It's always so much fun for us to sit and watch how things change on certain holidays from year to year. Last year, we did the usual trick or treating and Kenzie really enjoyed it. Will didn't understand a lot of what was going on necessarily. This year... was so much fun. For the first time, both kids were super into it. Kenzie would have stayed out all night trick or treating if we would have let her (and the neighbors were willing to hand out candy all night). Will probably would have too.
Our Halloween was super packed this year. That was mostly because it fell on a Monday this year. That's not cool. It is what it is though and we have the next few years of even crazier days of the week but I can honestly say, the kids could care less as long as they get to partake in the festivities.
We started out our day by (finally) decorating the pumpkin hanger things I picked up at Hobby Lobby over a month ago. It just took us that long to get around to it and it seemed perfect for Halloween morning. Since Kenzie doesn't have school on Mondays this year, it worked out really well. Steven and I are somewhat amazed by Kenzie this year. Last year she was a lot like Will is now. A few scribbles of coloring and she was done. Her teachers used to tell us that she just didn't like to color. Will is like that now. He didn't do much to his pumpkin before he started bringing me books to read and toys to play with him. Kenzie on the other hand, has transitioned into a super color-er. She LOVES it. She would do it all day some days. Not only that, but she has a goal to use every color we have, I think. Everything ends up colored in rainbows but it makes her happy. She has gotten really great at staying in the lines too but that is a story for another post. Regardless, they decorated their pumpkins and had fun doing it (or doing the other things like reading instead of coloring in Will's case.)
For lunch, I made cute jack-o-lantern inspired cheese quesadillas which the kids loved. Super easy too. Can't beat that.
After that we just went through our normal day-to-day routine until the afternoon when we had to get ready for Kenzie's dance party at the dance studio. This year, since Halloween was on a Monday, anyone that had class that night could choose to attend a Halloween dance party as they didn't have normal classes to allow time to trick or treat (and their competition and show teams to perform at a Halloween event in Altamonte Springs. Kenzie had talked for days and days about what she was going to be for the party but when it came down to it, she changed her mind (again) and decided to go as a fairy. She told me she was on of Tinkerbell's friends. She requested a "Cinderella/Fairy bun" for her hair. She was super cute.
The dance party was adorable. They did a lot of dancing games and then even managed to work in some technique in the form of fun Halloween themed dancing. There were about 10 children in her dance party (it was ages 4-7) and they all seemed to have a blast. The best part was that Nana and Papa had decided to come into town for the evening to partake in the fun trick or treating event with us so they made it in enough time to see her dance party. I think they both enjoyed it. I'm hoping they can come back for a real class one of these days. Will was super excited to see them and the was the best behaved he has ever been during dance even sitting on Papa's lap for about 15 minutes not moving. I would have left him, but we were on potty watch. When we returned from the potty trip, he wanted to roam around or be held by me but he was overall great. Steven made it about 15 minutes after the party started so he was there too. Kenzie's dance teacher told us that she loved Kenzie's Thriller dance and that she does so well in class. She ended up being the teacher for the party so that was awesome since Kenzie knew her. One other girl from her class also attended but everyone else was someone Kenzie had not met before but she made friends pretty easily. The kid has never met a stranger, for sure.
After that we had to eat a quick dinner so we went across the street to McDonalds. Nana and Papa got their food first and we had to wait for ours. While that was happening, Will ate half of Nana's Big Mac. This kid. Seriously eats anything. He was hungry apparently because then he polished off a nuggets Happy Meal. As did Kenzie (she gets the big kids version).
We made it home and changed the kids into costumes for trick or treating. At this point, Kenzie decided to break out her Elsa dress for the evening. I think this seemed like her 47th costume choice for an event in the last week and a half. We decided to make Will a pirate again because it was hot outside and I couldn't bring myself to put him in the Mr. Fredrickson sweater. Plus, they both got great use out of their costumes for the Fall Festival so we were okay with that. We met up with our neighbors and their little girl (who was an adorable witch) and went around our neighborhood.
We noticed that it seemed like less houses were participating this year. We would hit one house and then have 2-3 in between that were dark before another house had lights on. It was sort of sad. Also, our neighbors across the street that we trick or treated with and our house were the only ones in a pretty large block participating so I think we had less people come to our door than usual this year. We are usually up around 100 kids and we probably had about 40 total. We were sort of an island due to our house's location so I think a lot of people just didn't walk towards us. Too bad because Kenzie loves to help pass out candy and even Will was pretty into it this year. Anyway, we hit up a good number of houses and the kids were having a blast. They would say trick or treat and thank you to each person even without prompting so that made me a proud Momma. Nana and Papa walked them up to most doors. Daddy did some too and I mostly stayed on the sidewalk. Each time Kenzie would run back to me and tell me that she got candy. Will would run back and yell, "I did it!" It was super adorable. They were both so proud of themselves. Eventually, Will, Papa and I went back to the house to start handing out treats. Kenzie, Daddy, and Nana continued on and hit up a couple more houses before returning.
Both kids had a piece of candy before bed. They were so hyped up even without the extra sugar. I'm surprised either of them went to sleep at all. We put Will do bed around 8 and he was OUT almost immediately. He continued to sleep through people ringing the doorbell and/or knocking for another hour before we turned off our light. Kenzie went to bed at 8:40 under the agreement that if she heard someone come to the door, she could come help give out candy. Which happened about 3 more times before we turned the light off. We had to turn the light off or she likely would have never gone to sleep as she waited.
It was a successful (and busy) day. Both kids really enjoyed themselves and we were super happy to have Nana and Papa make it out to go with us. We all had a blast. Until next year...
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