Tricks and Treats Version 2012

It is always a trick to get a good picture of both kids, especially when they are excited to get to an event, dressed up for the said event and already hopped up on candy. However, it is always a treat to have a good picture of the kids together (this one before the Flashlight Scramble Friday night):

It can be a trick to find time to spend with friends who live the next few towns over but it is always a treat when we get together, this time at their church's annual trunk-or-treat festivities on Tuesday. Here is the magical (I have been instructed to add to her title) blossom fairy Jadyn with strawberry butterfly Sariah:

And Special Forces Jake with one of his oldest and dearest friends, the soccer player Sam:

Talk about a trick! Our friends Cruz and Tara LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Halloween. They go all out with decorations and costumes every year. Well, they were in D.C this past weekend to run the Marine Corps Marathon and got stuck due to flight delays caused by Sandy. They were so bummed. We had a whole Addams family theme prepared. They were going to be Morticia and Gomez, Joe was going as Uncle Fester and I was going to be Wednesday. With our original plans scrapped, we stepped in to make sure their hard work was not wasted. We went to their house, turned on all the fog machines, strobe lights, motion-sensored bats and spiders, rising corpse, lights, blinking eyes and whatever other spooky decoration I am forgetting and got ready for the trick-or-treaters. It was such a treat!

An estimated 1525 pieces of candy ready to be passed out:

All the decorations were ready. Jadyn was frightened. Could we do the same to our trick or treaters?:

Jake was positioned next to the pop-up zombie corpse. It may be a trick to scare people (he made at least 3 kids cry this year, oops!) but it is always a treat to hear people asking each other if Jake is a real person or part of the decor:

And who is that passing out candy? Why it is Uncle Fester himself! It was a treat to see Joe dress up this year. It will be a trick to take family pictures for holiday cards seeing as he shaved his head for his costume:

Jadyn and our neighbor Adriana also helped a ton passing out candy:

It was a treat for me to finally dress up like I was going to a masquerade ball. It's something I have always wanted to do. It was a trick however, to find out that unbeknownst to me, I apparently looked like I was dressed as the main character in the 50 Shades of Grey book series (I haven't read them nor do I plan to). Oops again!

Anyway, here is the family at the end of a long and fun night:

Although our family was able to have an enjoyable and festive Halloween, I know a lot of people are dealing with the aftermath of the storm and lots of places delayed or canceled trick or treating. My heart goes out to those that have been affected and my thoughts are with you.