Happy Halloween a couple of days late. I took the kids trick or treating around the neighborhood on Wednesday night. Andy was dressed as a Jedi knight and Audrey was Ariel form the Little Mermaid. I was most proud of the fact that the costumes were put together from other costumes of previous years and things around the house. This was the first year that we spent no money buying costumes! Maybe it is something that we never did as kids and am glad to return to that, or maybe it is my personal rebellion against how Halloweeen rivals Christmas is out of control spending on costumes, decorations, and otherwise unnecessary things. Don't get me wrong, my favorite part of Halloween is carving pumpkins and putting a light in the Jack 'o Lantern on Halloween night, but spending $20 at Target or the Disney Store for your kids to wear their costume once seems ridiculous. Maybe if I had two boys or two girls and could at least get more than one wearing out of it I would be better with it, but it still just rubs me the wrong way.
But I have digressed and turned cynical when this was supposed to be a Happy Halloween post. So what did I like...
-- that my children looked wonderful in their costumes and both smiled and looked at the camera in at least one of the dozen pictures that we took before setting out for the night of trick or treating.
-- the excitement in each of their eyes as they were presented with bowls full of candy to choose from as they selected the perfect piece.
-- that they talked to me as we walked in between houses and we looked at pumpkins that other people had carved and appreciated their hard work.
-- that they said "Thank you" without being prompted at most of the houses after collecting their candy.
-- that the best part of the night was coming home and showing Mom their loot, sorting, trading, and sharing some with Mom as they drank hot chocolate after a night of trick or treating.
Holidays and children are alot of fun.
