We were super excited about pumpkins this year. In Elise's little home-grown preschool we dissected a pumpkin (who knew all the icky pumpkin strings are super important to bring nutrients to each and every slimy seed???) and we grew pumpkins in Grandpa's garden (pictured later). We also stopped by the farmer's market to get some carving pumpkins. Elise really wanted a big one--"as big as the one from Grandpa's garden," she said--so we agreed she could carve that one and pick out a gourd instead to pair with another one Naomi and Grandpa had given her. Elise thinks gourds are the coolest things now. Also, she loved learning "Five Little Pumpkins" from memory along with a fingerplay, planting pumpkin seeds in her fairy garden, reading the book "Too Many Pumpkins," making pumpkins out of play-doh and even drawing her own "Five Little Pumpkins" picture.
Naomi decided she needed to hold her pumpkin, too.
One of the garden pumpkins ripened in time to carve, so Naomi traded her Farmer's Market pumpkin in for an upgrade. Elise, who was initially enchanted by her pumpkin's grandeur, soon got tired of scooping out its massive amount of guts.
"My pumpkin? My pumpkin!" -Naomi
After seeing her normally squeamish mom go after pumpkin guts bare-handed, Kalina decided it might not be too bad. She liked squishing the pumpkin slime between her fingers.
Elise carved her pumpkin's triangle eyes herself, with a safe pumpkin-carving knife, of course.
Naomi's puppy pumpkin and Elise's smiley pumpkin. It's so big the light gets a little lost.
Kalina's traditional cat pumpkin.
Weeks ago, I decided Naomi would be a pink kitty for Halloween in a costume that was a little to big for Kalina at 16 months, but I figured would be about right for little Naomi at 26. Independently, Kalina also decided she wanted to be a pink kitten, using her pink cat stocking cap and pink gloves and various articles of pink clothing, plus a fuzzy tail we picked up. Elise's dearest wish was to be a ghost with a sheet over her head, and I managed to scout out a slightly tattered sheet for free on a Facebook swap site. We then cut it to size and added eyeholes while Elise very patiently stood still underneath. We decided to add arm holes later when she realized she wouldn't be able to very easily get candy (the whole point of Halloween).
Elise's very elaborate and highly detailed plan was this: Kalina would go up to a house and say trick-or-treat. Elise would be walking directly behind me, so as not to be seen by whomever we were approaching. I would flash her a signal (a "v" in sign language--not sure why) when the time was right, and then she would jump out and say "boo!" I think there was at one point a song to go along with it. Everyone we "tricked" acted very scared and surprised, so the ghost costume must have worked! They also laughed heartily at the jokes we told in accordance with St. Louis tradition. Success!
The girls made it around the whole block, a family first! The weather was drizzly but not too cold, and Naomi caught on quickly to all of the Halloween traditions. She could be convinced to say trick-or-treat and Happy Halloween, and she insisted on carrying her pumpkin full of treats all by herself the whole way. Maybe she was nervous I would sneak something from it? Elise's costume needed another trim around the edges and Kalina was worried about getting her tail wet, but it was a fun night all around. By the end, Kalina would've kept going, Naomi possibly had another house or two in her, but our candy-loving Elise was tired of too much walking and not enough munching, and was ready to call it a night.
Afterward, the girls pawed through their candy and each enjoyed a treat. Naomi loudly voiced her disagreement with my "just one piece" rule (they'd already attended a Halloween party earlier in the day), but Elise proudly set a good example by not even asking for more, even though she wanted more, as she told me later.
A few days later, Elise generously gave her friends each a treat from her own pumpkin. The girl loves treats, but she also love to share the joy of them. I briefly considered not replacing the candy she gave away, but as we had plenty of extra and she put me in a sharing mood, I couldn't help but replenish her stash. She'll discover them next time she digs through her pumpkin, which should be any minute now....
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