Happy Haunting

Halloween was a blast. We were all set earlier in the month for Audrey to be a witch and Claire to be a bunny, but I found the Madeline costume and couldn't resist. The sale rack at Joann's yielded a dirt cheap nun's costume so I was Miss Clavel. Mark bought his goggle eyes in Korea. We went to the trunk or treat at church Saturday night. Sunday we carved our pumpkins. I used a knife and spoon; Mark used his power tools. Halloween morning we were off to school for the costume parade and Audrey's class party. The school looks so different crowded with adults and children in colorful costumes. Audrey's party was packed with activities and crafts, relay races and bingo.

Dinner was brown rice and vegetarian chili so I could feel good about letting the kids gorge on sweets for the rest of the night - which they did with enthusiasm. I found the wrapper of a full size Snickers bar in Audrey's bag. When I asked her if she'd eaten the whole thing she looked thrilled - her eyes lit up and she proudly said "YES!" I took the girls out first. We trick or treated with a group of kids and parents from our neighborhood. One of my friends commented that Claire was making pretty good time this year compared to last year. It's true, she had much more interest and much more stamina for trick or treating. She kept up with her sister and the other bigger kids, and I laughed so hard when she came tearing down somebody's driveway determinedly yelling "Next house, here I come!"

The girls ended up bringing home more candy than I bought to give away - not such a bargain for our teeth, but our stomachs are enjoying it. They emptied their bags out twice and went back for more. Mark took Audrey out for a last lap around the next block while Claire and I handed out our rapidly dwindling candy. I pilfered the cheap stuff from her bag to give away when we ran out. I can't stand the thought of her eating Nerds or Bazooka anyway.

Halloween is such a wonderful, selfish holiday. It's fun to carve pumpkins and give out candy, but that's not the best part. The best part was hearing Claire's gleeful charge and watching Audrey's silhouette against the orange light of the streetlamps - her skirts flying and her hand on her hat - dashing from house to house. It gives me a proud feeling deep inside because I know they understand what the holiday is really all about: free candy.