Green Frog and the Monkey

Daytime Playtime was cancelled on the Monday before Halloween due to Hurricane Sandy, so Daniel and Anabella didn't have the opportunity to wear their second set of costumes. The beauty of 2 year olds- they are so agreeable- I can still shop second hand and help pick their costumes. Our second set included a frog (which I just learned was handed down from our now nearly 13 year old cousin, Bailey, who was the ring bearer at our wedding- Ryan wore it too, so I assumed it was his).  The other costume was a brand new monkey suit that I had picked up at a yard sale.  Fortunately, there was no argument over who would be what, they naturally seemed to fall into character.... and couldn't have been cuter... or happier... (except if only I would have let them eat a piece of our Halloween candy while waiting for Daddy to get home- you'll see they're each holding a piece in these next few pictures).

 In case you haven't noticed, Anabella has learned to "cheese" it up for pictures!!

They've both learned that Mommy likes it when they show some love for pictures!! 

Daddy had a class Halloween night, so we got  a little later start than usual, but it did give us the opportunity to see some of our neighbors when they came to our door. And, since I never lived in a neighborhood growing up, I always love having trick or treaters on Halloween!! 

 Bridlewood, here we come!!!

 Daniel led the way to most of the doors (monkeys do tend to move faster than frogs), but neither he nor Anabella showed much hesitation, after the first few houses. They walked right up and said, "trick or treat." (A few days later I heard them playing "trick or treat" with this little house they have.)

Daniel was so funny, testing his limits with his neighbors just as he does with us.  When the neighbors would let him pick his own candy, he'd pick one piece and drop it in his pumpkin, then look them right in the eye and dip his hand back into the dish to grab another. And, if he got the reaction he was hoping for, he'd do it again (and again and again) until finally we had to remind him to take only one.  I think what happened is that at the first few houses our neighbors would tell him, after he took one piece, to take another.  The rest of the night, Daniel would look at them after taking one piece as if waiting for them to suggest taking more. Only instead of waiting for them to offer, he just put his hand in and took another (and another and another, but only one at a time). You had to be there to fully appreciate it, but it was hilarious!

Another funny Dan Credle story- our neighbor two houses down gave out "big" (full size) Hershey bars. Daniel told us repeatedly it was "big," and I noticed it kept ending up at the top of his bucket.  Turns out every time it was getting covered with candy, he would reach in and put it back on top.

 Daniel and Anabella love finding spider webs on the deck, so they were excited to see so many in these bushes!

 In the race between the monkey and the frog, the monkey took the lead most of the night, but not this time....the Frog hopped right on up....

Several people dressed up to hand out candy, such as this witch who stopped Monkey and Frog in their tracks! They didn't get scared though, just a little hesitant at first.  There was a big kid dressed as a zombie with a HUGE, I mean HUGE fake head. When he walked by, Anabella nestled in close and asked me to carry her. She said, "I not like that man."

Daniel, meanwhile, seemed to like both the decorations and the scary costumes.  He especially liked this skull, which lit up and groaned, and was actually quite scary.  Instead of backing away though, he moved in for a closer look!

 

 

At this house, Daddy took the lead, followed by Frog, followed by Monkey (Mommy mostly always brought up the rear). 

This was our last house before returning home at 8pm.  They both complained when they saw we were about to walk back down our street, not wanting to return home after a fun night of trick-or-treating, but it was getting late and Anabella was already mentioning how "heavy" her bucket was getting.  Plus, we told them they had to get home so they could pick a piece of candy to eat.

Daniel knew just which one he wanted! Fortunately for him, it was right on top (just where he left (ahem, placed) it!!