1st Annual LCN Halloween Party

Now that I am a parent I've realized that Halloween isn't what it used to be. Long gone are the days of trick-or-treating in random neighborhoods and eating candy from strangers. As my kids are getting a little older, I decided to turn to my community of friends and co-workers at Children's Hospital in order to start what I hope will be a new Halloween tradition. A crew of people from several of our research labs decorated the entire 6th floor yesterday afternoon in preparation for 25+ kids and their parents to descend for trick-or-treating at 4:00 today.

For our costumes, Zoe was an angel,

And Silas was a devil.

Honestly, it would have been more reflective of personalities and temperament for the costumes to be reversed, but Silas wasn't too keen on wearing wings and a halo. I velcro'd the pitchfork to his back and was amazed he left the hat on as long as he did. Click here to see our costumes last year!

A bunch of lab members baked many delicious things,

And there was a bubble machine and disco ball that all the kids loved!

So many friends and co-workers came to the party!

Thatcher was the cutest little lion,

And big brother Oliver was a firefighter (excuse me, Fire Chief!).

Viella was a kitty cat,

Ellie was a princess, Logan was a monster, and Caroline was Dorothy.

Lilah was bat girl and Wyatt was spider man.

And Lukas was a dinosaur.

There were so many cute costumes that I didn't catch on camera. In total we had FIVE sets of twins in attendance (Lilah & Wyatt, 7 months; Noelle & Kian, 1 year, Silas & Zoe, 2 years, Tibor & Max, 2 years, and Dani and Sierra, 8 years)!!! 

The intent of the party was for the kids to trick-or-treat up and down the halls of our floor. 

I don't know about the other kids, but Silas & Zoe didn't make it past the main lab area.

Many kids stopped to play in our toy room!

Maybe S and/or Z will want to be scientists next year :-)

Many, many thanks going out to the LCN crew for decorating, setting up, baking, humoring, and cleaning up from the party! I am also thankful to have such amazing powers-that-be (Chuck, Lenny & Sandy) who gave their stamp of approval (and monetary support) for this event!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!