Healthy Halloween

Well, sort of. The kids have had the day off school as the spontaneous hay fever symptoms we were all experiencing yesterday have developed into coughs, colds and flu -like chills. Yee-ha! So instead of traipsing around later this evening in a windy, drizzle with a fireman, jockey and a very pretty pirate, who race from house to house banging on doors and begging for sweets we (read: I) have opted to stay home instead. The kids are handling this last minute change of plans so beautifully. We have had no tears, just a moment of resigned disappointment and then they have looked only at the positive, at what we will do. We will still dress up and we will have a candle lit (jack-o-lantern lit) dinner, a special dessert (homemade mango and coconut ice cream served in a orange jack-o-lantern) and a movie. We will also hand out sweets to those that come to the door and so they will get to see lots of different costumes. This is what made me so very proud. Despite the fact that we were not going trick or treating ourselves (something that they were very much looking forward to, even if it was only to the neighbours house and back) the kids were so excited every time there was a knock on the door that they eagerly raced to open it and happily handed out lollies (not once complaining that they really wanted to go themselves, even though I am sure they would have leaped at the chance). They are such great kids. Even Anisa who, when the trick-or treaters started to come less frequently, began discreetly transporting candies to her room rolled up in newspapers and tucked away in pockets. Here is a stash I found hidden in her jacket hood. You've got to admire her determination even while you worry about the manner in which she goes about trying to have things her own way.