Is it Halloween already?

 The season requires:  Sugar cookies, a ward party hosted by the youth (raising money for a temple trip to the Philippines).

Along with a fish pond with toys, one of the booths at the festival actually gave away live goldfish.  Unsurprisingly, Will was thrilled.  To win a fish, you got three chances to toss a ping pong ball into a cup with a fish, and if you made it, he was all yours.  Also unsurprisingly, we were not skilled at this game.  Luckily (haha) one of the older boys just kept playing, and every time he won a fish, he picked the saddest looking kid in line for their turn and gave them his prize.  With our two sad eyed children, we scored two fish.  Finley's, "Black Tip" survived almost 24 hours.  Again, luckily, Daddy was still out, and right next to the pet store when he heard the tragic news, so he brought home a replacement.  So after our first toilet bowl funeral, we were back to two fish swimming happily.  The second Black Tip lasted until the morning of Halloween, and Goldie, Will's fish survived until we returned from trick or treating.  Some of the other lucky winners (parents) are really jealous of my ability to care for fish and have asked me to babysit theirs.

 Next up is pumpkin carving,

followed by the annual school costume parade,

and finally, the big night.  Trick or treating.  Nate is in Muscat for a school tournament, so the kids and I were on our own, but with a dinner invite and place to trick or treat, we made it through.

 My little pirate:)

 Learning the ropes - I had to go up to most of the houses with her, but Will was an old pro.

 I didn't collect any candy for Tyson, and he was a trooper, just chilled in the stroller the whole time.

 Some of the candy had to be consumed immediately.

 After the trick or treating, we played with friends from church, and took advantage of their great yard with a baby swing and little slide - I tried to get video of my little giggling pirate, but it was too dark.  He and Finley love a good baby swing, and she was good to let him have a turn, as long as she got to push him.

We loaned our tiger costume to a friend, and when she gave it back today, the big kids took turns wearing it and chasing each other around.  That has been one of our best Dubai investments!

 He insisted on wearing it, even though it is clearly too small, and looked incredibly uncomfortable.  But being that much closer to actual being an animal was totally worth it for him.

Until next year...