Sometimes I totally skip a holiday and happily so, or I make a half-hearted attempt—the valentine that doesn't get mailed, the day after Easter candy—but ooh baby did we do Halloween up this year.

picking a costume

This is a big decision. I totally understand that. But, I was getting pretty nervous with Rose's minute by minute change of plans. A cowgirl, a ballerina, Cinderella, Cinderella's evil step-sister Anastasia (it says something about how much of the story Rose really understands that she thinks Anastasia as good as goody-goody Cinderella), Arielle, a unicorn. . . Lucky for me she settled on a ballerina for which we already had the full kit and caboodle, but just as she was falling asleep tonight she plaintively said, "But I wanted to be Arielle."

the pumpkin patch

I'd like to give a total shout out to my sister who researched pumpkin patches, picked this dandy one, and drove us past Everett, yeah even unto Marysville for the pleasure of the hay ride and free bouncy things. I am so into lifting pumpkins off the ground and loading them into a red wheelbarrow that I pulled Rose from school for this adventure. And we all had a great time.

the peps party

We had such a great time crawling on the antique tractor and peeing in the portapotty that some of us did not want to leave. So, my sister invited us to crash her peps' group Halloween party. The pink quotient was very high. Lots of little girls in wings and tutus and sparkly frocks. Let me add that David looked intensely adorable crawling around in his unicorn outfit with his little white tail wagging.

trick or treating on Greenwood

Had enough yet? Hey, we're just hit the week-end. The local merchants have a mid-day trick or treat the Saturday before Halloween. Rose and Miriam shared a basket and made sure to get two of everything, so they could divide them up correctly. Rose had picked up the "trick or treat, smell my feet" chant at school. But now they have the additional offensive verse "if you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear." I explained that no one would want to give them candy to that tune, and by gum, they kept a lid on it.

carving pumpkins

Um, we have two uncarved pumpkins sitting around. We were planning to go to a pumpkin carving party last night and at 6:00 when we were still not out the door, I made the very wise decision to cancel. John and Rose did carve a little one. The co-op gives a free fruit or vegetable to kids, and Rose got a pumpkin.

the school party

I seriously could have skipped this. It was not Rose's regular school day, so it took a huge effort to get her and undernapped David over there. I think the truth is I still don't have friends at the school, so I sit around feeling left out. I thought the dry ice in the witches brew was pretty cool though.

passing out candy at Mommom's

The neighborhood where I grew up has turned into Halloween central. They bus kids there to go trick or treating. Two to three hundred pieces of candy can go out her door each year. I still get a thrill every time the doorbell rings. Can I get there fast enough? Will they scare me? Will I get to see a princess? Miriam held the bag, Rose passed out the candy, and we all had a great Halloween.