Halloween 2011

Last year we somehow totally skipped Halloween.  We didn't tell the kids it was coming, we weren't around the night of trick or treating, and were pretty happy to just not deal with it.  This year was a bit different.  Since "The Western Town" indoor trick or treating event (the cardboard constructed town) was happening at the chapel this year (Sunday evening), we figured out some costumes for each kid (Vanessa did not get one) and took them there.  Violet wore a sparkly princess dress with wings and Calvin was a bumble bee.  My mom was able to come, and we trick or treated indoors.  The "Western Town" was really amazing, I didn't take any pictures myself, but maybe I'll snag a few from others.  We waited in a long line to get a cool balloon made for each kid by Mr. Nick the balloon guy, too.  Calvin asked for an orange bunny and Violet wanted a pink flower with a green stem.

Monday evening turned into the real trick or treating event.  Kim and Randy Costello and Katie asked if the kids could get together and trick or treat in our neighborhood.  They were excited to get together so we made plans.  They came over at 5:45, kids were dressed and ready to go again.  Katie was Piglet from Winnie the Pooh (and had a super cute creative costume, wearing a pink dress with bright pink duct tape across it in stripes).  I realized this was Calvin's first "real" outside trick or treating event he would remember, and didn't really know what to do.  He followed the girls to each house, and quickly caught on.  As soon as he found out people were handing out candy, he was in an all out sprint from house to house, keep catching up with the girls easily.  I forget the kid is just 3 yrs old.  He is very fast!  I guess he'll be 4 pretty soon, but still.  They went down the block on Briarwood to Orchard Hill hitting every house that had lights on, and came back up the other side til we got back to our house.  Their bags were heavy, and Calvin was sweating in his bee costume.  Kim, Randy and I walked along the sidewalk, enjoying their excitement.  I marveled at the fact that I didn't have to hold anyone's hand so they wouldn't trip down stairs walking up and down people's driveways and porches.  Some people handed out puzzles and pencils, which was fun.  Dave ran to get pizza then stayed at the house with Vanessa and handed out candy to those trick or treating at our house.

We all got back to our house and we all had pizza, and the girls and Calvin happily hopped out of their chairs excitedly to hand out candy to other trick or treaters.  We found out quickly how the bowl of candy by our front door disappeared so quickly.  Violet, Calvin and Katie EACH took a turn giving a HANDFUL of candy out to each kid.  Wow!  With in 30 minutes of arriving home, our stash of candy was gone, so we turned off our house lights.  The kids barely finished a slice of pizza and ate some candy, then bounced around the house and went crazy.  We put a video on so they would settle down a bit, but it only worked for 20 minutes or so.  The craziness continued, but we put an end to all of it since we had to get the kids down to bed at a decent time.  I think they crashed by 9pm.