The Halloween Blog

Halloween was a lot of fun this year.

I have to admit that going into it, I was really nervous. Anyone that knows me knows that my kids and I do not have a good repoire when we go out together without Shaun. Sometimes we can't even make it through a day at home together but most of that is just part of being family I think.

Anyway, so Halloween. I had no idea what to do with them exactly. Jake had his costume from last year, we borrowed one for Mycah so that left Sage to buy for. The only stipulation she had was that she wanted a dress, so after going through the craft department to the costumes at Wal mart, she decided to be a go go girl. Neither one of us knew what that was exactly, but it had a dress, hat, and boot covers so it was all good.

I went back and forth between taking them to a church function we've gone to in the past and just going trick or treating, then it was do we go t or t at the mall, or go to the neighborhoods up the hill... I've never been in Halloween traffic in CA, but I was stuck in it once in Jax so I decided not to drive anywhere. Up the hill it was.

I took several things, just in case: the double stroller, a flashlight, and the umbrella. I forgot that if there is a seat available, my kids will sit in it regardless. (like, regardless that the person who has to push them is 7 months pregnant and that is a very steep hill we are going up) There were a few times I just stopped pushing and made everyone get out for a little while. Those times were nice.

The houses were a lot further up than I remembered but we got there and all was well. They went to several houses where their friends live, so they loved that. I don't know how many houses we went to but we were just getting started, I figured, and they already had a really generous spread of candy.

Then we got to go up this little pathway that goes in and out of the neighborhood. This was our second group of houses. I thought it was pretty well lit but I was all alone on that feeling. They were glad to get back onto the street and hit some more places.

Then the trouble began. Jake had to pee. He is never quiet about it which is a little embarrassing but at the same time its better to make him ask twice to be sure he's not just bored.

Through the next five houses or so, he kept telling me he had to go potty. I was really clueless because if I walked back down that hill, there was no going back up again. I also felt really bad because he was starting to walk funny.

I have to add that at some point, Sage said "I have to go potty, but I'm not saying anything about it. I don't even feel like I have to go potty!"

So, for lack of options, we went back on that little path and I pulled down his costume (next year he's getting a two piece, btw) and let him go right there on the sidewalk. No one was around and it was dark so I didn't see the purpose in making him hold it any longer.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Sage had taken her shoes off long ago, and was just walking with the shoe covers of her costume on her legs.

So we re enter this neighborhood further up, and I asked how many more houses they wanted to do before we went to see Shaun at work, and they said one. I think we did four more because they were on our way out and then began the long walk back down the hill.

That was when Mycah decided her shoes hurt her feet.

I don't get it...they wouldn't wear shoes that I knew fit them, they both wanted dress shoes, and Mycah picked ones that she had long ago decided were too small and Sage usually wears to school. But, to give her credit, she did wear them without complaint for about an hour and a half.

Anyway, so she took off her shoes and socks and started to walk barefoot. I guess they are a lot different than I am because they have never really been out barefoot and I walk everywhere that its legal without shoes on.

Sage and Jake were both in the stroller at this point, but Sage agreed to put on Mycahs shoes and let her ride. I was glad Sage agreed but Mycah is a lot heavier than she looks, even going downhill. I was really regretting going to Dominoes and considering walking home and getting the van, but I knew as soon as I saw that gate my body was going to give out and we were going home, so we walked. And it felt like we would never get there. And a lot of whining was going on.

I did get them to the point where I could say "what are we doing when we get home?" and they would reply "leave mom alone and we can have two pieces of candy" Thats how you know you are being just the right amount of repetitive. :)

Anyway, so we saw Shaun for like 5 seconds and then we sat on a bench for about 5 or 10 minutes before we began the long walk home. I was really hoping we had timed it where he was just getting off and could give us a ride back but it didn't work that way.

We left that evening at 5:30 and got back at 8. I didn't know it had been that long, but they got tons of candy and had a lot of fun so it worth the exhaustion.

That brings me to Saturday. There was a seminary appreciation day for the kids so we were able to drop them off and go out for our anniversary (8 years on Thursday) I was looking forward to it until it hit me that we would be leaving Jake who has really never been left anywhere. I got a little choked up when asking the guy who was taking him if Jake could go in the room with Sage if he got upset. Turned out him and Sage were in the room together anyway so that made me feel better. Jake was nervous too when we said good bye and walked away. Poor guy. But I think he was fine after that.

Meanwhile, Shaun and I went to the mall to check out the movies. Nothing good there, so we went to Fridays then walked around the mall for a few hours. It was a lot of fun.