Trick or Treat

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!
Seriously one of the funnest days of the year! And for once, David was NOT suffering from asthma related illness, and could therefore actually enjoy it this year!! This year I decided that we were going to take full advantage of the year, so we put on costumes right after lunch and started making rounds! 

 I decided to have both boys dress up as puppies this year, 'cause I like the matching thing, as well as I already had the costumes! The dalmation is from Natasha's first skating carnival, and the grey puppy is from David's first Halloween, I love reusing costumes!
The first thing we did was go across the street to see our neighbour. She loves David, and David thinks it's pretty cool to go over and see her. So we took her some halloween cookies and showed off the costumes.

Then we went and picked up Grandma and went over to the nursing home to see the elderly that are living there. No one in particular, just figured they would like to see some cute little puppies! As soon as we walked in, someone recognized mom and started talking to her (turns out it was my grandma's cousin-very neat lady!). While we were standing there talking, several other ladies came over that recognized mom and they immediately fell in love with our little boys. David was really shy, so he didn't say much, but I think that made him even more endearing! Mom started a sing along, and one of the ladies was so excited to play the piano for us. We ended up staying a lot longer than planned, but it was worth it. Everyone was so happy to have us there, and as we were leaving, mom saw her Auntie Joan-the only person I recognized! It was so neat to see her and have her meet my little boys. Now that I know she is living there, I'll have to go see her more often.
After leaving the nursing home, we went home to pick up the older kids, that were now out of school (finally!) and we all went up to see Grandpa Opa, Great Grandma and Aunt Christal. Usually we go at the end of the night, but then we are all tired and really just want to go home and can't really visit. So this year we decided to go earlier and stay and visit for a while.

We don't go and see them often enough. I love that we live in the same town, it's so fun to have them so close, but I don't take advantage of it often enough. Every time that we do see them, it's so fun! We have great conversation and we find lots to laugh about. It's great.

Peter didn't dress up this year, but Natasha dressed up as a gypsy (I love the scarf on her head) and Heather dressed up JJ from Criminal Minds (a tv show that she is obsessed with).
We finished up at Grandpa Opa's just in time to go home and have a quick supper and take the boys out trick or treating. For the past few years, Natasha had opted to go trick or treating with her friends, so I assumed that was what she would do this year. So, when we were finished eating, I got the boys bundled up and ready to go and we left. One house in, Natasha showed up. Apparently, she wanted to go with us this year! OOPS!!

Trick or treating was fun, like always, but this year, David was so adorable! He was so excited to run from one house to the next and say "Happy Trick or Treat!". It was so stinkin' cute! At Grandpa and Grandma Schindler's house, we met up with Auntie Julie and CJ. CJ was the cutest tiger ever! He was totally into the whole trick or treat thing and had a blast! Except that he kept wanting to go into everyone's house, but hey, isn't that why they open the door?!

It was REALLY cold this year, and some of the streets were just way too much to handle with the wind, so after a few streets, Michael went home and got the van, so that Zac could get out of the wind.  He was starting to get fussy before Michael got the van, but he calmed right down once he was sitting in the van with his Dad. We went around like that for a while, and when it became obvious that David was in it for the long haul, I sent Michael and Zachary home.
I was so impressed with all of Halloween this year. The boys did really well with their costumes and with visiting and with trick or treating. Heather and Natasha came up with fantastic costumes all on their own and executed them brilliantly. Heather was also a really good sport about handing out candy until we got home. Peter also handed out candy and had a good time with it. Everything just ran really smoothly and was very enjoyable this year. What a great day! Can't wait until next year!