Every silly witch needs a black cat

Here are more Halloween pictures than you could have hoped to see. Pictures in front of our building, carving jack o'lanterns (Ella was the artist of the face), Pre-K class, Gabriella with her teachers, on the train/bus to/from/at Chicagoween, after trick-or-treating, etc. in no particular order.

Will post about Ella's birthday and Apple Picking soon...I hope.

Autumn in Chicago

As I hear the wind and snow blowing outside I thought I'd better get this posted...

On David's couple of days between his old and new job we spent some time as a family. This was taken by North Pond in Lincoln Park next to the Nature Museum.

Ever since all the Pump it Up party rage, Ella can't get enough of the inflatables.
That's her pink arm by the window David is headed toward.

Painting and decorating her pumpkin at the Pumpkin patch.
Ella picked the biggest/tallest horse to ride. She screamed when I put her on but then loved it.

Petting a cute calf.
Posed on the hay bales together. We were just hoping she didn't drop him.

Messy boy eating some peas.



Ella wanted us to be the Bernstain Bears family for Halloween.
Thank goodness for the store Unique Thrift where I was able to find the clothes for our costumes!
Sister Bear
Trick-or-treating Chicago style.
and at the Patisserie of course.
and then with friends in Lincoln Park.
and this is from our Free to Breathe walk day. Nicholas was not very happy to be wearing a huge shirt! Thank you to all who donated and it's not too late!

Boucled'or

Goldilocks and the three bears

Ever since my Dad visited this summer and told Miss Bella the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, she has been quite enamored with it. She often wants to act it out, basically reciting the whole book and told us some time ago that she would be Goldilocks for Halloween. (Thank goodness!! No princess, etc.). So yesterday she got to wear her costume to French Wiggleworms, where we learned how to say Goldilocks in french, Boucled'or.

Then yesterday evening we met up with our friends the San Juan's and neighborhood hopped down to Lincoln Park (where we used to live as renters :-)) and went trick-or-treating on beautiful Burling Street where it is barricaded off from traffic. I can't begin to tell you how many full-size candy bars Ella got! It's all beautiful single family homes, of course with walk-up stairs--so that was a bit frustrating and wore Ella out by the end. But they were all decked out in Halloween decor-some scary, and some not. It's funny how Ella would deal with the scary things--like the very real looking skeleton hanging over a porch--when she saw it she said, "How cute!". She also really enjoyed seeing all the other kids in their costumes and would exclaim, "She looks so pretty in her costume". The three bears became a bit cumbersome with the stairs and all, so I ended up carrying them--but David and I took turns taking her up to the houses, so he had to be the three bears too :-) Overall it was a great evening. On the train home she wanted some candy out of her bag. But my good girl chose the one mini bag of pretzels she got! She did understand how to choose all the chocolate though, and did quite well with most of her selections.

On the 'L to go trick-or-treat
Going trick-or-treating with Papa

Goldilocks and the three bears

Mary (Jyothi) and her little lamb (Asha)

Pirate Ryan

This porridge is not so good afterall
Made it down some more steps with Mama
and the three bears