How do childless couples celebrate Halloween?

First you make pumpkin cookies.  Because making them only once in the month of October is sad.

Then you put a giant bowl of assorted candy on the porch for the kids in your neighborhood, because you’ve got places to see – zombies to kill.

Then you drive up to your in-laws’ house so you can trick-or-treat without being judged.  Also, you get “the good candy bars” at your in-laws’ house.

You assist with trick-or-treat dispensary because…why not?

And then after fueling up on Twix bars and chicken salad sandwiches you make your way over to battle zombies at the Haunted Hollow.  With paintball guns.

And because you get a free voucher for the haunted house, you decide to give it a try.  Even though you dislike haunted houses and your husband is useless because he has night blindness.

Yes, that’s how these Hendos did Halloween.  We came home to a lonely candy bowl [only the Whoppers remaining] and enjoyed some chocolate shakes.  I must say:  the Haunted Hollow is the best haunted house I’ve been to in years.  I would definitely go back next spook season!  Maybe they will let Zach wear a head lamp next go around?

After all the holiday festivities Zach left with the men in his family to go hunting in Montana.  That meant my mom and I got to eat out and watch Downton Abbey late into the night [while I worked on a slideshow for my uncle’s dad who passed away].

The next day I left for Chicago with the ladies in Zach’s family for our annual Girls’ Trip.  We arrived Sunday afternoon and hit the ground running.  Our first stop [after lunch] was to hit the shops.  Being that the Henderson grandchildren have the female majority, we made a stop at the American Girl Store.  I have never been a fan of dolls…

We spent the majority of our day walking around and going in and out of shops until we ate dinner at a locals’ favorite Italian restaurant.  We ended the night at Ghirardelli for some dessert.

The next morning we didn’t waste any time.  We had lunch at a fantastic restaurant and then kept on keeping on in and out of the shops.  We decided to end the night by riding the elevator to the top of the John Hancock Observatory.  There were incredible views of the city and we kicked our feet up in the cafe, enjoying our Diet Cokes.

Tuesday we started off our day with some Chicago deep dish pizza.  We walked up and down Rush Street making our rounds and only took a shopping break to get a few cupcakes at Sprinkles.

After we all met up for our dinner reservation at Joe’s Seafood.  Hands down the best crab I have ever had.  After dinner we walked to the Oriental Theater to see Wicked!  We had the most incredible seats and we were all completely enthralled with the woman that played Elphaba.     I have seen Wicked several times and this was one of my favorite productions I have seen yet.

After the show we walked back to our hotel when it started to rain.  We embraced it.  Sometimes you have to grab the bull by the horns, ya know?

The next morning Lori, Kristi, and I left the hotel early to get in a few last minute stops before we had to head to the airport.  On our walk to lunch we stopped in Millennium Park to check out the Bean.  Even in the rain it had a stellar view.

We grabbed some snacks at Garrett’s Popcorn and then hopped on a bus tour for the last hour of our time in the city.

The Hendo Girls’ Trip is something I look forward to every fall.  I had the best time with my sister-in-laws and mother-in-law in Chicago.  Thank you Jeanene for such a fun-filled trip!  It was hard to return home after having such a fantastic time in the city, but luckily Zach was there to greet me at the airport.  I can’t wait to return to the Windy City again already.  I might have to bribe Zach with a Cubs game…