Trick or Treat

Well the ghosts and goblins have come and gone and Hallowe'en of 2005 is nothing but a memory. Abby was very excited about Hallowe'en this year. This was her third year to be out trick or treating, but the candy wasn't the draw you'd expect it to be for a three year old. Last year she dressed up as a ladybug and frugal Mom I am, convinced her that it would be a great idea to be a ladybug again. I figured, what the heck the costume still fit her and I could probably only get away with that once. Of course this was all before Grandma Sandi went crazy at the Disney store.

She actually ended up buying Abby three costumes. A complete Pocohontas costume with actual suede boots. A fuzzy Winnie the Pooh costume. Last, but not least, a Cinderella costume, complete with magic wand, tiara and "glass" slippers. Well as soon as Abby saw that it was love at first sight. She was going to be Cinderella for Hallowe'en. We let her try the costume on the week before and if she had her way she would have worn it until Hallowe'en. As it was she slept in the glass slippers that night.

So last night she was overly excited about getting ready for Hallowe'en. To the point of getting cranky. She was really into the idea of trick or treating. So we loaded her up and headed over to Grandma and Papa's so they could see how cute she was before taking her around our village. Once she was strapped in the van she told us, "I'm ready to go to the ball and see my ugly step-sisters." So we get over to Grandma and Papa's and she won't knock on the door or say trick or treat. She's gone shy all of the sudden. So we can see Dad and Linda standing on the other side of the door waiting for her to knock and we're outside waiting for Abby to actually knock. Finally Linda opened the door, otherwise I think we'd still be there. Abby collected her candy, ate half a package of lifesavers and we headed back for home.

By the time we got home it was suitably dark enough to start taking her door to door. Before we left the house my Mom showed up with a Princess flashlight for Abby to take around. Now what's Cinderella to do? She had to somehow carry her trick or treat bag, magic wand and the flashlight. A good princess can always think on her feet, so the magic wand went in the trick or treat bag. So Abby and I along with her army of Grandma's headed out to collect some candy.

Now I have to confess I'm not a fan of Hallowe'en. I don't like people being in costumes, it makes me very anxious. If you ever run into my Mom, she'll happily tell you countless stories of me crying on Santa's knee, freaking out about clowns and so on. So I'm trying not to pass my phobia to Abby, but I don't want to push if she's uncomfortable either. So the first house we attempt is our neighbour across from us. Abby LOVES this family. She'd live over there if I let her. So we get half way up the walk and she turns around. "I don't want to go here." The family's 4 year old daughter is already bringing Abby her candy, but Abby is very determined to make a break for it, back across the street to her Daddy. So I manage to stop her long enough to gather her loot and then we head back to the side walk. She goes to the next two houses without much fuss and then announces she has to pee at the second house. As luck would have it this house happens to belong to my childhood babysitter's parents. My old babysitter was actually there with her son visiting her Mom so we were having a little catch up. They offered their washroom, but Abby insisted on peeing at home. So we dispatched Grandma Sandi to take care of that while Mom and I stayed to visit.

Crisis now averted we headed on our way. Abby refused to stop at most of the houses until we got to the house that ever year plays rather loud Hallowe'en themed music. That house she was willing to stop at. Most houses she walked right past saying, "No thanks, I just want to walk." Now I have to mention that she was doing all this walking in her glass slippers, that are actual little high heels. My Mom claimed she didn't have shoes like that until she was 13. She did end up visiting about a dozen houses, but really she was just content to walk around our little block dressed up as a Princess. She continued to wear the costume after we got home until we convinced her it was time for jammies. Today when we got home she wanted to wear it again, but was happy enough just to put the glass slippers on and wear them until bed time.