Happiness is hanging with a 70’s hippy girl and an 1800’s pirate…
We began our Halloween day getting up late and scurrying around trying to get outfits and breakfast and hand-made cards together. Maria and I jumped in the car at 8:17 and made it to school at 8:20 as the bell rang. Maria was able to devour a cereal bar in that three-minute period of time, though – my girl can do anything! Mario drove with dad and got treated to timbits and loads of chocolate at preschool (could that be why he is running around like a mini-tornado at 10 pm?).
Maria had her 2nd annual Halloween school party where they walk around the perimeter of the school to show off their costumes to the ogling and way-too-excited parents and friends. I arrived just in time to see Maria walking out of the school and turning down the street. She looked so happy. Maria has an infectious laugh and just hearing it once a day keeps the doctor away, I believe. I heard it as I watched her walk down the street with her girlfriends. She spotted me soon after I pulled up and held out her hand for me to join the walk (how long will her intense desire to have her mom near her amongst friends last?!). I walked her around the perimeter of the school taking in the sights of other scary, beautiful, funny, and cute costumed characters. Maria wore her 70’s hippy outfit well. She even threw on the John Lennon specs for a bit of the walk. However, she would not do the peace sign to people as she walked by, which would have sealed the deal. She gets very self-conscious when eyes are on her. She is like her dad – she is much better in a small setting versus a larger one. There was a snow princess in Maria’s class who wore lipstick and eye shadow. Maria commented about her saying “all she cares about are her clothes and make-up – I am not into that.” Thank god my dear.
Doris and Kim with the kids
Megan picked Maria and Mario up from school today so I could get a little work done before leaving for Halloween night. I begged her to give them a bath since Mario’s hair looked as brittle as desert grass. Thank god for Megan – she cranked out the bath and had them ready to roll when Jon and I got home. We headed to our old neighbors’ house, Doris and Kim, for dinner. They made chili and brats for the adults and hot dogs for the kids (Mario took one bite of the hot dog and exclaimed “this is the best hot dog and bun ever!”). We miss them and their cooking! Maria finished in record time and got her costume. She refused to wear her John Lennon spectacles but still sported the total hippy look and would have fit in at Woodstock without a problem. When we were getting on her costume she asked “were hippies for peace, mom?” I answered “yes” and she smiled and responded “Good, I want peace, not war.” John Lennon would have used her as his muse. Mario finished soon after Maria and donned his pirate costume (after taking ten minutes to situate his skull cap).
The Halloween gang
And we were off. Into the sprinkles of rain. Within a block, Maria was cold and wanted to go to her friend, Zach’s house. We headed over there and met up with Zach the Ghost and his cousins. We walked a few houses with them but Zach was going way too fast for M&M who took their time at each house. Both always said “thank you” and Mario added “Have a happy Halloween!” By the third block, both kids were ready to head back to Doris and Kim’s house. I could not believe it. I tried to entice them by telling them we were close to Mrs. Page’s house (Maria’s old teacher who she loves) but even that didn’t work. I felt shafted! I specifically had two kids in order to get at least ten pounds of candy each Halloween. How could they want to come home 25 minutes after they started? I would always stay out until the very last light turned off at the very last house in the neighborhood. I would dump out my candy on the family room floor and count every last piece, always making it over 100. I would go to sleep with a massive belly ache and wake up the morning ready to dive back into the chocolate. Now that I think back to those experiences more, maybe it’s a good thing that M&M only have a desire to go to 10 houses and gather only enough candy to skim their Halloween bags. I should celebrate their moderation and ungreedy selves.
Chaos among the troops!
When we got back to Doris and Kim’s house, we dumped their candy (it did not even take up the whole side of the dining room table!) and found pieces that mommy would like, friends would like, and grandparents would like. Mario went coo-coo for Skittles and Tootsie Rolls and Maria went coo-coo for Snickers. I took down the Hershey’s bars and Reese Pieces. Nothing better than hunting for candy and coming back to eat the kill! We headed over to Zach’s house after eating ourselves silly and engaged in some fun-filled wrestling and madness. It is always crazy when we head over there because Zach and Maria pick each other up and rough house like two drunk frat boys. Mario inevitably joins in the mix while they scream at the top of their lungs. Someone is usually hurt within five minutes, consoled, and then the chaos starts again. My friend Amy and I become both exasperated and slap-happy with it all – thank god we have each other to get through it!
After Zach’s, we bundled up and strolled home while I told them stories about Mario playing in the forest and Maria turning into a princess. They love my stories, which I love to tell, except after a night of non-stop action and chocolate and screaming and insanity. But a good mom perseveres through it (although I made it home in record strollering time). When we got home, we watched Big Time Rush Halloween together (I read recently that if you let your kids watch tv, you should watch it with them) and I asked them questions about it afterwards. Maria looked at me in disgust “Mom, this is not school, just let us be kids!” We turned off the lights and headed upstairs to sleep. We snuggled under the covers together and fell asleep within 10 minutes, bellies full of chocolate and heads full of Halloween memories.
"MOM!" 