Hallowe'en - Not for Dean [94/132]

Just a quick note, as I didn't do this last week.  Dean loves costumes.  He loves that Mandy made him an AWESOME costume this year.

Seriously... it was wicked cool.

Unfortunately, for some reason, Dean has become quite shy.  Shyer than before... nothing alarming, but lately everything he's afraid of.  Can't go upstairs alone, can't go to the washroom alone... just weird.  But, he's a kid, so hopefully it's just a phase.

Well, what happened was we went out to go trick-or-treating and he wanted to go to his 'girlfriend's house first, and see her, but she wasn't there.  Now, whether that set him off balance, or what, he wouldn't go to any other house after that.

We'd go to a house, and it'd be "it's too scary", or "that one doesn't have any decorations".  The best was "I only want to go to houses that are a little bit scary."  Hilarious.  Yet, disconcerting.  One lady on her porch almost 'chased' Dean as she came to the curb to give him candy, but he kept retreating and she kept trying.

Almost painful.

In the end we just went home with only 2 houses gone to.  It's okay tho', on Sunday we had gone out with Dean and Eliza to a few of the relatives' house for pre-trick-or-treating.  Our families spoil the kids mercilessly.

Hallowe'en 2011 [101/132]

The First year Dean goes out and really trick-or-treats by himself.


He got to wear the costume first in the Mall of America [look at Mandy's facebook to see photos and video of the proud boy].


Then we tested him out by going to the Conmee Costume Party [where we got to see my friend Crystal wince in pain during contractions the entire time she was there -- Congrats on the birth of Thomas!].


Then it was a family gathering where he showed off to the Knauff side all his costume glory and raked in a large haul by the generous family.


It still wasn't Hallowe'en yet.


On Hallowe'en he got dressed and we went over to my parents.  He fell asleep on the way there, so needed some coercion to get into the spirit.  Then we went to a couple houses to warm up... still not really into it.  We went home and then I tried taking him to a couple of the nearby houses... still not having any of it.


Mandy tried it with him and they did a few blocks.  Dean came home, emptied his bags and wanted to go back out.  So he and I went and tried a few different blocks.  Or so I thought -- there might be some overlap (sorry Broadmore residents).


He really got into it by the end - though some were still too spooky to go visit.  But he enjoyed getting to say "trick-or-treat" and did a few of the houses all by himself.

Next year's going to be crazy I think.

Hallowe'en 2011