Halloween 2020

For the first time ever, the kids and I set out alone to go trick-or-treating this evening and left Ron at home.  Due to Covid-19, several houses in our neighborhood came up with safe and creative ways to hand out candy and Ron decided that he wanted to participate in this.  After spending most of the afternoon working on building and decorating a chute to send candy down through a cow skull's head at the bottom, he decided that he wanted to stay home and answer the door the entire evening instead of just part of the evening which we have always done in year's past after getting home from knocking doors.  So, after a few quick photos in front of our house, the kids and I set out for 1.5 hours.  With the exception of arguing over which houses were closed or not (due to several people leaving on their porch and house lights when they were not answering their door to trick-or-treaters), the five of us had a great time walking around our neighborhood together.  Since we had a beautiful, sunny day, the weather was perfect for being outside at night and we didn't have to bundle up under heavy jackets or hide under umbrellas.  In addition, we got the biggest kick out of the clever and creative ways that many people handed out their candy and were blown away by the amount of candy that the kids acquired by the end of our evening walking around.  Emmett also was as happy as a clam the entire time being pushed around in his stroller and was kept satisfied by some M&Ms being put in his tray a little at a time.  

After returning home, we had a great time doing what we always do every year which included going through the candy, running to answer the door, and watching the Disney's animated classic of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Although about 50% of the homes in our neighborhood were closed to trick-or-treaters, I was just so grateful that so many people had decided to answer the doors and pass out candy so that our children could participate in this fun, holiday tradition.  

The Hartland kids all dressed up and ready to go in their Peter Pan-themed costumes!

Our baby Emmett dressed up as the crocodile with the ticking tail.

Ella dressed up as Tinkerbell.  I must say that she looked adorable running from house to house with her wings flapping and the bells on her shoes ringing.

Logan dressed up as Captain Hook complete with his awesome hat with the large, white feather on top.

Although her sweater covered up most of the top part of her dress, Lia was a darling Wendy Darling.

The kids and I heading out of our driveway.

I insisted that the kids all wear face masks and gloves as we went from house to house.  Here is Ella stopping for a picture before walking up to our next door neighbor's door.

The kids posing in front of Donna's awesome pumpkin scarecrow that she puts up every year.

The kids posing in front of Donna's door where she had put a large bale of hay with candies taped to skewer sticks poking out of the top.  Since she is 89 years old, Donna wanted to come up with a creative way to pass out candy to all of the children who came to her door without coming in contact with them.  I though that this was such a great idea!

The kids posing in front of another one of our favorite doors every year.  Although you can't see it in the picture, they had little bags of candy hanging from glowing bracelets that were attached to a large spider web that was left of the door.  It looked so cute and was also such a great way to hand out candy in a contact-free way!

Lia picking up candy that came through the chute of a ghost's mouth.

One of our friends up the hill attached their leaf blower to a pipe that came out of the mouth of a pumpkin that they had painted on a board.  After the kids stepped on a button that was attached to an extension cord that turned on the blower, the candies came flying out of the pumpkin mouth.  It was so clever and fun to watch until Ella got hit smack dab in the middle of her forehead with a flying piece of candy!  The poor thing melted into a crying ball right there on the driveway.  Luckily, she was able to hide behind our stroller until she recovered from the pain.

The kids picking up their candy from a little train car that a neighbor pulled up and down a ramp on piece of rope.  This was probably the best idea we saw all night long!

The kids picking up candy being sent down another giant chute decorated in large skeletons.