Superfluous

Unintentionally, the fireplace became a very fun backdrop for pictures. Too bad I haven't taken the time to take those pictures! Ha! But I have some of these from in passing . . .

Hendrix has enjoyed arranging and moving our little pumpkins. The pumpkins were intended for painting but. . . . :-) Even so, he finds a way to make them purposeful. He is learning a lot about capacity, translations, size, weight, texture, color . . . all unplanned and because the materials were there . . .

This is one of those times that superfluous things are paying off big time. The return is invaluable.

"Spoooooky"

Hendrix was eating an apple and brought it to me and said "Look, Mom, Hendrix bite apple. Spoooooky...." 

This is perfect. We didn't have a chance to carve or paint our pumpkins this year. Carving an apple counts, I believe.

Grandpa and Grandma hosted the grandkids for pumpkin carving at their house. I never got a good photo of the results as I hoped but I was impressed by their work. Vanessa's was a rino and Zane's was Frankenstein.

I don't need audio for the pictures Grandma shared cause I can hear the reactions and commentary in my head. :-)

 Zane begged to buy a Howling Horror costume for this year. Easy enough! He even scored a black turtleneck to wear underneath. :-)

We had hand-me-down overalls and Vanessa's hand-me-down scarlet and grey turtle neck, so Hendrix went as Buckeye Chucky. Still too cute and not scary at all.

Vanessa begged to go as Harley Quinn. We improvised with what we had and with small purchases that she could reuse and rewear. And I had certain requirements for reasonable modesty while exploring a darker side and riskier look. I didn't want to write "Rotten" on her cheek but she insisted I had to so the costume would be complete. She did her make-up otherwise and even drew and colored her shirt with "Daddy's Lil Monster" using carbon paper from her great grandfather's stash.

 We continued our treasured tradition with the Slivka Family, missing Daniel while he tended some sporting things.

 Hendrix was quick to rediscover Trick or Treating and really enjoyed making friends along the way. I feel mixed emotions when other adults tell Hendrix that his parents must be really really awesome to dress him as Pennywise and Chucky. :-/ I hope that does not define our parenting but I certainly like to be fun and practical with materials we already possess. Great conversations to be had later with Hendrix about why costumes should not define us and how the costumes reflect the darker things we are curious about. Cause hey, you're tricking yourself if you think there will never be dark things in this world we have to face. Let's balance it by looking for the light in everything and how to not fall into the tempting darker things.

Hendrix has been practicing Crossing Guard and is very cautious when cars are moving. Here he's putting up his hand to be sure the cars are stopped and not moving while he crosses the street with his daddy.

Similitude

Maybe a little too blurry and I'm sure I could recreate a pic with Zane in his Wolf uniform, but I have these two photos next to each other on the fridge...and I stop to stare at them often.  What strikes me the most is how their expressions are exact here. Although I think Zane's eyes are a tad different than Adam's, he looks so very much like him. 

I think there is a new attitude that emerges at around 8. I wonder if it's a similarity in developing personalities.

I think it was when Vanessa was about 8 that I noticed her striking resemblance to her dad too . . . and although Hendrix has the Mollohan nose, he's in a state of looking more like Adam right now.

I love to see the blending of Adam and me in our children.

Sail Away

With help from his dad, Zane created and sailed the grand champion boat for his Boy Scout Den. He did pretty well against the older dens too, including the AOLs. But a Wolf shouldn't beat an AOL at their last Raingutter Regatta, right? ;-)
Contrary to his boat's design, Zane did not allow his boat to creep, but he blew hard and consistently, determined to make a comeback this year.

His Den was also responsible for the flag ceremony this Pack meeting. Zane thought is was trivial to carry the flag base but once everything was in its place, I think he better understood his role.

And to see his sister so very proud and excited for him was extra delightful too.

Whipped Topping

 Zane is kind of like whipped topping. He tops our parenting journey with extra sweetness and fluffiness. He doesn't have to do much to win our affection and smiles and he naturally carries so many moments of amazing goodness.

(These are Zane's goals from the beginning of the school year.)