Halloween 2012 is in the books.
This was not a year of meticulously planned handmade costumes or elaborate decorations.
Quite the contrary.
In fact, we weren't even sure who was going trick or treating until about 5:45pm last night.
The past couple of weeks have been a bit crazy around here. First Cuyler got sick with croup (ugh!!), treatment of which included a trip to the ER. Thankfully he was able to be treated and released (yay for progress and no inpatient stay!). A few days later Will started coughing. I took him to the dr. on Monday morning just as Sandy was ramping up. It turns out that if you call the doctor's office during a hurricane they can see you within 25 minutes and they're very accommodating once you're there. In a surprise to no one given how they are constantly together, Will was also diagnosed with croup (ugh!!). We nearly blew away in the storm filling the prescription and getting popsicles at the shops at the harbor in downtown Scituate but we managed to make it home unscathed.
Of course croup is a lingering illness and both boys are still coughing. Cuyler much less so than Will and not at all at night (yay!!). The same can't be said for Will. Having a kid with a croupy nighttime cough in the room next to you is like having a newborn minus the crying. It involves being jarred awake every hour or three to a most horrible sound. Thankfully his breathing has been ok and, fingers crossed, the cough is starting to wind down.
Back to Halloween.
The only one who did any costume pre-planning was Ebby. She ventured up to the attic last weekend and brought down Bobby Law's stash of costumes from holidays past. Done.
The boys were another story. I asked them a few times if they had any costume ideas. Cuyler replied that he wanted more time to think and Will was ambivalent about trick or treating at all.
Yesterday when Cuyler got home from school (Will didn't go, again), he announced he wanted to be a burglar. With a money sack for "stealing money and candy" and a striped shirt and a mask. No problemo. The shirt and pants came out of his dresser. The gloves and head gear from the winter accessories in the attic. We happened to have a plain white pillowcase and I stitched on the money symbol after a brief consultation with Cuyler. Done!
Cuyler also invited a friend over to go trick or treating. Phone calls were exchanged and plans were made--without any intervention from me. Color me impressed.
After initally telling Will he needed to forgo trick or treating because he'd stayed home from school (again), I decided to let him go. After all, it was my decision to keep him home (as he pointed out). Fine, fine. He was going to re-use his clown costume from last year but all he could find in a hurry was the rainbow wig.
In the meantime, this happened:
And then this:
No, none of them could really see that well. In case you were wondering...
Whereas Bobby Law arrived home in the height of the pre trick-or-treat confusion (6pm) and several of his costumes had been otherwise engaged, he settled for a more subtle get-up than usual.
Bubbe, Pa and Nana were also here to see the Halloween spectacle. Unfortunately in the chaos I didn't manage to capture any photographic evidence of such. Take my word for it.
After a few quick stops at our close neighbors, we loaded up the Junkaroo and headed to a nearby neighborhood -- with streetlights and sidewalks and plenty of houses. I wandered around trying to make sure the boys didn't get lost (instead they ditched me and ended up right back where they were supposed to). On the way home we made a quick stop in Marshfield Hills to visit the Steve Carrell owned General Store. He's never there on Halloween but Tish (his sister-in-law, the manager) always gives out full size candy bars. And donuts. By the time we headed back home, Cuyler was wound up like a candy crazy top, even though he hadn't had any candy yet. I dropped the boys off at the bottom of our street (by this time it was almost 8:30) and they managed to hit a bunch of houses that either left their candy out on the front step or people who wanted to get rid of candy because it was so late. Score for them.
While the girls didn't get nearly as much candy as the boys, believe me, we've got plenty of candy around here!
Cuyler is kind of a Kit Kat fiend. And that's kind of an understatement.
Note: this was the count of what he got in his bag initially, the total went up after intensive bargaining & trading with the siblings.
In fact, here's Will approaching Cuyler with a whole bunch of Kit Kats from his stash:
They were all traded (including another King size and at least 2 full size ones), mostly for Skittles and M&Ms.
Can you guess who arranged their candy in this lovely mosaic?...
All in all, it was a good night and I learned two important lessons:
1. It is possible to put together a decent costume in 15 minutes or less
1a. There's a reason I keep a giant stash of crafting materials and dress up clothes
2. You're never too old to trick or treat
Hope your Halloween was a good one too!
