Well, the last trick-or-treaters have come and gone (um, hopefully), and I would say that all-in-all, Halloween was very much a success here in our new neighborhood. As previously noted, I just love the strange tradition that is Halloween: of dressing up and going door-to-door with your little candy bag, packs of kids roaming the streets. Then, of course, there comes the time when you’ve run out of candy, and really it’s too late for anybody to be out, so you turn the porch light on. And still the doorbell rings. It’s the high school kids who put on a mask and carry a pillowcase and really are too old to be out doing this sort of thing.

While our little giraffe did not actually go door-to-door, he was very intrigued by the whole process. The first trick-or-treater that came to the door was ultimately the most memorable. She was probably three or four years old, and walking with her mother. She rang the doorbell, and we answered. Simon had no sooner dropped the candy in her bag when she pushed past him, and marched right into the house and into the living room, where she hopped onto Jude’s Kawasaki 4-wheeler and began riding around the room. Her mother was mortified, and we were just dying laughing. 

At first, I really didn’t think we were going to get many kids, especially since talking with one of the neighbors earlier, who said that nobody ever comes into the cul-de-sac. Evidently this was not the year for that! In the beginning, I was giving away great handfuls of candy, which turned out to be a mistake since we were very quickly running low. Oh, and how ’bout this — one of the families around the corner built a bonfire, and were roasting smores! How fun!

At one point, Jude and I answered the door excitedly, only to greet a group of boys dressed in scary masks. Jude shrieked and I quickly passed him off to Simon so I could give the scary little beasts their candy. Jude began to bark at them, basically. It was hilarious!

So, now it’s all over. The candy is all gone, and the little giraffe has gone to bed. We are sitting in the dark, hoping nobody else rings the doorbell (seriously, who comes to the door when the light is off? There’s always a few…) The candy intake was minimal, and great fun was had. And now the holiday season has officially begun. It’s only a matter of weeks until Thanksgiving, and ultimately, Christmas. It can only get more fun from here on out!

Sleep tight, little giraffe.