Trick-or-Treating

This was the best Halloween on record for our family. We had a blast - smiles all around. Amanda could not have been any more excited, and had even spent part of the afternoon giving Eva a detailed tutorial about what was going to happen that night. (She gave Eva a bucket, and instructed her to say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You", as Amanda placed Duplo blocks into Eva's pail.)

Amanda was so excited when she found this pail at the Halloween store. And me, being the sucker I am, just had to buy it for her as a "costume accessory."

Our evening started with dinner at Kim and Eliana's house. They are wonderful family friends and were good enough to let us use their house as a "home base." We had planned to go Trick-or-Treating in their neighborhood, which is known to be one of the best family-friendly neighborhoods, and meet up with one of Amanda's Preschool friends.

After a delicious meal of pizza and meatballs, we dressed Eva in her ladybug costume, straightened Amanda's Cinderella crown and snapped a few pictures.

You can't really see it here, but Eva was so excited to get her costume on!

Amanda and Kim

My little ladybug

Eliana and her "cupcake"... err, Cinderella

The whole family got into the spirit.

After loading the girls into the wagon, with buckets and flashlights in hand, we headed off into the darkness with much anticipation. It was the perfect night for an evening stroll around the neighborhood - about 55*, clear skies, and plenty of twinkling stars.

Riding in style

I wasn't sure that Eva would really understand what was going on, but after the first house, she eagerly disembarked from the wagon, and followed Amanda right up to each door, as if she had done it a million times before. After a few minutes, we met up with Amanda's friend, Katelynn, who was dressed as Ariel.

Ariel and Cinderella

Amanda knew just what to do: Walk up to the door and say "Trick or Treat!!" (But we kept having to remind her to ring the doorbell and wait until someone actually answered the door before shouting her greeting!) Eva followed along after the "big girls", though the steps usually slowed her down a bit.


I didn't know if Eva really knew what was being put in her basket, or if she thought it was just about "collecting" things... but once she saw a lollipop in her pail, her excitement reached a new level. She popped it right into her mouth, wrapper and all. I think the sugar was the only thing keeping her awake, as were out past bedtime - a rare treat for the girls!


After a little more than an hour, we parted ways with our friends and walked back to Kim & Eliana's house.

Upon arriving, we enjoyed a quick drink while the girls (well, Amanda anyhow) gave a recap of the night. And little Eva stole the show when she pulled a candy bar out of her bucket, walked up to Eliana, and outstretched her little hand to share her goodies. Then she went back to her full pail and pulled another candy bar out for Kim. It was very touching, and I'm glad that she is learning the importance of sharing!

Speaking of sharing, I immediately pulled out all of the Reese's peanut butter cups for... um, safe keeping. (And just for the record, Daddy did the same with the candy corn.)

It was a great night for all of us, spending time with both family and friends - and enjoying lots of goodies!