Trick or Treating

Happy Halloween. The kids are at the table eating the spoils of the day. 

Part of me wanted to restrain them a bit, but we're just letting them have at it. No strategy or plan this time to keep the sugar reigned in. I am trying to keep the candy and all the wrappers in the kitchen though. I think I'd prefer just taking it all and tossing it, so next year we'll try get our act together and have an auction. We did that once at the Crosswood house, though I can't find a post about it. 

Owen just got back. He went with friends and then they watched a movie. He said it felt different this year, as in it was not as fun. I told him that might be because most of the magic of childhood is behind him. He got more candy than anyone else, so the magic must not be in the candy. I was impressed that  he's was thoughtful/introspective enough to notice he felt something different. 

So here's how the day went today. Corey wanted to go work, but I asked for some help in the yard first, cause I knew a lot of neighbors would be walking through our yard tonight to go get pizza at the neighbor's house behind us. I started on my own in the front yard, pulling out milkweed and putting the garbage cans in front of a pile of stuff by the basement. I'm kicking myself that I forgot to throw out at  the fall Bulk Clean up. As I cleared out weeds, mostly milkweed, I was starting to get upset that no one was helping me. I paused and went inside to get mad at everyone. That's when I saw that Corey was in the backyard working. Ok, my bad. The kids were still inside though, painting faces and getting final touches ready on their costumes. I called up to them and said "no one is going trick or treating tonight until...." yada yada and they came outside. Daniel went to get Owen, who had left for friends but was SUPPOSED to check in at 12:30 but he didn't. Soon the kids were all at work, raking pine needles with occasional goofing off. Peter was my BEST worker. I told him what to do, and he stayed on task the whole time. I'd go to check if he was jumping on the trampoline or something but nope, he was still clipping away at all the chinese elm trees. Good job Peter!!

The other kids did decent, and when both garbage cans were full, I let them all go. Kids went back inside to finish face painting, and Corey left to work at his dad's house. I kept working on this path in the backyard, which I excavate every 5 years or so. 

I used lots of the small rocks that I tossed up from the basement window when I cleaned that in April. I hope I can get in the mood to keep working on this next week after the garbage bins are empty and I can throw weeds and pine needles out again. Came inside to check on Lily. She was supposed to take her final test before she left for her date, but she got all set up, opened the test, and when she saw that it was NOT multiple choice (like the practice test was) she panicked and just shut the computer. She came up crying saying that she KNOWS she's going to fail and she can't do it. I told her she probably is going to fail if she starts it and just walks away, like isn't there a time limit after you start it? She was crying a little bit and said she can't do it, I was like ok it's your life, and Corey was texting to see how Lily was doing, and she was getting ready to leave for Monster Mash. My only requirement for her was to talk to Corey before she left. She did, they came to some agreement as to the new plan of attack (she'd take it tonight after she gets back home) and then she left. She and her date were Mavis and Johnny from Hotel Transylvania.

Ok, what's the next crisis... Peter and Kat wanted their candy buckets. I went downstairs and found the easter buckets. Kat was pleased and happy to use the strawberry bucket, but Peter didn't want to use the dinosaur one. He wanted something more Halloween looking. Ok, let's paint a bucket. I brought some empty ice cream buckets (we use them for storing legos and other toys and things) and we were going to paint it, but the orange paint was out. It's ok, I have paper - went in my room, found scissors and tape and whipped out this trick or treating bucket. Peter said it was perfect. Yay

Peter and Katharine were going to start treating with some friends at 5, so it's time to go! Quick pic. Belle Bear is Elsa.

Corey took Natalie out to Churchill to go with friends, Sophi stayed home to pass out candy. O & D took off with friends, D was a ghost like yesterday, O was spiderman, I didn't get a pic of Owen today.

They went to a few friends houses near their meet up spot, then came to our house to go back for pizza at the Felix's. 

After pizza, Katharine and her friend Becca were ready to go, so all us parents coordinated and I left with them, and Peter would go with the group of boys. I let Owen and Daniel run free, trusting they know their way around the neighborhood well enough.

We were still close to our house when I got a text from Mel that she and Christian were here. Can you tell who they are? 

Answers here for Christian (pic 4&5) and Mel's costumes. Ethan Bella and Alvie showed up next looking awesome in a Disney Pixar classic! So cute!

They went over for pizza and to say high to neighbors, and I went around with Katharine and Becca. About 30 minutes later we met up with MC and EBA and they went to a few doors together. 

I ran into Peter's group of friends, but he wasn't with them, so then I left Katharine to go with Alvie's group, and I walked around looking for him. Corey came back, and then he and I drove around looking for Peter. 

He was unaccounted for for about 45 minutes, but we found him before it was completely dark. He wasn't worried, he was just putting in a day's work for candy. We found them a little further than I thought they should be, but I guess they were feeling confident and brave, and also the urgency of the moment. I guess their friends were too slow? His friend in the burglar outfit was easier to spot, so that was good. Glad we found them.

I walked home with them, hitting the other side of the street that they missed on their way out. Peter wanted a pic next to the Jack Skeleton. 

Peter got more candy than his bucket could hold. Maybe next year he'll agree to use a pillow case. 

The paint on his face was bugging him so he took a bath. He came down refreshed and put on Christian's wig. 

Natalie liked the wig too. She tried to pester Christian into giving it to her, it didn't work, but I got a pic for her. 

We didn't end up watching Harry Potter or any Halloween movie. Natalie was asking for us to put something on but we put her off cause we were visiting with the older kids and I didn't want the noise. It's ok though, cause tomorrow is Sunday and we need to get to bed.