Happy Halloween 2008

Halloween was always my favorite holiday.



So I could barely contain myself when I realized that Eleni & Zoe might actually participate in the festivities this year. I spent more time than I care to admit pondering costume options. My brilliant ideas thwarted at every turn by the simple fact that my children prefer to select their own attire, and that it better well consist of comfy stretch pants (preferably polka-dotted), and a comfy stretch cotton top (preferably polka-dotted) and footwear of their choosing.



Tweedledee & Tweedledum would have to wait for another year, but when I spotted these adorable ladybug costumes I couldn't resist.



The key to this ensemble is the red glitter shoes. We saved them for over a month to reveal on this day, and they were blinded by the sheer gorgeous glitterosity just long enough for Zoriyana and my mom to somehow get them into the black tights and leotard/tutu combo.



We drove out to Kostas' aunt and uncle's house in the suburbs to go trick-or-treating with the girls' cousin, Gia (a gorgeous little Snow White), her dad Dean and her very pregnant mom, Kathy, and Eleni's Godparents (also Kostas' cousins), Terry & Sofia.



Sadly, the glitter shoe effect did not last long enough to get Zoe & Eleni into the antenna and Ladybug wings, which are the KEY TO THIS COSTUME. And it was not for lack of trying. Without wings and antenna, the costume looks a bit more like "trapeze artist."



I admit I was briefly devistated, but found mommy strength enough not to pout (much).



And it all got better when, out of nowhere, Zoe decided to let us put her antenna on and wore them for an hour straight.


At the first house, the girls decided they wanted nothing to do with this whole trick-or-treating business. But after watching Gia walk up and knock on a stranger's door and get greetings and stuff to put in her bag, they decided to give it a whirl. The key here was the "stuff to put in her bag." Though they have no concept of candy yet (wish I could say the same for their mom!), they are HUGE fans of stuff to put in their bags.

It started to get colder and eventually Sofia and Terry headed home. Later, Gia and her posse were ready to pack it in.

Eleni & Zoe were undeterred...this was the most exciting discovery of their lives: They could walk up to a house and knock on a door and get stuff to put in their bags.

I tried to distract them to get them back to the house, to no avail. They were not to be deterred and began approaching houses, knocking on doors, and holding their bags open all by themselves while mommy and Nana watched in amazement at their newfound boldness.

Fortunately, gravity finally won out -- candy can get heavy.

When Eleni began to take a break every few seconds to squat down and rest her bag on the ground, we knew we'd make it home for dinner afterall.