Halloween Fun!

Halloween is actually bigger in Jakarta then we expected, but it's more of a weekend party time then the actual trick-or-treat day of adventure we are use to.  Costume hunting was fun!  We found that a lot of stores have costumes, but they all carry the same 3 plastic pirate/witch/princess costumes plus 2 big plush fur dog/lion costumes (these DO NOT sound like much fun when the weather is 90 degrees with 90% humidity all year round!). Because I wasn't sure what kind of costume selection we would have, I decided about a month ago that I would figure out a clever, make at home, costume for the kids to wear (Plus I love being a little crafty and haven't really gotten to do too many craft projects, that didn't include toilet paper rolls, since we got here). I was excited and immediately set out for materials needed to make something fun at home.  WOW!  This was the hardest think I have encountered in Jakarta.  Granted I left my sewing machine in Arizona, but I have yet to find...fabric, string, fabric glue, glitter, construction paper, white paper plates...the list can go on and on and on.  I finally talked Dustin into being a Ghost (such a cleverly, crafty costume choice I know!)...After a little bit of a search, I was able to find a white sheet and scissors! We found a little costume shop last weekend and Emilie was able to find a cute Minnie Mouse costume - so we were set!  

Face Painting!

The Results!

Whose idea was the face painting anyway?

We attended a costume party at our hotel last Saturday.  Emilie went in her costume and Dustin got to have his face painted (I was still searching for a white sheet at the time of the party).  They had a ton of Halloween decorations, a live band, jack o'lanterns, and a special Halloween themed menu!

We were also able to find pumpkins!  We found a couple the size of volleyballs for the bargain basement price of $65 each!!!!  I have been known to forgo the cheap grocery store pumpkins in favor of the "expensive" ones at a pumpkin patch, but even I wouldn't spend $65 on a pumpkin!  We opted for the much smaller Japanese pumpkins for about $3 each!  We even got to have a little pumpkin carving party with Debi and Andy and were honored (and a little horrified) to find out that this was the first time Andy has ever carved a pumpkin. 

Halloween night was a little tricky.  We have learned that most Halloween events happen before Halloween.  We were lucky enough to hook up with one of the families from Emilie's school who had trick or treating in their compound.  Dustin didn't last too long - Apparently, walking around in 90% humidity with a sheet over your head isn't really that much fun...even with the prospect of candy!  The D Man much preferred sitting on the curb, without his costume, watching the trick or treaters while enjoying a bit of the candy from his bag.  All in all, our first major holiday in Jakarta was a success and we have especially enjoyed trying all of the different candy we had never heard of before moving here!  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!