Halloween

Anyone who knows me knows I hate Halloween. I don't like dressing up and find the holiday to be a chore in general. It has only gotten slightly better now that I have a child. Well I had forgotten about getting a new costume for Olivia this year and realized too late that O has grown tremendously this year. We managed to squeeze her in the same costume as last year-a lady bug. But I promise next year I will do better for her when she is 3 years old.
Below are pics from Halloween on the base in Spain. It was psychotic. The Spanish were out before the scheduled time wandering and waiting for the Americans to come out with candy. Trick-or-Treating was scheduled for 6-8pm. We went over to our neighbor's home to hand out candy with them and some other friends. We had a combined total of 40 bags. We ran out of candy at 6:55pm...an hour before it was supposed to end. 40 bags. Gone. I have never in my life seen so many people out. That being said, it was an amazing experience. So fun and wonderful to interact with the Spanish military and their families (and many friends they brought with them). Next year it will be our turn to take O out and about.


Olivia as a super cool lady bug. She insisted on the sunglasses.


O practicing her trick-or-treating skills for next year. She just kept grabbing candy and putting it in her bag.


O is as amazed as we were at the crowds.


A small taste of our street when it started. That blue car on the left is our "Rota Beater." Everyone buys one when they get here as a get-around-the-base car. Others choose to buy old BMW's, Justin chose to buy a 1997 Peugeot Wagon. Awful.


Getting ready for the onslaught. Ben, the man on the carport roof, is the Public Affairs Officer for the base so he was up there getting good shots for the base facebook page and the local newspaper. My father-in-law John is already amazed by the crowds.


Just one phase of the crowds of people that came up. I said, "Uno por favor" ("one please") for a straight hour.