What a strange holiday. Let me preface by
saying Halloween is not my favorite of the holidays, but I do
my best, especially now with kids. In the last week or so Lex
has learned about skeletons, ghosts, grave yards, spiders, and
candy. All about candy. Alan’s mom got him a book that just
names candies and treats. He, of course, has the book memorized
already. Fortunately this year he’s just learning words. I have
no idea how I’m going to explain things next year when he asks
why he’s getting cards with skeletons on them.

All that said, we had a good day today. We
went to a special Halloween playgroup this morning. Lex didn’t
want to put on the monkey costume, but when we got there I took
off his hat and shoes (like usual) then his pants and shirt and
he didn’t object. I think he was so distracted by the other
kids running around in costume that he didn’t even notice
himself becoming a monkey. I got a great picture of Lex, Eve,
and Dylan together, but it’s on Michelle’s camera. I’ll post it
when she sends it to me. Eve wore her costume all morning with
a resigned sort of look on her face.

Then we came home and Lex asked for a banana for lunch :)
So cute! So we read stories while he ate his banana and milk
and then it was nap time. Eve slept through lunch and stories,
but woke up just as Lex was falling asleep. I was desperate to
get a few bills paid (you can only put that off for so long!)
so Eve “helped” me pay bills for awhile.

This evening Alan’s parents came to visit and we got
everyone dressed up again. His mom stayed to hand out candy so
the rest of us could go out trick-or-treating. Again, I felt
weird walking my 2yr old around the neighborhood with the sole
purpose of collecting candy. We tried to at least get him to
say “trick-or-treat,” but he usually he didn’t and people oohed
and ahhed and gave him candy anyway. Several tried to give Eve
candy too. We had to politely decline, so they gave Lex extra
candy instead. When we got back he plopped down on the floor
and ate more candy than he has ever eaten in his whole 2 years,
5 months, and 6 days of life (so says the ticker above). When I
put our candy in the basket this afternoon, Lex was playing
with it and asking what each different kind was, but not once
did he ask to open or eat the candy… but after tonight I
think that innocence is gone.

Anyway,
putting my cynicism aside, we did have fun today and the
kiddies were adorable in their costumes. Thanks to Grammy Lynn
for getting them!!

Some pictures:

Lex
waits patiently while Eve gets ready.

Parrish
the pirate and his big sister Chloe.

Off we
go!

Knocking
on Parrish’s door.

So
cute.

I’m not
sure who’s happier about the candy
collection.

Eve
helps herself to some M&Ms.;

Being a
duck is hard work!

I didn’t
know monkeys could read!
(I hung his Halloween cards on
the hearth and he’s been going over to them all week and
reading them, like books.)

Storytime for the chocolate-faced
monkey.