Happy Halloween!

Halloween here at Pretty Eagle on Monday was a blast. In the morning we took grades K-4 trick-or-treating at Crow Agency. They got to trick-or-treat at some tribal offices, the college, the post office, and a bunch of stores and gas stations. It was like a big long trick-or-treat parade.



The first building was totally decorated so it was like walking through a haunted house... so cool!



In the afternoon we had a Halloween party in the classroom (oh man, we had 5 different varieties of cake/cupcakes brought in!) Luckily they got to let out their sugar highs at a Halloween dance in the little community room we have. The kindergarten teacher's husband came in to DJ and they decorated real cool... it was awesome (I think I had as much fun as the kids!)



After school was yet another Halloween Party- the 5th-8th grade kids had a bigger dance in the gym, so we went to help and hang out. Since most of the middle schoolers were 'too cool' to dance, the little kids dance was more fun, but it was still a good time. (They haven't ever had many dances so we're going to help put on a few more this year, like a Winter Ball and Spring Fling and stuff.)



One of the other things that happens around here for Halloween each year are masquerades- they go on for the whole week before Halloween and are a very big part of the culture. We went to the last one the night after Halloween. All I can say is... oh my. It was the most bizzare thing I've ever been to. Participants dress up in ridiculous costumes (mostly young men dressing up like crazy-looking women and stuff their backsides really big) and full-face masks, and they dance around this gym. It sort fo resembles a pow-wow, except they dance really goofy to modern music and try to be the weirdest/funniest dancers. It's hard to describe why it's so funny but I laughed the whole time. They usually pick on audience members as well and one of them made Don come out and dance... it was hilarious!! The middle schoolers he works with won't let him live it down ;)

We sat with one of the families we know from school and bunch of our favorite kids, so it made it even more fun. I couldn't believe there were so many little kids there, all the way until midnight! I was so tired the next day at school but most of the kids had been at the masquerade as well and were still there bright and early. I guess they're used to it! I was so glad we went and could finally understand what their masquerades truly are!


p.s. I was Princess Lolly from Candyland for Halloween... the kids loved it! I made it homemade with an old dance costume. (I'll try to find some pictures of me dressed actually dressed up at school..)