The Halloween That Wouldn't End...Thanks To The Winter That Couldn't Wait.

What a wacky few weeks we've had in New England. About three weeks ago, when Gigi and I ran The Tufts 10K it was a very unseasonable 80 degrees.  Just two weeks later we had our first snow in New England, followed by our first serious nor'easter just a few days after that!  Hearty New Englanders we are, but it still messes with us a bit when we are shoveling before we even get out to trick o treat...and not only that, but to have Halloween postponed due to snow and no power is, frankly, unheard of in this area until this year.  Here's what happened.

Halloween should have been on Monday, the 31st.  However, on Saturday afternoon a huge nor'easter came our way dumping as much as two feet of heavy snow in some areas near by (but luckily only a few inches over North Andover).  We prepared for the storm in a way that we never have before...by carving pumpkins?  Not a bad indoor activity when you can't go outside due to pelting sleet...which ultimately turned to heavy, wet snow.

Lexi and Zach watch in anticipation as Ahren cuts open our pumpkin!

Zach really enjoyed pumpkin carving!

Lexi and Zach worked together to scoop out the seeds and pulp.

It was very exciting!!

While we carved and then slept, it snowed and snowed.  The weight of the snow on trees, combined with the leaves that were still firmly in place, caused many trees to lose branches, or fall over completely.  This knocked out power almost everywhere, caused a lot of damage, and made a huge mess. I was terrified the night of the storm, seriously concerned about trees falling on the cars, or worse...the house! Ahren and I were so lucky because since we only got a couple of inches of snow, we only lost a few limbs of the many trees that surround our house...however knowing that 2 inches knocked those limbs down gives you an idea of the weight of the snow!  Amy and Scott, in CT, got 11 inches and lost several trees and were without power for an entire week.  So, needless to say, it was a mess.

Lexi and Zach snuggle on the couch the morning after the storm.

Amazingly, we did not lose our power, but Great Gram did, so she came to stay with us for a couple of days, while Lexi gave up her bed to sleep on the floor of Zachary's room.  On Sunday everyone spent the day cleaning up the mess (what they could) but by Sunday evening it was clear that power would not be back anytime soon, and school and trick o treating were canceled. 

Luckily, the clean up continued and throughout the week power was restored to the rest of the town.  Trick o treating, as well as Lexi's Kindergarten Halloween Party were all rescheduled to Friday and Saturday.  So, on Friday Zachary and I got to visit Lexi's classroom to help out with her Halloween craft party.  We were in charge of the hand print bats table, and while sitting there with me, Zach got to make several.

Lexi and Zach decorating their hand print bats.

The final product

The following day, Saturday, was a very strange day indeed.  We started our day by going to Turkey Hill Farm to tag our Christmas Tree.  This is something we typically do in early November - opening tag day - so that we can pick up our tree when it has been freshly chopped the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  This was a great year, and the kids had a blast running through the trees looking for the best one.  Finally we found him, and named him Harold Lippman Zachy (there was some compromising).  We wrapped a scarf around him to keep him warm, and then headed home for...trick o treating??  We were very confused about which holiday we were celebrating!

Daddy leads the hunt.

If you don't hurry, all the good trees are gone!

Officially tagged.

Mom, Zach and Lexi posing with Harold.

It was a cold night for trick o treat, but we were able to bundle the kids up enough that no one was cold.  Marcie and Vann came along with us, and we had a blast.  Zachy really enjoyed saying "TRICK OR TREAT!!"  at every house for about 30 minutes, when he declared that he was done, and would ride the wagon the rest of the night.  Ultimately we had a fantastic night that we finished off with pizza and Winnie the Pooh.

Queen Lexi and Buzz Vann

Arriving at Great Gram's in style.

Lexi with Great Gram

 

Miss Annie, Miss Julie and Perri all very excited to see the kids!

Our happy, but tired trick o treaters.

So, it's been a wacky couple of weeks, but ultimately Halloween is *finally* over, everyone we know has their power back, and we can now focus on the important November holidays...Zachary's and my birthdays.  :)