A Bumble Bee and an Angel Go Trick-or-Treating - All Week Long

Halloween has been and gone, and for my little girls, it was a week-long event.

I had a difficult time with costumes this year since I really wanted them to dress alike. If I had had my choice, I would have dressed them either as little pirates or as Southern Belles. (I am nothing if not random). Unfortunately, however, Isabella's preschool was having a candy parade with a theme: each costume had to either be one of God's creations or a person from the Bible. Since I thought I might have some difficulty passing Isabella off as King David or John the Baptist, I decided both my girls should be angels--how perfectly appropriate, right? Sure, we'll go with that.

Anyway, I bought two lovely angel costumes, but from the moment Isabella heard about it, she adamantly refused to even try it on. She wanted to be a "skerwee" (i.e., "scary") vampire. I was beginning to worry about the preschool requirement that costumes could be neither scary, nor gruesome, so I told her she could be an animal. I suggested she be a bumble bee. For some reason, this excited her more than a Max and Ruby marathon. I took her straight to Halloween Express, darted through the "skerwee" mechanical props in the entryway with my hands over her eyes, and marched her straight to the back where there was exactly one bumble bee costume left, and it just happened to be in her size. What do you know? A Halloween miracle. I looked longingly at the preschooler pirate and Southern Belle costumes and instead tried the bumble bee costume on my eldest child. She was beside herself with joy. She refused to take off the antennae the rest of the day and "buzzed, buzzed" everywhere she went. So, finally with two appropriate costumes, we readied ourselves for a very busy week.

On Monday, Isabella's dance class had a costume party. This was the first time she got to wear her costume. Don't all bees wear ballet slippers?

Another little girl in her class was also a bumble bee. Here is a picture of sweet little friends sharing a hug, a kiss and a costume. (Sophia was excited to see all of the little girls dressed up, too).

On Wednesday, I made jack o' lantern cookies for Isabella's class. This was more difficult that I expected. After burning one batch and letting black icing (yes, black icing) melt all over another batch, I had an acceptable number decorated, bagged and tied with orange ribbon. I wish I had made a picture with a phone other than my cell phone. (Sorry the quality is so bad; it's a picture of a picture).

Friday was the much anticipated Candy Parade. Sophia and I accompanied Isabella's class on their march through the church where parents and preschool staff were stationed at intervals handing out candy. Here is Isabella and her precious teacher, Mrs. Linda, just before the parade began. Isabella's little friend, Anna, was yet another bumble bee. Apparently, bees were big this year.

The next day was Halloween. Phillip and I took the girls to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then to mom and dad's house to show off their costumes. Mom had treat bags for each of the girls filled with everything from candy to princess wands to Hello Kitty socks. Here is my little angel, Sophia, with her sweet "Moostie."

A precious bumble bee and a perfect angel share some Halloween cookies.

My little Sophia loved her angel costume. I was so proud of her.

When we got home, I put the girls down for their naps and carved our jack o' lantern. Here's the end result after nearly two hours of work. Think Indiana Jones reaching for a diamond in a haunted mine--or something like that.

After their naps, I got the girls ready to go trick-or-treating. Here's my little bumble bee, green plastic jack o' lantern in hand, ready to get the show on the road.

Sophia is ready, too!

My little girls, loaded up in their wagon, and ready to go.

Grammy and Papaw came over to see the girls in their costumes and to give them candy before we left.

Daddy with his two not-so-"skerwee" girls at a neighbor's house.

On to the next house!

Double-fisted candy-eaters. Oh, right...like I could have kept them out of their goodies before we got home.

The rain started back a little while later, so we headed home. I made dinner and Phillip sat on the porch handing out candy. Even after we returned, we still had over 150 trick-or-treaters who came by in the rain.

My girls had such a fun week. In addition to all the Halloween fun, the girls got to meet their first baby cousin. My sister-in-law gave birth on the 28th to a BEAUTIFUL baby girl, Avery. My girls were amazed by her, although Isabella thought the baby would already be a big girl like her and ready to play. I know they are going to be such good friends as they grow up. What an exciting week!