Boo

Halloween.  I always liked it, but when you have a kid, it's like having a hall pass.  Everything is fun - seasonal crafts, baking, picking pumpkins.  I'll admit that I'm bad about the candy, and Ben and I have been "training" our bellies for weeks.  When I was first pregnant, I remember putting on 13 pounds like that (snap!).  It might have been the hormones, but I think the cauldron of candy 10 paces from my office door had something to do with it too!  Moving on...


Alex was in to Halloween this year.  How could she not, seeing that she dresses up every day?  Of course, I had a premonition that she would not wear anything that I would make from hand. Alex is three with a decisive thoughts, and her #1 dress flexes with the tide.  I just knew if I slaved over a costume and she didn't wear it, my blood would boil and next thing I would be "bad mommy."  And you know what, my hunch came true.  


We were rushing to dress her before the neighborhood kids arrived at my house.  New Dorothy shoes arrived on time - check.  Rufus in the basket - check.  Clean Dorothy dress that someone else made and I scored at our consignment shop - check.  Argument about having to wear a leotard and tights underneath to keep her warm - check.  And that's when it got really messy.  


All Alex wanted to wear is a well-loved, ratty fairy dress with missing sleeves. And if I won the battle about the leotard, I knew that I had to sway with her.  It was loud, but I caved.

As you can see, Rufus (her dog playing Toto) and the basket were left at home in lieu of Greeny and the Dorothy shoes made the cut. 
::
In our neighborhood,  we have much more than just houses. 

We have the dock neighbors too.

Thanks Dave for making the dock a special place to visit!

It's was a new experience to walk your child around at dusk on a dock without a life vest. 

Ben and I felt insecure watching them toddle up and down the docks - it's like shoving your kid in the car and not belting them into their car seats on purpose.  The sensation gnaws at you.  We made jokes.  And I thought about how we all survived with our parents letting us roam around the back of cars and how they drank and smoked during pregnancy.  And I knew that it would be fine.

Of course, it was a neighbor's stoop, not the docks, that caused Alex to tumble face first.  


And for only visiting 6 boats and 10 houses, these kids' buckets were brimming.  I guess you could say that the neighbors are thrilled to have a younger generation around. 

 Happy Halloween you silly goose.  I think you'll love the dress-up dress I'll make you for Christmas.  xo