Halloween, 2011 edition


It seems like every holiday is now greatly extended, and Halloween is no exception.  Our Halloween season started with the official pumpkin carving and watching of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", two Bragg Family South traditions.  Stephen (above) and Kenny (below) got into their carving experience:


(No, your computer isn't messing up the picture above--I forgot to rotate it!).  Beth also did well cleaning and carving her pumpkin:


Our neighbor/archeology friend Jessica joined us, and carved a pretty neat spider pattern (much to Stephen's amusement):


Here are the end results:


Bella and Draco weren't very sure of what to think of these glowing pumpkins:


We also celebrated Beth's 7th birthday this last week, with some friends to enjoy Halloween-themed cupcakes:


Kenny was part of a ceremony recognizing high-achieving students (he got an award for all A's):


On Friday, my brother Bob and his girlfriend Nancy stopped in for a visit on their way to New Orleans.  Below, Bob and Nancy (and Stephen) are pictured in front of a monument at the Rowher Relocation Center here in southeastern Arkansas:

The Rowher Relocation Center was an internment camp used to house thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II.  Now, all that remains here are a handful of monuments and some graves of those that died during their captivity.  Later that afternoon, some of us went to the UAM homecoming football game:


It was an entertaining, if not high scoring game, that UAM eventually won:


We didn't stay past half-time because we had another Halloween event to go to...  A local state park throws a Halloween party in which they have people staying in the campground who decorate their sites and give out candy.  Below, our three kids as a Union soldier from the Civil War (Kenny), a vampire princess (Beth), and a small green dinosaur (Stephen):


The campground area was quite a spectacle--these people go all out!!!


My favorite display was this batch of water-loving skeletons:


Most displays were more festive than scary:


As the sun set, the campground glowed with scores of displays, admired by what seemed to be thousands of wandering people:


Today (Sunday) Bob and Nancy left for New Orleans and we went back to our usual routine...with the exception of yet another Halloween party, this one at our church:


Kenny and Stephen went as their same characters, but Beth (foreground, with markers) went as a cheerleader (and Hope went as a witch).  Hardly seems possible that soon we're in November, and then begins the big holiday season!!!!

Comments

Lisa said…
I better get going on my Halloween blog before December rolls around! Looks like you guys celebrated the holiday right!

I'm glad Beth had a happy birthday, and good work, Kenny, on getting all A's.

Also, thank you for posting pics of Bob and Nancy. I haven't met Nancy yet so that's the first time I got to see what she looks like. My sisterly curiosity is somewhat satisfied :). I must say she's very pretty in the photos.

Lisa
6:14 AM
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