I had written out yesterday’s post in the afternoon, but I didn’t want to post it until I had a picture of each kid in their costume, which didn’t happen until the evening. I intended to quickly add the pictures and post it right before we went out trick or treating. However, once everyone was dressed and ready, we took pictures and bolted immediately in an effort to avoid everyone overheating in their absurd amount of layers. And I forgot to post. Ah well. I put it up as soon as we got the kids to bed, and now today, I’ll tell you how it went!
Last year, the kids were very shy to say anything to the people giving them candy. My best memory of last year was when Dekker and Laela went to the ONE house on their own while Brady and I stood at the street. It was towards the end of our night, and they were familiar with the process. When someone came to the door, Dekker said in his most stern voice “trick or treating.” We died laughing. It was hilarious. This year, however, all three of the older ones were eager and saying their piece, following it all up with their pleases and thank yous. It was cute. But let me tell you, it was slowww going! Rowan was so very uncoordinated, and it took him forever to get up and down the stairs. Of course, we helped him, but they were being so independent and cute, and we liked letting them just go by themselves sometimes. It was pretty funny to watch. It got a little hairy a couple of times when our slow movers suddenly were joined by masses of larger, faster, louder children on the tiny little entrance steps. Our kids aren’t fans of that kind of thing, but they rolled with it pretty well. Only Rowan got hung up on other people a couple of times.
We drove around and stopped at the houses of people we know, and a couple of other random houses along the way. Our kids had a total riot, and so did we. It was cute and cold and happy and it always helps when the kids are happy. We stopped and talked to a few people, and stayed far too long at others 😉 You know who you are. It was refreshing to get out and about and to see everyone having fun.
We strategically dressed the kids in comfy, pj-ish clothing that they could sleep in, so once we got them home, it was a very quick process to get them to bed. The entire evening, including bedtime, was meltdown-free, and we didn’t have to shush them once after they had been tucked in. The house, on the other hand, was an enormous mess! It was covered with disregarded costume pieces, laundry from getting into the costumes in the first place, tags from the new ones, outerwear was all over the stairs, candy covered the island as well as small handfuls of garbage from the candy that had been eaten along the way. Such. A. Mess. Brady and I agreed to deal with it in the morning, haha!
I can confirm now that it is all tidied up, candy is sorted, and costumes are put away. With that, Laela is napping with the little boys today, and Dekker is heavily participating in PJ day at school. That is going to be one tired group! And I am absolutely part of it!! Everyone either at school or in bed means that I can be in bed too!!!