My kids may be rapidly creeping up on 2½, but this year felt like our first real Halloween.
Year One was a nightmare. Not yet three months old, I remember it being one of those hellish, screamy newborn days. Traffic was awful and M was super late coming home from work. I couldn’t calm the babies down. Between the drool and the spitup, they had long-since ditched their Halloween onesies. I was just glad when it was over.
Year Two, we actually bought costumes. The kids even wore them! And kept the hats on and everything! But they were still awfully young, had no way of understanding candy or trick-or-treating or anything, and kids didn’t start going door-to-door in our neighborhood until after my young toddlers’ bedtime. Ah well.
But this, Year Three, now this is a little bit of actual Halloween. Costumes have been worn for several practice occasions and are much-loved. Books about pumpkins and costumes and trick-or-treating have been read (and frequently requested) at bedtime. They love their “candy bags,” and have been practicing saying “Trick or Treat! Thank You! Happy Halloween!” for weeks.
This morning, we carved our first family pumpkin, and the kids were enthralled. “It’s a jack-o-wantern, Mommy!”, cried Daniel. Rebecca fed our kitty-cat pumpkin some of her cookies and announced that the jack-o-lantern “wikes it.”
After nap, the costumes came on and we twiddled our thumbs waiting for it to get dark enough to start trick-or-treating. One of the few times of the entire year that I have the slightest regret about my kids’ early bedtime.
We were seemingly the first ones out in our neighborhood, and the kids loved it. Boldly walked right up to the door, knocked, and said Trick or Treat in full voice. Daniel then mixed phrases and shouted “Thank you for the Halloween” all the way back down the steps. I had to run back to the house to hand out candy, but M tells me they got a little grabby at the last few houses. Ah well, it was a solid first effort.
Once home, they sat down for a little football and enjoyed their spoils (one lollipop, each, for tonight), and got a kick out of the other kids coming to the door. All in all, a great First (or, third) Halloween.
Love all the pics, especially the outdoor costume ones! Happy Halloween!
.-= LauraC´s last blog ..The boys’ fourth Halloween =-.
This is just the dearest post! LOVE their animation…
Enjoy the glee of the years to come. I can testify 8 is GREAT!
Thanks for playing along, Goddess.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Makes My Monday: Knock, Knock =-.
Seriously, way cute and heart-warming. I’m living vicariously since 1. my boys are a few months younger, 2. one of them has bronchopneumonia, and 3. we live in France. Your photos are really, really cute!
I’m also living vicariously since last year I was on bed rest with the twins and really couldn’t experience Michael’s 1st Halloween and this year we had my sister’s wedding. Hopefully next year will be better.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Halloween =-.
adorable- sounds like you had fun:)
Third first Halloween is a great way to put it, Liz!
Like you, I felt that this was the first year Jack really got it. Unfortunately, ToT also happens a bit late for Jack’s bedtime. We did go to a handful of houses, but he had a major meltdown after we got back. It was a fun glimpse into what Halloween will be like in future years, though! I think next year, Jack can get more into the full swing of things. In THREE years, we’ll be in business. Derek will be three, Jack will be five … we’ll be old ToT pros by then!
Daniel and Rebecca look so cute in their costumes!
.-= Beverly´s last blog ..First Day of Preschool =-.