Trick or Treating

We finally had trick or treating tonight and Nicholas had such a great time! We have taken him the past two years, but he didn't get it either time. But, as has been the case with lots of things over the past few months, he really gets it now. And he was loving it.

From 2011 November

Nicholas has been interested in trick or treating for a few weeks because there is an episode of Little Einsteins where they go trick or treating to get Halloween treats for a party. (And tonight he definitely referenced that (and the ghosts that try to steal treats) a couple times.) And he had pretended to trick or treat in our house in response to that show. But he didn't really understand how it worked or that he would get candy. But that boy catches on quickly. After about 2 houses he started to tell me, "Mommy, let's go to the next house. See if their light is on. And is anybody home? Mommy, look their light is on! Let's go see if anybody home!" All this while he is rushing off to the next house.

He was pretty shy at the first few houses, but he got more confident as he went on. Most of the time he insisted that I walk up the stairs with him, although sometimes he would let me stay right at the bottom of the stairs.

From 2011 November

He was really good about saying something although whether they got "trick or treat," "thank you," or "Happy Halloween" varied. I think his "Happy Halloween" in place of a "thank you" almost knocked one woman over with the cuteness. What I liked about that one is that it was him repeating what he had been hearing and changing the script. I had instructed him on "trick or treat" and "thank you," but then so many people said "Happy Halloween" to him that he changed his script.

He did not ask even once to open candy until we got home.

From 2011 November

Last year the first time someone put something in his bag, he was done and wanted to eat it. This time he was enjoying the process so much that he didn't pay attention to the fact that it was candy! In choosing candy his only real preference was for lollipops.

From 2011 November

But that makes sense since he doesn't know the codes of the color wrappers for different types of candy bars.

Between the haul he got and all the leftover candy we have (I don't think we got a single trick or treater given that the doors of our apartment building were kept locked), I think my students are getting candy tomorrow. I am all about having a candy stash, but this is insane.

And my favorite Halloween picture of all:

From 2011 November