Halloween, Part 3

We were exhausted this evening after three days of Halloween -- that's three days in a row of kids staying out late, and eating at least one piece of candy before bed. Luckily we scored some popcorn (in a glove, with candy corn fingernails: a witch's hand!) and Cale went for it after one chocolate; Cale went cornhulio on candy two nights ago *shudder*. Cale fought off his nap this afternoon, so I was worried about taking him out, but he was fine; the main consequence was that he fell asleep quickly when we started the final bedtime routine!

While not as freakishly warm as last Halloween, the weather was surprisingly mild this afternoon, so we were outside until we noticed it was 5pm. We went to the First Baptist Church for their Trunk-or-Treat that started at 5:30pm. Wow! They had food (hot dogs for three of us, pumpkin muffins for Karston), they had games, and they had several dozen decorated trunks with candy. The kids had a great time! I think their favorite, though, was the apple peeling station. The boys ate half an apple just on the walk across the street to the car!

We were almost home when our neighbors (with two girls, each about one year older than each of our boys) called to say they had started to trick-or-treat, so we caught up to them to visit our own neighborhood. We had three adults and four kids for this outing, and Karston was very aware that the oldest girl got to walk on her own. Karston eventually gave me his candy basket and ran ahead to hold her hand (he was holding my hand, so I put Dale in charge of holding his hand). Mommy, Mommy, I'm a Dale boy now! Well, that wasn't quite what I meant, but Karston loved the big kid feeling, and I didn't worry as much as long as he was holding someone's hand. He even ran away from his candy basket to feel like a big boy running ahead of us three adults and the two youngest children.

Halloween, Part 2

We think the kids had a poor dinner-to-candy ratio last night because they were not as sweet as usual this morning. However, they improved after lunch, so we went out to a Mexican restaurant (one of Karston's favorite treats) and then to the University Mall. Yes, shops in the mall had a trick-or-treat night! It was a great outing, and both boys remembered to say Thank You at each stop! Plus Cale went as Scooby-Doo, so I didn't look (too) out of place as Velma.

This afternoon, we trained Karston to sing Na-na na-na, Na-na na-na, Batman! Karston sang his own variation, Na-na na-na, Na-na na-na, Robin! to Daddy (in his Robin costume). At dinner, Cale started singing it too, starting with the verses for Batman and Robin, then adding Cale, Daddy, Karston, Brother, and finally Mommy verses. Good song!

This evening Karston again said he likes Cheezits better than Whales. I guess his taste buds could be growing up.

Halloween, Part 1

The thing about Halloween being on a Sunday is that it turns into a three-day candyfest when we hear nonsensical (to adults) requests like Why can't I have more candy before bed?

Although he's only 2, Cale has a very clear understanding of trick-or-treat. He heard that we were headed out for that, and he said, Where my goodie bag? and started looking for it. (This isn't quite as disturbing as him knowing snow as one of his first words. But I'm not sure a small guy who get a serious sugar buzz-and-crash should have such a lock on candy.)

Despite Daddy having just gotten home from a hard-working business trip, we took the kids out this evening. One nice thing about living in a small town is trick-or-treating the downtown museum and businesses, and knowing so many of the shop owners and other parents. Karston went as Batman (unfortunately, the only Batman costume he liked was one size too small, even on him), so I made a Robin costume for Daddy. Cale said he wanted to go as Scooby-Doo, so I picked up an orange turtleneck sweater to go as Velma Dinkley with him. Shortly before we left the house, Cale changed his mind! No, no, Mickey Mouse! So Cale went as a very recognizable Mickey Mouse, and I went as someone so fashion-blind as to wear orange and red.

Karston and Cale loved trick-or-treating for candy, but as we were about done, Karston asked why we weren't going home already. So we went home to bed.

No Deer Allowed

Cale's bedtime routine starts with Daddy reading bedtime stories. Then I pick him up, tilt for kisses from Daddy and Karston. After kisses, Cale turns off the hall lights, then his bedroom light. I settle on the chair while Cale gets the correct combination of toys in his hands, turning some in, picking some up. Then he climbs up onto the chair with significantly less help than when he was younger. Finally he nurses, hopefully to sleep or at least drowsy enough.

This evening when Cale turned off the lights, I said thank you, dear. He gave me a scowl and said, Mommy, I not a deer! I decided not to fight that one. I'm happy he's using "I" more often, and properly, now. Karston and Cale know Mimi and I don't like the deer in our gardens...

For the past several weeks, we've noticed a transformation in Karston's eating. The first four years just need to hide behind the colic moniker, before we were allowed to sleep through the night (I still don't do it well). After that, we faced the legacy of bad eating habits, but we could usually manage it by insisting on variety within his limited repertoire. We were more lax while on vacation at Atlantic Beach three weeks ago, and Karston ate chicken most of the time. However, without our insistence on variety, Karston ate more with less encouragement than we've ever seen! He hasn't been perfectly consistent (tonight's dinner was a particular low), but Karston has been eating more food, with more variety at every meal, with less coaxing. So we hope that we might get closer to normal eating, and what a fantastic goal!

Worst. Splinter. Ever!

Karston got a splinter in his right heel while playing outside (on a deck) Friday afternoon, but he wouldn't let me look at it. He was still too scared from Mimi's giant tweezers (they are big for easy squeezing, with sharp-looking precise tips, and really could seem ominous). This evening, I finally got to look. You know what I saw: a really fat, deep, dark splinter right in the middle of his heel. The ordeal of coaxing him to let me at it took 45 minutes, and I let him talk me down from using the best tools for less scary items. Almost all of his "OUCH" yelps were because I had to touch an infected area, not (entirely) from me working the splinter. It's the only time I haven't stopped when Karston has said Mommy, please stop! and we even made it up to pretty, pretty please too. That hurt me the most, but I did get the whole entire nasty splinter out. Afterwards, Karston liked the bubbles from the hydrogen peroxide! He says his heel already doesn't hurt as much to walk on now as it did when the splinter was in there ... I hope he remembers that the next time I'm pleading with him to let me remove another splinter! (I don't have my hopes up.)

In the midst of extreme yowling from Karston, Cale climbed up on our bed right next to the action and fell asleep quickly. Guess when he woke up? Yes, that's right, when Karston stopped screaming and followed me down the hall for a post-splinter treat (he picked an orange starburst over chocolate). Of course, Cale also fell right back to sleep because he does that too. He didn't wake up when I carried him to bed, so I put him in bed and put his blanket over him. I don't expect this to last long, so I'd really better work on getting some sleep myself ...