Halloween this year was different for many reasons. We actually carved a pumpkin (a family first!). I even made good on my promise to roast the seeds which Nacho soon devoured. And lastly, oh yeah, there was a horrible storm that swept the East Coast just days before. So let's just say, I lowered my expectations accordingly, and in the end, it was all about spontaneity. Since school was still out, I emailed a few friends and invited them over for an impromptu Halloween party on Wednesday. With cupcakes made and pizza on the way, I figured we could make it a lowkey affair and just let the kids enjoy being dressed up in the daytime. We still weren't 100% sure that trick or treating would be safe because of all the downed trees in the neighborhood. The idea struck a chord with others and in no time, we had a guest list of 15-20 people all on their way. Nothing like running out to the dollar store at the last minute for some decorations, but thankfully, it all came together. The kids had a great time, and we parents got to chat and catch up after a pretty eventful weekend.
After saying our goodbyes around 3 p.m., we threw the girls down for quick naps. Elisa complied dutifully, but Carolina...not so much. She should have been exhausted after a short morning nap and lots of activity throughout the apartment which at times saw her clinging to Nacho or me. It's hard to be around so many rambunctious 4 year olds and not get scared when you're such a little thing. But more and more Carolina is holding her own, and later I saw her enjoying some kisses from Kieran and being mesmerized by Hiro's delightful conversation. Yes, I think these older boys might be a problem in a few more years. Around 5 o'clock we rounded up the troops and started out towards Sunnyside Gardens for some house-to-house action. The plan was to meet up with some friends in the neighborhood and have dinner and pass out candy at their place once the kids tired of trick or treating. And since Carolina was already three sheets to the wind, we opted to have Nacho take her pretty much straight there and wait for us to finish up. I think there's a reason we didn't even bother trick or treating with Elisa before 2. The kids just can't figure it out and they don't appreciate the candy anyway. But 4 year olds...that's another story. Elisa was very keen on going around the Gardens and she did a great job of approaching the houses on her own. She definitely wanted the goods this year and knew she had to keep up the pace (unlike last year when she stopped to eat after every door). Being with friends meant we stopped earlier than she would have liked, but I think she didn't mind too much since handing out candy all night was even more fun. "We have too many hungry customers!" she exclaimed at one point. Yes, it was definitely a production watching them run to the bell each time, but oh, how they loved it. And we actually got to chill a little, eat some great homemade mac n cheese and soups, and finish with my pumpkin cheesecake. All around a pretty perfect Halloween. And again, I was reminded how much we appreciate normalcy when we've seen circumstances so far beyond our control. Our beloved Sunnyside did a great job of picking up the pieces this year just days after Sandy hit. Sometimes that's the best thing you can do.
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