A few months ago, I asked Kyle what he wanted to be for Halloween. I wasn't sure how he would answer this question because he's three. I can ask him what he wants for dinner, and that question somehow launches him into a re-telling of the funniest scene in Ratatouille. I love this age, I really do, but I can't begin to understand its thought process.
Anyway, he said he wanted to be a firefighter. Or maybe Spider-man. (A movie/cartoon he's never seen. THANKS, KYLE'S PEERS.) I was really pulling for firefighter, of course. It felt age-appropriate and adorable. It also felt free, as Kyle's older cousin had a costume I was pretty sure he could borrow. Free is so much cooler than a superhero in tights.
Everything was solidified when he got to try on the costume this summer, at his cousin's house. Yep, he was sold. (PHEW.) We had his costume squared away months in advance, and I kind of felt like a parenting rockstar. Except when I remembered the time I completely forgot about Halloween.
We had to bail on our plans for trick-or-treating this year, which totally sucked, but we spent the night in my in-laws' neighborhood, which was a nice consolation prize. Kyle was adorable and by the end, he made us wait for him at the curb of each house. "I can do it myself and you're not wearing a costume anyway," he told me. Ooookay.
He was wearing boots with his costume and I think they were a little uncomfortable because he eventually told us he was getting tired and was about done. We had just a couple more houses so we talked him into finishing those before we made it back to my in-laws. When he went up to the next house and the man asked him a question (that I couldn't hear), he said very loudly, "Trick-or-treat, my legs are tired." KIDS, THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE KIDS.
Also, for photo opps like this:
On the way home, Mike got the genius idea to swing by the fire station. They had to be passing out candy, he said, and it was easily the best decision we've made in a month. I say "we" even though it was Mike's idea because taking credit for his brilliance is a perk of marriage. It balances the impossible name he gave me.
Kyle was shy at first but warmed up quickly, as is Kyle's nature. He kept saying, "I'm a firefighter TOO!" The fireman on duty was incredible and I think we'll bake him cookies some time soon, to thank him for his awesomeness. There are just not enough kind words that would do him justice. He was warm, and he humored the hell out of my three year old (and us), all with a grin, and then he gave Kyle DOZENS of pieces of candy on top of everything else. Seriously, he's my hero of the week, that man.
Halloween was a win all around. Kyle said before bed, "I think we should go trick-or-treating tomorrow."
Bonus pumpkin patch picture, from this past weekend:
I hope you had a fun Halloween, too. Mostly, I hope you got to steal the good stuff after the kids went to sleep. Until next year...