Our zoo crew sans Asher...where was he anyway?
We did a fun and fitting theme this year. Simply put, we were the 'Reitz Family Zoo,' because let's face it, most days that's what we are. Or maybe a traveling circus. That would've worked too. Corey and I were the zookeepers of course, and the boys chose an animal. Beckett begged for me to make him a hoodie costume, so I did my best. We kept the big boy's costumes simple and not too cutesy for obvious reasons, and Dawson was adorable as a tiger complete with a well practiced roar.
We hit the ward Trunk or Treat first on the Friday before Halloween. There was a chili cookoff and games for the kids. While we were eating dinner, Beckett plopped himself down at the table and excitedly let us know that he had voted for our chili (#16) about ten times so we had a good chance, BUT, he added, we wouldn't need to worry because he had changed his handwriting each time. Oh dear. So when it came time to announce the winning chili (which Corey made this year), I sat and listened as they announced our name. Now, it's not that I don't think our chili was the best because, well, it really was, but I highly doubted that 10 other people happened to vote for ours too. Um, thanks Beckett! (And he was so proud of his deceptive handwriting skills)
The kids had a great time running around the church parking lot collecting candy, and Dawson thought it was a pretty great deal. Being three means that he's remembering a lot more this year and Halloween is starting to seem like a fantastic holiday with all the free candy.
Halloween day, Dawson and I watched Beckett's costume parade at school in the morning, then that night the Christisons invited a bunch of people over for soup, etc. It was a nice way to kick off the night before we all headed out for trick or treating mayhem. Our boys met up with Jake and Noah on scooters and they zoomed from house to house, bags in hand. Truthfully, I think Dawson hit more houses on foot than they did, but I don't think we could've convinced them to hoof it when wheels were so much more appealing. Corey and I stayed with Dawson and he was thrilled with it all. He announced proudly that he liked the spooky houses and wasn't afraid, and by the last few houses, he didn't want me to go to the door with him. "Stay back there mommy." My instructions were clear, but I still headed to the doors when he needed help reaching the doorbells. Funny, independent little boy. He announced to us that trick or treating was great, and was so disappointed when he realized the next day that we wouldn't be going again that night. At home, all the boys organized their loot and had fun comparing treats. Noah and Jake had cocoa and watched 'It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' at our place (somewhat of a tradition at this point).
Daddy, 'helping' Dawson with his candy (wink, wink).
Happy Halloween from our zoo to yours! Can't wait til next year!
