Halloween 2026

Halloween was a memorable event this year with rain pouring down right when dusk fell. We had a grand time walking about in the rain, Josie’s umbrella was prime territory! Phillip wanted a new costume but didn’t think about it until this week, so he was his Hogwarts avatar (again). Everett wore his Chester the Chess Bester with Kyran. Evelyn was Heroine Granger. She worked hard on her costume! Josie was Harper from Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella series. She also worked hard to collect and perfect her costume. I was aura farming and maxing in my costume. Each time a kid said, “ugh, Mrs Call! You can’t be serious…” I raked in those aura points. It was amazing. Our ward party was Halloween day from 3-5 pm. 

We celebrated red ribbon week at school with several dress up days like wear red, sports, neon, and halloween. Dress up weeks are always fun and chaotic. This week we barely survived with a full moon, halloween, candy, parties, Dress up days, AND daylight savings. I was done before Monday even started. 

I spent a few hours updating the spreadsheets with the MCO attire check information on Monday. Cara was an absolute beast and emailed ALL the correction emails in one day. I logged in after dinner to find she had done it all. Way to go! Unfortunately, some folks quit MCO this week because I would not allow them to stand in the back with a hem 7-8 inches above the floor. This one gal was so completely upset about buying a new dress that she pulled her child, ranting about how hypocritical we were (as an organization) singing about Jesus yet not forgiving the length of a dress hem. Strange was entitlement does to one’s brains. They go poof in the air. 

Josie had some fun moments this weekend! She went with me to photograph Cara and Hunter at Lake Lowell. Josie was keen to play warrior cats with Cara! The girls came to our home for a few hours before Kendria took them to the Haunted Forest, a tame version of a scary grove of trees. Saturday she went to the Farmstead with her friend Kara for a good 6 hours. She came home with a white pumpkin, a bag of rocks, and lots of stories. Everett was also at the Farmstead with Kyran, he pestered Josie for a bit then went on his merry way. 

We had homework drama this weekend with the end of semester looming on Monday. Phillip was frantically finishing an essay on The Great Gatsby. Evelyn had some homework in Social Studies. Evelyn spent more time crying, fighting, and moaning over her situation than actually getting it done. Once she made up her mind the homework was completed in less than 30 minutes. 

Justin and Phillip worked on repairing some damage to the roof the lovely Catalpa tree wreaked on some roof tiles. Phillip was thrilled to cut branches away from the roof. Justin showed Phillip how to repair roof tiles with new roofing paper, tar, and shingles. 

Sara and Dusty’s driveway Halloween party was quite a draw this year. With the rain pouring down lots of folks stopped for hot chocolate and enjoy a few dry moments under the tents. Phillip’s band of merry men made me laugh so hard. The boys were huddled together examining Bodhe’s buckets, turning it about, reading words on the bottom, knocking on it, and eventually yelling into the bottom and then the top of the bucket. It was like watching a band of apes discovering a bucket for the first time. Tickled my funny bones. I walked about the neighborhood with the girls. We made it almost all the way around when the rain really started to fall in earnest. I drove them around in the van for another 30 minutes before we were done for the evening at 7:15 pm. Comfy jammies were the cure for the chills at that point! It was lovely. Amelia called for a while because Halloween is a holiday. She said Sister Rodriguez and Amelia dressed up as the girls from Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Cute. 

Today in church a new EQ president, Brother Flake, was called. Directly after that event, a new YW presidency was called. Basically, Sister Lott took Sister Potter’s place as president and a new secretary was called. The girls were all in a flutter over that change. I taught a RS lesson on Elder Sikahema’s talk: Prophets, Seers, and Revelators. His talk was so, so good.