A Different Halloween

 I have so much to catch up on here, but I want to give each event it's due, starting with Halloween!

This was our first Halloween with no kids at home. Evan was at wrestling, and Issa celebrated on campus. She and her roommate were Boo and Sully:

We opted to do the Great Pumpkin at our house again, and I added some fun yard signs this year:

Kids could choose, a toy, candy, or rock:

Rock was still the most popular! We went three 250 toys, 250 pieces of candy, and 100 rocks.

Brad said it was too hot for his full doghouse costume, but she still wore Woodstock:

I did the full Snoopy:

We had so much fun passing out candy. Every kid was so kind and gracious, and I loved seeing all of the costumes. It was strange to know so few kids, but I don't think I will ever get tired of trick-or-treat in our neighborhood.

And So It Begins

The wrestling season is officially underway:

Evan is one of the kids with someone else on his shoulders. He woke up sore this morning, but he is so excited to be back on the mat every day.
 

A Transition

Last night was a big night for Evan:

He was invited to the adult black belt class to exchange his youth black belt for an adult one:

He has been training with the adults for a while now (mostly because of his size), but he was really excited to make it official--especially since you usually have to wait until you are 16. I got a little teary watching these adults he's trained with celebrate and spar with him:

I always love watching my boys do their thing, and it's been a long time since I have been able to:

And then it was official:

I haven't seen him practice since Brad got his black belt, and he has gotten so much better. He was holding his own with much higher ranked black belts, and I loved seeing him smile and joke around with his village.
 

My Favorite Fall Tradition

Saturday, we made out annual trek to Pumpkins with Goats:

Aunt Shannon was able to join us this time, which added to the fun:

I really do love all of the goat cuteness, and we were there early in the day so they were still very interested in being with us:

My friend helped me carve a cat pumpkin this year:

Brad did a pumpkin who fell over:

The kids did a zombie and stars:

And Nana stuck with her traditional route:

Aunt Shannon won with her monkey:

We had so much fun carving, and then we spent some time petting and feeding the donkeys, alpacas, and horses. The highland cows are always the favorite, though, and Nana brought one home with her this year:

She spent a lot of time choosing the cutest cow with the best moo!

The farm has grown quite a bit since we started coming, but it's still so fun. You really can't beat a day with goats.
 

Guardian Angel

Issa and Brad got to experience another Meredith College tradition this weekend: the Guardian Angel Dance:

They had so much fun! They sat with some of Issa's friends, and apparently ruled the dance floor:

This was the only picture I got during the event during a bit of a cringy slow dance moment:

Traditionally, this event was a father/daughter dance, but they expanded it to be any mentor, and I was excited to hear that there were a wide range of folks there. (That was one of the changes the class I advised made!)

After the dance, they went to see Beatlejuice. Unfortunately, that's when Brad realized he had gotten some bad spinach and Issa was grateful that she doesn't like spinach.

Even with the food poisoning debacle, they both said it was a fabulous night, and I'm so glad they got toe experience it together.

 

Book 23

I finished book 23 on the plane home this week:

It's the sequel to Fourth Wing, and I loved it. The story and characters continue to become more complicated, and I am so invested. The next book doesn't come out until January, and I am unwell waiting to see how this cliff-hanger ends.
 

A First Real Car Experience

Evan took driver's ed late last spring, and he got the call yesterday that his behind the wheel time is finally happening this week! Brad took him out to a parking lot last night so his first time behind the wheel wouldn't be in the driver's ed car:

He is a bit more relaxed than Issa was:

He has spent so much time playing driving games and in driving rigs, so he feels pretty comfortable. Brad said he did amazingly well--nary a curb was touched. 

He will get his hours in this week, and then we will find an appointment for a permit test!