I was fortunate enough to only work half a day yesterday. I was done just in time to let Bug get in a good nap, fire up some (Halloween tradition) chili and get prepared for the great trick-or-treat event of 2012!

We headed out to the next neighborhood over, the one I nannied in for five years. We started out at a friend’s house and went from there. We forgot Bug’ pumpkin basket, so thankfully our friend saved the day and had an extra (or six) on hand.

Never underestimate the beauty of pilfering candy with a potty trained toddler in a neighborhood you know people in. Especially people with potties!

After two or three houses, Bug had things down pat. Then she tried to get out of the moving wagon and skinned her nose.

Who else would she dress up as?!?!

By the time we made it down a few blocks, she tried refusing anything that wasn’t a tootsie roll.

She would look at the basket, shake her little finger and proclaim, “No! No! No! Tootsie roll, please.”

Girl knows what she wants!

I thought she would piddle out after a few hours, but by
the time we ran her through McDonald’s and headed to her grandparents house, she was ready to go again. Well, once we promised she could watch Elmo Doctor when we got back!

Ash, a seasoned professional who would change costumes as a kid and double her candy intake from a single neighborhood, was rather proud of our little one! “More trick-or-treat?!? More?!? No all done!”

We hit a few houses with Grandma and Bug wanted nothing to do with Mama or Mommy. She was all about McGrandma! Grandma had to take her up to the door. Grandma had to carry her. Grandma, Grandma, Grandma!

It. Was. Awesome.

Ash and I even gave one another a high five (or two) and actually got to walk together, paying attention to one another!

*Yes, Elmo IS wearing a tutu. She is a girl, ya know!

We stopped at great-grandma’s and then headed back to Grandma’s where we did our annual “photo with all her stash” photo.

(You can see last year’s here.)

Once we pried her out of her grandparents’ house and got her home, she crashed.

Ash was proud of her trooper! She’s not even two yet and she kept at it for nearly four hours! More importantly, she had a freaking blast! She loved every minute and, as her moms, so did we!

*I am so thankful to not only not miss out on these events, but to be able to enjoy and appreciate them with my wife and other family members. I am thankful for the joy of these moment and our varied traditions.

I hope you had a Spooktacular Halloween!

*It is that time of the year. The one where bloggers all over the globe state something they are grateful or thankful for, each day, leading up to Thanksgiving.