Halloween Traditions!

Our 10 year tradition for Halloween is to trick-or-treat in our good friend, Zejna's neighborhood. Since the very first holiday, when our Bosnian friends were experiencing it for the first time, this neighborhood is just the best for friendly, welcoming Halloween families. I can still remember Samir flabbergasted by the concept . . . "Let me get this straight, you walk up to the door, you ring the bell, say, 'Trick-or-Treat' and they give you candy?!" It really is a wonderful, uniquely American tradition and one which we will be doing for lots more years.

We always park at the Elementary School at the bottom of the street, hit all the houses with lights on the North side of the street on the way up the block-and-a-half to Zejna's house. We must always get early instructions from Bob: "Stay on the sidewalk and don't cut through the yard." "Only go to houses where the lights are on." And, "Don't forget to say, 'Thank You' loud enough for Dad to hear you at the sidewalk" Kia added a, "Happy Halloween" to her, "Thank You," which was a nice touch.

When we get to Zejna's, she always genuinely admires each and every costume and gives the kids too much candy and lots of hugs and kisses. We then make our way back to the school via the South side of the Street. Most years, when Halloween falls on school night, its hurried back home to put kids to bed. This year, with Halloween on Friday, we were able to visit a few special neighbors in our own neighborhood.

A fun time was had by all!

The Burning Bush Keeps Growing!

There is a burning bush in our backyard that turns a beautiful red in the Fall each year. It has now become a family tradition to take a photo of the family as it has grown in front of the bush when it hits its peak of color, usually in September or October of each year. We have attempted this year's photo a number of times to try to get all four kids, in the camera frame, looking at the camera and not crying or pouting and you can see our attempts from this year below.

You can look back over the years at how this special bush has really grown.

Elias is 7!

One of our family traditions is to have a photo taken on your birthday wearing something that you'll eventually grow into and marking your birthday height on the garage wall. Elias has been having his photo in Dad's Husker sweatshirt.

The same sweatshirt seems to have shrunk since 2003 by way of comparison.











Elias was persuaded to choose China Star for dinner on his birthday. He probably would have preferred dinner at home, but wouldn't have had a preference for what it was, but it was a weeknight and none of the adults, or the kids, was willing to cook that night. We enjoyed our usual, General Tso's Chicken-not spicy, Hot and Sour Soup and Plain Lo Mein. Elias got "Alvin" the Webkin, a new helmet and knee and elbow pads, and opened a scooter that he will be the first rider on, but will share with his siblings -- we'll let you know how that works!

Ice Skating Birthday for Elias

Elias turned 7 on October 16 and enjoyed ice skating with his friends Brock and Matthew. Our friend, Mirza came along and of course, Yasmin, Kia and Ahn-Bao joined them on the ice (albeit, the little ones without skates). Here are a few photos from the birthday party on Saturday, October 11.