The Tianjin Branch Halloween Party

The president of our branch and his wife live in a development called Carmel.

Until we drove in, I didn't know there were areas like this in China.

Obviously geared to expats,

and still brand-new, so it looks great.

I think I'm in love.  I have no idea how much it costs, but I'm

pretty sure it is above our budget, even though our budget is pretty good.

The biggest problem living here is the hour-plus commute

for Kevin.  It is actually within 10 min. of where the school

will be moving in January.

 Anyway, enough drooling and on to the party!

 We had apple-bobbing (and Chinese apples are really good-tasting!  I don't know

what the variety is, but we've been happy this fall with the apples.)

There were little games for the kids, and a Wii to try to imitate the

Monster Mash on Just Dance.

Other than the food (pizza, all kinds of pot luck appetizers and desserts),

the biggest hit of the evening was the pumpkin carving.

 Once they were all done, they were lit with votive candles and lined up for judging.

 Alice's came in second--but only because the girls have no

reservations (unlike the Koreans) to yelling loudly.

They were supposed to say "Oooh" for the one they liked.

Still, Alice did a good rendition of R2D2.

 And then we had fireworks.  (The first box has already gone off.)  

You light it and the whole box takes care of itself. Just a whoosh of light and a bang at the end,

over and over and over again, until it's finished.

I had been really excited to see them,

but was a tad disappointed.  I prefer color and variety to LOUD.

Alice's Princess Leia hair.  She really tried, with a variety of methods to

do the side buns, but wasn't satisfied with them.

It's been 34 years since Star Wars came out, and it is STILL

an influence!  (And it's easy for me to keep track of

that, since it came out the same year we were married.)