The Twids' First Halloween

Okay, so it wasn't exactly your first Halloween, girls, but it was your first time trick-or-treating--and what a treat it was!! It didn't hurt that you two were the cutest little bugs I've ever laid eyes on--Julia, you were a ladybug, and Kate, you were a bumble bee. I thought for sure you would want to dress up as princesses since you are obsessed with all things princess, but you picked out your costumes and made it very clear that you wanted to be insects.

I don't know if I should be thanking that ginormous-headed exhibitionist (aka--Dora), but you two had an inhuman amount of enthusiasm for all things Halloween. Prior to yesterday's festivities, you had seen, several times over, a Halloween episode of Dora that more than explained what exactly was involved in soliciting candy from strangers. Preschool also provided some reinforcements, and you two were ready and raring to go.

Daddy was able to come home from work early, and we could not get you out of the door fast enough. One of the many strange things about Jersey is that there isn't a set time for Halloween. When we were kids, trick-or-treat was crammed into a two hour time frame, usually beginning right before sundown. Not so in Bergen County--here, it's basically a free for all that starts as soon as school lets out, and goes until (as far as I can tell) parents get tired of lugging their over-stimulated offspring around.

I had heard that downtown Westwood (which is basically one main drag, very similar to the Oxford's uptown area) had a pretty good trick-or-treat shindig, so we decided to check that out. Heavens to freaking betsy--it was rockin'! What an efficient system (which appealed to Mommy's super-anal-retentive-control-freak side)--all of the vendors participated and it was so.much.damn.fun.

You two were divas and Kate, you especially, had zero need for me and Daddy to help you out. I think you thought you were like 13.....you didn't want to hold hands and you would march your little bumblebee butt up to people without any hesitation before demanding your candy (which you did very sweetly). Julia, you were a bit shy in the beginning, but you quickly got the hang of it--so much so that anytime we came upon suckers, you made your wishes known. "I want red." If you were feeling gracious, you would add a please, but that didn't happen too often.

It was hilarious to watch the two of you go into some of these stores--particularly the jewelry stores and Shaw's Book Store. You were both fascinated by all the shiny sparkly jewelry and instead of asking for candy, you just wanted to walk around and look at all the diamonds and glittering fancy garb. I knew for sure you were my daughters when we walked into Shaw's and Kate, you let out the loudest "OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH!" You immediately found your way to the kids' section and made yourself at home. Daddy had to remind you that we were there to get candy, but you just couldn't believe how many cool books there were to see.

After stocking up on candy, we made our way home, and quite belatedly, decided to carve our pumpkin. Daddy handled the carving and you two were mesmerized--as you can tell from the pictures. Watching you two was such a trip, and I have an entirely new appreciation for Halloween. You melted my heart about a hundred million times yesterday and I just want to gobble you up and revel in your deliciousness. You two are so amazingly cool and funny and I cannot believe how fast you're growing up.

Smooches.