AUTUMN

I noticed that the leaves on the mountain were turning orange a little while ago and I've been waiting for the weather to catch up. Today is the day! There is a chill in the air and the wind is blowing just enough to make you grab a jacket on your way out the door.

Something that you might not know about me is that I love pumpkins on porches. I always buy a couple of pumpkins as soon as they are out in the stores. Every year I have to buy more because the first ones go moldy before the season is over. "Why don't you grow some in your garden?" You might ask. Well, that falls under the Thorneberry Tales and I tell you about it some other time.

We have a tradition that we started when the kids were little. We call it the Family Night Phantom. The first Monday in October (FHE for you who are LDS), we make up a bunch of treats and take them out to the neighbors. We leave a note for them and a picture of a ghost to put on their door. It's like tag because they have to choose someone and deliver treats to them along with a copy of the note and the ghost the next night. The ghost on the door ensures that you only get visited by the phantom once. The phantom visits our friends and neighbors night after night during the month of October.

My favorite part is that you knock and run. Brady is the best at it. He actually changes into dark colored clothing so that nobody will see him in the shadows. First, he checks for activity in the house to make sure somebody is home. Second, he puts the treat on the porch and rings the doorbell. Third, he hides and watches the people come to the door. If they don't come, he sneaks up and bangs on the door and then runs away. It is hilarious. He used to do it while carrying Jet and I was a little worried about shaken baby syndrome, but mostly worried that he would trip and squash Jet. Well, we are 6 years into the tradition and haven't had any serious injuries yet.

The very best thing about the Family Night Phantom is watching my kids count the ghosts as they go up in windows and on doors throughout the neighborhood. Hey, maybe there will be a phantom at your door soon!