Happy Halloween!

Halloween was a great event for Sasha. After selecting the perfect outfit (we went to Old Navy and he surveyed his choices and eventually embraced his costume and gave it a kiss), we donned our outfits to head out into the chilly fall evening. For those of you unfamiliar with costuming ;o), he is dressed as a lion complete with pudgy bottom and a tail. Oh, so cute.

We made our way to our next door neighbors, Jill, Randy, Adam and Abby, while Nathan handed out candy. When we arrived, Adam yelled for his Mom and sister. We were invited in and they gave Sasha a special trick or treat bag that they had put together special for Sasha. It was SO kind of them. Sasha liked playing with Adam more than the bag. Adam spent 10 minutes teaching Sasha how to open the door complete with turning the knob- great, that's the skill I was hoping he would pick up before Christmas!

We got back to more photo ops and decided that we would both take Sasha out and just leave a bowl of candy on the front porch (a Scout is trustworthy but we weren't sure that all our neighbors followed the Scout law).

We recently purchased a Radio Flyer all-terrain wagon with sides. Now, yet again I admit, that Nathan wasn't keen on this purchase. He wanted to opt for the cheap, low-sided version with smaller wheels. I'll also tell you that it's good being the one that actually handles most of the purchasing (unless it has RAM associated with it). Here's my thought ... it needs to be durable, he's a boy. It needs to be practical so that we can take it on camp trips with us (thus the need for the larger wheels). And, it needs to be comfortable and kind of provide some containment especially as we're moving (thus the need for the sides). I know that I don't need to convince you but eventually Nathan will read this and be reminded of just how practical and brilliant I am :) . Anyway, the wagon saved us tonight. There is no way that we would've been able to walk for two hours carrying Sasha. And, with Sasha on foot, we might have hit four houses or perhaps we'd still be walking at this moment if we had chosen that option.

We trick or treated down to the Peterson household (Katie is one of our babysitters and Elizabeth is superwoman (she tries to hide her cape and tights but I know who she is)) who had a fire in front of their house with their neighbors. What a great idea.

Sasha quickly got the hang of the whole process. He would be wheeled up to a front porch, we would ring the bell, the homeowner would come out and say how cute he was and offer up the bowl to him. He would spy the candy and pick the best looking pieces (now I realize that he was going for stuff with cocoa in it) and place it in his little bag. As we continued, he would start flapping his arms in glee as we approached a porch. Ah, such a great event for a little boy - being wheeled around in the mac daddy of all wagons, being told that you're cute at every house, getting to select a ton of candy to take home while having Daddy pull you and Mom make funny noises. Great fun.

After returning home, we inspected Sasha's haul (another reason to have a wagon). Sasha has only had candy twice so I didn't think he'd know what it was. But, you know he's pretty quick when it comes to food items and started squeeling with delight and flapping his hands as I tore open a Hershey bar for him. He managed to stuff the entire bar into his mouth in a matter of seconds. You'd have thought you were reading a scene out of the beginning of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where Charlie has opened a bar and is describing the creamy sweetness of the chocolate. He then presented me with a Reese's peanut butter bar which he was equally enthusiastic about. He then brought over Jelly Bellys. He put one in his mouth and you'd have thought I had given him a worm. He scrunched up his face and spit it out. When I ate one, he wanted it again but eventually spit it out again into my hand. (I have to admit that spitting gross, partially chewed, slober-ridden stuff into my hand is not one the things I treasure about motherhood). After consuming a KitKat and bringing over more candy to sample, I eventually had to say no. He screamed and started crying - obviously irritated that he was being cut off (addiction comes quickly) and starting to come down from his sugar high. Is he somehow related to Toni G aka Baba??? (notice big chocolate smear below his mouth and sugar high smile ... ah, chocolate ... good).

So .. a first Halloween for a little boy has come and gone. It was a great event for him and one that ranks at the top of his list of favorite holidays. Ah, but it's only October. We can't wait to see what he'll think of Santa Claus and reindeer flying through the night to bring toys to good little girls and good little boys. Magic.