All Hallows Eve

Ah, Halloween.  My favorite holiday.

This year, I had an awesome house to decorate.  I had 2 kids with cool outfits.  I had a neighborhood that was all about being out on their front porches and participating in the trick-or-treating.  It was a great day.

This year, Julia dressed as her Pink Baby doll (dress made by her Nina, complete with matching hair bows) and Elisabeth was Hermione from Harry Potter.

 Hermione with her Crookshanks.

 Evan holding his Pink Baby holding her Pink Baby.

 Julia was all kinds of excited to go trick-or-treating.  I didn't even have to walk up to the door with her.  She ran to every front door and was the first one to ring the doorbell.

In our neighborhood, we have these beautiful, white historic houses that the higher ranking officers live in across the street from our house.  They have these gorgeous wrap-around porches and most all of the people living in the houses were sitting on their front porches waiting for the kids to come.  It was so nice.  A few of them even were dressed up.

One house in particular, the girls went to walk to the porch and noticed the front door was wide open.  It was pitch black inside.  Elisabeth decided that they should just knock on the open door.  As the girls started to walk up the sidewalk, the Imperial March from Star Wars started playing.  A double bladed, red light saber was seen coming closer from the depths of the dark hallway inside.  All of a sudden, Darth Maul appeared at the door with a bucket of candy.  Both girls stared at him in complete and utter awe.  When he took one finger and crooked it at the girls to come to the porch, Julia turned tail and booked it back for me as fast as her stubby little three year old legs could take her.  Elisabeth, however, walked right up to Darth Maul and said, "Trick or Treat."  Julia, holding my hand, also finally made her way to Darth Maul.  He gave her candy and she said in the smallest voice, "Thank you."  She was visibly shaking.  As the girls got to the street, they turned to watch Darth Maul slowly back up into the dark hallway of the house.  Then, in a small whisper, Julia said, "That was so cool."

   

 It was a good night.  We were out for maybe an hour and the girls got to see their neighborhood friends all dressed up.  And, oh my goodness, the haul of candy they brought home is the most ever.

The girls have already started talking about what they will be for Halloween next year (because they are my children and love to plan their costumes early). I love it!