Halloween Shenanigans

We are ankle-deep in leaves. Such a crop this year, all yellows and magenta. It would be a sight to behold, if we didn't have to rake the stupid things to the curb, over and over, days upon days on end. If only there were a simple, aesthetically-pleasing means to compost them. Not practical, I'm afraid, in a world of houses cheek-by-jowl.

Of course, leaves put me in a Halloween state of mind. Confession: I love candy! I love dress up! I love the kids (as long as they are small and marginally appreciative)! With glee, we have dressed and guided our kids and their playmates to the doors of Naperville, or at least to as many as feet and weather would allow. Fun fun fun!

And now, we have our youngest trick-or-treater in years, on the threshhold of his first Halloween. And to my utter astonishment, his parents can NOT agree on his costume. (Hello, this child's been on the earth since March.)

Actually, Ma and Pa have determined what Baby should wear, right down to purchasing a costume. Separately. So guess who bought the skeleton costume? Guess who bought the pumpkin costume? Guess which one was returned? (Okay, that was too easy.)

As my friend Mary Fran points out, the best costume in Chicago is the one the down jacket fits over most comfortably.

So as our baby takes to the streets this year, he'll be the cute one in the stroller. Wearing a parka over his jammies. He adores carrots and peas, as long as they are of that delightful, gummy consistency preferred by babies 3-to-1.