Been meaning to post this for a few days, but only just got these photos online. Riley did a reprise of his bat costume from last year, since it still fits him just fine. Lydia went as a jack-o’lantern.

We kicked off the day with a party at Riley’s school. Both kids were a little intimidated by the din when we got there, but got into the swing of things pretty quick. Riley and I ran hopped a sack race, and decorated little picture frames with foam stickers, but he was really all about the bounce house. (It’s funny, all those times at Little Gym he never trusted the big air mat, he’d grow extra arms to hold onto me rather than bounce around on it with the other kids. But he could not get enough of this bounce house. Man, what a year will do.) Poor Lydia got pretty worn out exploring the party, she passed out almost as soon as I started the van.

We carved the pumpkins in the afternoon. I got a little round white one from Home Depot, with the idea of doing it as a skull. I drew the face with a sharpie, and it turned out pretty cool, then I couldn’t bring myself to carve it out. I am curious how it would look carved, but it would be rather time consuming to try it with all the teeth.

Some of our neighbors had a cookout in their driveway, so that was our first stop trick-or-treating. The kids had a great time playing there. Eventually we visited all the lit houses on our block, by which time both kids were exhausted.

We had a few handfuls of trick-or-treaters come to our door over the course of the evening, most of whom were delightful. There were a few teens with no apparent costume, some of those weren’t even accompanying little siblings or anything. I gave them candy anyway — I mean at least they’re out doing this instead of drugs or whatever — but it always feels kinda like extortion. Which got me thinking that trick-or-treating really started out that way anyway, so there’s no point resenting them for it.

5 thoughts on “All Hallows Eve

  1. They are precious! It sounds like you all had a lovely day. The weather was *perfect*.

    Which got me thinking that trick-or-treating really started out that way anyway, so there’s no point resenting them for it.

    Sean Hannity’s (I know, I know – a girl needs her entertainment!) Halloween message was “Halloween, when you think of it, is a Socialist holiday! All these kids come up to your house – knock knock – and ask for handouts! It’s teaching kids to spread the wealth around!” Not that I’d extrapolate such subversive political motives out of it, but it’s kinda true!

  2. Which got me thinking that trick-or-treating really started out that way anyway, so there’s no point resenting them for it.

    Can I just take this moment to reiterate how refreshing your outlook on things are, in general. Swear to god, you’re one fo the most laid-back, roll-with-it folks I know.

  3. tikker teet!

    Thanks for the photos – adorable, of course!

    We had a bunch of little kids, and although I saw teens around the neighborhood, I had none appear at my doorstep this time. I love giving away candy, though.