We had so much fun going trick-or-treating this year. For some reason, it was so much easier than it has been the last two years. I'm not sure if it was easier because the big boys have grown up so much or if it was because Luke rode in the stroller and we weren't having to fight with a little one wanting to get down and walk. Whatever the reason, it was really enjoyable this year. We gave the big boys really small buckets thinking we wouldn't accumulate that much candy but even with the small buckets we still somehow ended up with tons of candy! Most of you know how hard I am working on watching what I eat and going to the gym and I'm very proud of myself that I have left all of the candy alone! I've been letting the boys pick a treat after dinner if we've had a great day and if they ate their dinner so I'm hoping soon it will all be out of the house! :)
I was determined this year to not buy Halloween costumes. As I thought about it more and more it seemed ridiculous to me to go buy something for each of them for them to only wear it once. So... once again (for the third year running) we recycled the fireman costume. This year Jacob wore it. Chase wore his Clemson Tigers football gear that he got for his birthday last year and Luke wore the lion costume that Chase wore on his first Halloween (Oct. 2007) and Jacob also wore it for his first Halloween (Oct. 2008). It worked, it was easy, all were happy and it saved us a little bit of money.
The boys were so excited to go trick-or-treating. We held them off until 6:30 and then went out. We always trick-or-treat at Ginga & Jupe's house first so that is what we did.
Then we all piled into the car (including Ginga) and went to the neighborhood just down the road from Ginga's house. It is so special to be able to do these kinds of special things with Ginga & Jupe every year and the boys really look forward to it! Trick-or-treating would not be the same without Ginga with us! :)
The big boys did such a great job this year of walking and taking turns ringing the doorbell. We didn't even have to remind them who's turn it was... they remembered from house to house who rang the door bell last and they were so polite with each other. Maybe that is why this year seemed so much easier... there was no running to beat each other to the door in order to be the one to ring it. They walked together, took turns and it was so nice to not have to remind them every house we went to!!
It was so cute to see them standing side by side waiting patiently at each house. I'm so thankful the Lord gave them brothers to do these kinds of things with!!
And this is what Luke did that night... he didn't know what he was missing out on and I was completely fine with that! :)
It was a fun night trick-or-treating... we went to about 10 or so houses and that was plenty!! Chase saw the tiger paw pumpkin and of course we had to get the Clemson football player's picture by the tiger paw! :)
For five nights straight after Halloween Jacob woke up in the middle of the night terrified. He would either cry out for us or he would get up in Chase's bed he was so scared. After the fifth straight night of waking up I was able to talk to him the next morning and finally get to the bottom of what was scaring him....
... in Jacob's mind this was not a black cat but rather a big, black, scary dragon. While walking past it Chase wanted to go see it but Jacob stayed back, holding Ginga's hand very tight! Well, he kept having nightmares about that dragon and waking up thinking the dragon was in his room. Poor guy!! Who would have thought a big, black, scary looking cat would do that to a child?!?! (note the sarcasm!) But Daddy to the rescue... he took Jacob on a "dragon hunt" that evening and problem fixed, thank goodness.. until the next time he sees a big blow up cat! :)
