Luke was dressed as Raphael, Josie as Cleopatra and Jaden as a Bakugan characters. Barney dressed up as a feisty schnauzer.
Jaden.
Bret and Cleo.
Making their trick-or-treating strategies.
Heading out.
The scene outside their house, which is two blocks west of Broadview, Wichita's big Halloween street.
Outside their home.
More lawn decor.
This is outside a house on Broadview. The scene of lavishly decorated yards and literally thousands of trick-or-treaters roaming the streets in and around must be experienced. This has been going on in Wichita for years and although the Eagle has written about it several times, I had no idea it was this huge of a deal. Next year, we're hoping to take Dale's grandkids to see it. Above, the "pumpkinheads" who live at this house actually put on a little play, repeated throughout the night.
Teen in costume.
Another display.
More yard decor.
First place went to Jeannie and her master, Capt. Nelson.
Dale and me.
Jaime coming down the aisle on her brother's arm.
Carter and his SEVEN (!) groomsmen. You can see six here, but one of them is standing directly behind Carter.
Denise Neil's daughter, Alexis, was one of the flower girls. She did a great job.
The bridesmaids. Jaime's sister Laura is far left, standing next to Denise. The two women on the right are friends of Jaime's.
A detail shot. Jaime and Carter incorporated both Jewish and Christian elements into the ceremony, including the traditional smashing of a glass as those watching yelled "Mazeltov!"
Jaime and Carter wrote their own vows. She is saying hers here. Both were touching and heartfelt.
Jaime and Carter Green.
Our first stop was at Watermark Books, where our friend Callie Seaton had a show of her new paintings. Her husband David was there, too.
This is one of Callie's new paintings. Her work was among the best we saw Friday night.
It was a dark and stormy night.
A horse drawn carriage in Old Town.
We went to the downtown Chili Cookoff Saturday afternoon.
People watching and dog watching.
Chili fixin's.
Chili art.
City councilman Jeff Longwell stirring the mayor's chili.
The mayor holding court.
County commissioner Tim Norton and his grand-daughter.
The beginning of my "What Not to Wear" gallery, starring all men.
Jaime with her beau, Carter, at the home of Elvira Crocker. Elvira, her husband, Dick, and their friend Fran Kentling hosted a couples shower that our dear friend, Diane Lewis, had hoped to throw for Jaime and Carter. Diane, who was diagnosed almost a year ago with pancreatic cancer, died just two weeks ago, so her close friends Elvira and Fran followed through on Diane's wishes to have the shower for Jaime and Carter.
The theme, very apropos to Diane, was booze and barware! Jaime and Carter took home enough libations to keep their friends well lubricated for the next year.
Fran and Bonnie Bing at Elvira's beautiful home in College Hill.
Shockingly, most of the guys -- including Dale and Dick Honeyman -- weren't into the part of the shower where we opened gifts, so they retired to the front porch to do whatever it is that men do when they flee their women.
A few of the guys did stick around, including Brian Corn, who is the Eagle's photo editor and Jaime's boss. He gave a touching and delightful toast to the happy couple.
Two days later, Jaime's friends had a girls-only shower for her at the home of Molly McMillin. Here's Jaime and Carrie Rengers as we prepared to open more gifts.
Bonnie, Jaime and Carrie.
Peggy Smith, Molly and Bonnie.
Jaime opening a card that was made by Joanna Chadwick's three little boys. Each of them included a personal card they had made themselves...
... including this one from her oldest boy, showing Jaime and Carter walking down the aisle.
Our hostess.
Jaime trying on a hat adorned with plastic fruit that Bonnie made as part of her gift. We all agreed to give Jaime and Carter money to help them have a good time on their honeymoon in Martinique, so the challenge was to present the money in a creative way. This was Bonnie's. We had a contest for the best idea and I will modestly report that I won. Yea me. I gave her a flip-flop with the money rolled up to resemble the toes. Well, you kinda had to see it...
Me, Denise and Joanna. On the big-screen TV behind us is an image from a DVD that Denise and a friend made. They recorded a "Newlywed Game" with Carter answering questions that Jaime also had to answer during the shower. Again, you had to be there. It was a party sensation.
This is the view from our cabin. There are three modern cabins at the lake, run by the state parks department. They were comfortable but spartan.
The tiny kitchen had just a stove-top, which I used to "fry" bread for the bruschetta we enjoyed on our first night.
Relaxing on the porch with Jim and Deb on our first night.
A little man love.
Our cabin.
A view of the lake and the fishing dock we shared with the other cabins.
Dale enjoying the view.
