Our Halloween

We didn't get around to pumpkin carving until All Hallows Eve. Glad it worked out that way because Heather was there to help and enjoy River's first pumpkin carving experience. It really didn't take him all that long to warm up to the idea. Still, he never really enjoyed putting his hand in the pumpkin. Putting pumpkin on himself though, whole-nother-story.

We've been reading books and talking about Halloween for quite awhile now. I was not sure how much he understood about what was going to take place. It turned out, he understood a lot more than I expected. He knew why he was getting his costume on and he knew what we were going to do. 

Monkey discovers himself in mirror

I am proud to say he said Trick or Treat at each house, though not loudly. He did not try to eat his candy, but put it into his bucket. He was also fine with the pick out one candy to eat and when we arrived home. 

Monkey is ready to score some candy

Monkey's slave puts on his shoes

I was actually nervous to go out and be the parent in this situation. It was different when I was a kid and selfishly unaware of how odd it was to knock on someone's door and demand candy. In Oneonta, Halloween involved a parade and a downtown. Here? I had no idea. Only a couple houses had any sort of decorations and the local streets were void of human life, witches, zombies, devils,or popular cartoon characters. A few generous individuals, all with thick accents, had candy for our toddler. This was enough for us and a one (nearly two year old). Expecially because it began to rain. 

Still I had one of those moments of--how did I get here: a mother living in suburbia where more people speak Russian as their first language than English and their homes have alarm systems? What happened to the small town and the small town girl?

Also, how did he change this much in a year?

The weirdest part of Halloween was the heat. It was so warm. Like T-shirt weather. Poor River was sweating inside his suit and wanting to take it off. When I bought his costume I was thinking of how warm he would be inside it, not that I'd have to put him in it without pants just to make it bearable! What a change. Halloween and there are still some leaves on the trees.

I wonder what next year will bring!