Happy Halloween

Trick-or-Treating for the very first time at Miss Kelly's House

Enjoying my trunk-or-treats with Claire and Reagan

Sharing Treats with my buddy Braedyn

Trick-or-Treater in Training

"What do you mean Halloween is over?"

Monkey See Monkey Do

This was Abigail's first year to officially go trick-or-treating and looking back now I have to say, she may never be the same. We weren't quite sure going into the night whether or not she would actually embrace the whole idea of Halloween. We did our part to hype up the fact she was going to be a monkey for Halloween and we practiced countless times saying "Trick-or Treat" but even so on Wednesday night during our warm-up practice run at our church's Trunk or Treat, Abigail didn't want anything to do with Trick-or-Treating. I guess I can't argue with my child for not wanting to take candy from random strangers who were wearing costumes and handing candy out from the back of their cars. She did humor us and wear her costume but other than that the only activity she desired to participate in that night was the one where she decided she would just sit down on the curb with her friends and gnaw on the outside of the different candy wrappers.

After regrouping and attempting to educate her more on the "Art of Trick-or-Treating" by doing a practice run on our own front door, we braced ourselves and prepared for another night of dragging her around and insisting to her that these traditions are fun and her parents aren't crazy. The night started out somewhat slow. We attended a Harvest Fest at another church in town. Abigail was a little reluctant to participate in the different carnival type games instead she opted to sit back and watch her mommy participate in the different games. Mind you, the games were designed for toddlers at best, not 30 year old moms. Nevertheless I did it for the sake of my sweet monkey. She didn't seem to mind; afterall she was the one reaping the benefits and stashing the candy away in her monkey pail. Slowly but surely she warmed up and even participated in a few of the games. She particularly was a big fan of the Cookie Walk...walking around to music and leaving with a bag of cookies...it doesn't get much better than that!

After the Harvest Fest we decided to hit up a few select houses and give Abigail a shot at Trick-or-Treating. First stop...the home of Kelly Kotara, one of my Young Life girls and Abigail's all-time favorite babysitter. With our digital camera and video camera in hand like proud parents we walked up to the door behind Abigail and documented every step along the way. What happened next I will forever store in my memories of sweet precious Abigail moments. Abigail knocked on the door as hard as she could (and as long as she could) and when Kelly and her mom opened up the door Abigail exclaimed loudly "Trick or Treat". I know I'm a little biased but it truly was one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Apparently Abigail was comfortable enough with her first trick-or-treat experience because she then proceeded after receiving her treats to walk into Kelly's house and look around at all of their pumpkin decorations. Thank goodness we took her to someone's house that we knew and not a stranger's. After leaving Kelly's house we went back to our neighborhood and hit up a few of our friend's homes. Needless to say, Abigail's confidence and excitement for trick-or-treating grew with each house that we went to. Not only did her loot grow as well but by the end of the night the smile on her face was the biggest I have ever seen it. If there was ever a moment I wanted to freeze in time, this was it. Who would have thought a little monkey knocking on random doors and taking candy from strangers would become one of our proudest moments as parents?