a real treat

last halloween was probably my most favorite because we spent it with close friends in chicago. we trick-or-treated together with our same aged babes, ate dinner together, and enjoyed good company. i was sad to not be able to do that again this year. in fact, so sad that i kind of didn't get into halloween as much this year... until we got into it.

on thursday night, we sat down to get down to the business of carving our pumpkins. usually, this is a daddy centered activity and the kids just sort of watch. but this year, e was really into it. she spent a lot of time thinking about what she wanted carved onto her jack-o-lantern. scott, always the good daddy, let e be the guide. in fact, impressively, he started out the process by letting the girls sketch out some ideas.

d, kept saying, "do homework" as we did this and then laughed her head off. ahh, d, my little funny girl. once a design was settled on, e got down to business drawing the design onto the pumpkin. she took this task very seriously...

and did a great job! then both girls watched intently as mommy scooped out the guts (they wouldn't touch the guts with a ten foot pole) and daddy carved out the bat design.

saturday was a long day. the girls were both so excited all day long. they both couldn't wait to put on their costumes and hit the pavement. e was dressed as super girl and d was dressed as super girl's sidekick, super kitty. (super girl doesn't really have a kitty as a sidekick, but e really wanted a sidekick and d was happy to fill the part provided she could be a kitty.) and if you must know, they have been playing their roles for the past few weeks... every day. i am impressed that their costumes made it to halloween without any stains, rips, tears or holes because these costumes have been well worn.

and sweet p was... well, a sweet p.

they were pretty stinking cute. last year, e had to be coaxed into ringing bells and asking for candy. but this year, she was a pro. she was ever so cute. she did all the things you hope your kids will do. she rang, she smiled, she sweetly sang out her obligatory "trick or treat" and then she politely said "thank you" each and every time. d, looking up to her sister followed suit. e was very serious about gathering candy. she was on a mission and didn't want to waste time.

d, was a little different. after each house, she would reach into her pumpkin and pull out her newest treat and smile with sheer delight. she was thrilled with each candy score and wanted to show us her most recent acquisition. at a few houses, she would wait on the sidewalk with scott, p and i... all the while saying "scary". and at one house, after getting her treat, she did a little hop/skip for the homeowner and said, "meow".

e's favorite part occurred after we arrived home. i thought the thrill was going to be emptying out their pumpkins and analyzing the loot. but that wasn't e's highlight. what really did it for her was opening the door and handing out candy to those that rang our bell. she LOVED it. she meticulously handed each kid their candy. after they left she would remark about a favorite costume and tell me if someone had forgotten to say "thank you". she thought it was hysterical when someone sang out, "trick or treat, smell my feet..." and just as soon as she would share something with me the bell would ring again. e would yell out, "my customers are here!"

while i greatly missed my friends and our time together, it was a treat for this momma to see her babes engaged in this year's festivities.