a Patrick Henry presentation, toured several more bldgs, lunch in the garden of Chowning's tavern. Mother wanted to go on a carriage ride . . .so we went on a carriage ride. JD, Lori and myself did this when we were here in 1973. I am going to get out the old home movies and photos when we get home!

No idea why the photo is there twice - sorry. Nancy