Question Of The Night

What is it about Halloween that draws us to eat crap that we wouldn't otherwise want? I would never head for a Twix if I were in need of a chocolate fix (milk duds all the way!)...but the mini one that I just had? NEED MORE.

As is evidenced by the four other empty wrappers next to me.

Damnit.

Halloween

I've never been a big fan of Halloween. Fall, yes, but I've just never gotten into the Holiday itself.

Each year since the Muffins were born, someone always inquires as to whether or not we were taking them trick or treating for Halloween. Now, I understand that if you have older children it becomes more than likely that a baby gets to go along for the ride...but when you don't? Why rush it? Yes, there are super cute baby and toddler Halloween costumes, but what's a 1 or 2 year-old going to do with all that candy (I know! It's really for the parents!). I was conflicted about this year, though, and wasn't sure if maybe this should be the kids' "first" Halloween.

I decided against it. Mostly because they're still small and we don't need anymore candy around the house than we already have (and holy hell we have a lot of leftover candy - I think I just need to move into the gym for the next few months).

I think 3 1/2 is a fine age to start the yearly hell that is choosing a costume and trolling the neighborhood - a very popular neighborhood, mind you - for candy while dodging obnoxious teenagers who think they're all that and then some. That said, we did take the kidlets out tonight to walk around with my sister, N, and her family while my niece and nephew went trick or treating. They had a blast! Actually, I think "blast" might be a bit of an understatement. Liam pretty much ran the entire way, exhausting both my sister and her husband and, actually, my nephew (who's only 10 and should have endless energy for this sort of stuff, right?). Ella was so excited whenever we came upon a house with a pumpkin. And...guess how many houses had pumpkins?! A TON. She announced each and every pumpkin and was also narrating the Obama signs that she happened to notice along the way. She did get frightened by a couple of the more elaborate displays put on by some people in the neighborhood, but both of the kids had so much fun that I'm actually, a little bit, in just the teensiest way, potentially looking forward to next year.

And...I think I already know what I want to kids to be. But you'll just have to wait a year to see what's cooking in my little brain.

Here I Go Again

I've decided to do NaBloPoMo again, even though I'm a totally lame, boring ass blogger. I feel as though I need to get into some sort of writing habit and that I might be able to pay more attention to this now.

So...coming soon: a story of two firsts that I would have gladly waited for. Our first kid-necessitated visit to the ER and my daughter's first hair cut (without my permission!).

Ella's A Chatterbug

Recently heard around our house...

• "Daddy brought me my water in my bed last night, Nana. Oh it was so sweet!"
  
• Upon waking up after her brother, and discovering that he was not in their bedroom: "Mama, where Liam? (After seeing him at the top of the stairs waiting for her.) Oh there he is! I so happy now!"
• "I big!" Now, if you ask her if she's a big girl? "No, I Ella!"
• "I need to watch football with Nana." (Which has happened only once and just cracks us up since we're not really sports fans.)
• "Oh! Sign! Barack Obama!" (After seeing the new Obama/Biden sign in our lawn.)
• "I need to go to restaurant. I need to color." (A typical request. She knows that she and Liam are given crayons when we go out to eat, so now every car ride incorporates some element of her requesting to go out to eat in order to color somewhere other than in the house. No, we don't give in all that often.)
• "Mmmm! Delicious!" (After trying some of J's tapioca with whipped cream and also after trying some peach salsa which is rather spicy. I was shocked that she liked the salsa.)

She keeps us on our toes with all of her chattering.

12

Happy Anniversary, my love.