Halloween!

This year, Halloween lasted a very, very long time.  It started on October 19th at the French school, so that the kids could observe a "North American" holiday before they cut out on fall break. (The Brits had something to say about it being a pagan holiday on their island first.. but nevermind.) I was very close to letting the school know that NO North American mother has her kids' costumes together 12 days before the day.  It was a bit of a rush to get things in order in our house... but we did it (after that trip to the Mayestic fabric market, see other post): we had Zorro and a princessy goldfish.  They were very cute!

After early Halloween at school we were invited to no fewer than six other parties--a testimony to not only the fact that we are making some friends here, but that people in Jakarta are very enthusiatic about getting dressed up and playing scary games.  And that six doesn't count the themed kids activities at every restaurant we went to: face-painting, cookie decorating, coloring cat/bat/monster pictures... and the very elaborate costumes worn by the waitstaff.  Jaffa loved seeing all of the princesses, Eben took notes on the other Zorro costumes to improve his own, and I almost puked when I saw the zombie with the white eyeball (thankfully that was before I drank that lichi martini). 

So we went to two parties, trick or treated twice, and then decided to have our OWN party.  So there.  There was a rationale that I won't bore you with.. suffice it to say it had to do with the politics of living on a small compound of Americans with opinions.



Our friend Pammi (Canadian, not American) was at our party and is amazing when it comes to entertaining kids.  She did the "guess what was in the witch's cauldron" game, but the kids caught on pretty quick. There were brains (of course. noodles.), teeth (corn), fingers (boiled carrots), eyeaballs (of course again. litchies!!).  We then played "turn your friend into a mummy".  There really are so many uses for toilet paper at parties. We missed the eyeball on a spoon relay race because the kids were too ready to decorate their cupcakes. 

Zoey and Emily ; Adam and Toni; Lou and Sri, and cupcakes

I am happy to report that the grown-ups had a good time at this party too--partly attributable to the bat blood punch with floating eyeballs (do you sense a litchie theme?), as well as to the cooler full of Stella and Leffe.  Both of the latter run in the 'as expensive and hard to find as cheese' category.  [In case you are wondering, I was a fallen angel. Thus, the black eye. Figured I would try something wild and different for an evening.] 

spooky jack-o-lantern by Zeric

Remember that memere is still here!  She rocked the house at our party.  She was the queen (you should have come to join her, Damon!). This picture from one of the prior trick-or-treats.. are you asking where the goldfish is?? I was too.  Apparently we had to take a break to be a real princess in a black dress.  Don't ask me.  I'm getting ready for the teenage years and learning to go with it.

Our Halloween celebrations finally ended on November 4th.  Phew.