Happy Harvest!

Another favorite sign of the season is our church's annual Harvest Party.  A schedule conflict with the school meant the party was on the calendar a week early this year.  I've written in the past about how much we appreciate this alternative to the traditional Halloween.  It's become something we highly anticipate and this year was no disappointment!  Dave's youth group hosts the Harvest Party and they do such a good job helping the kids play games that win candy, serving a pizza dinner and providing other fun like gourd painting, costume parades, pie-eating contests and sack-races.

Here are some of the Five and Under crowd lining up to show off their fabulous costumes.  We were super excited to use the Shamu costume this year, but still couldn't get a scared Delia into it.  She loved Ella wearing the outfit, though, and treated her like a big stuffed animal all night-- following her around, hugging her and saying, "I love you Shamu!"

Dave was having a creative dry-spell for his costume this year.  His old cap and gown was the best he could do.  What made the outfit was Ella's title for it: "You're The Graduator!"

Above are some shots of the action (including an in-flight Bozo Bucket ball!).  The Harvest Party lets us come home with just the right amount of candy.  Since each piece needs to be earned with a game, the fun comes not just in gobbling it up, but in doing things like tossing balls and rings, fishing and putting for it!  In my opinion, this sure beats trick-or-treating!