The Loot

Everyone seems to have different techniques to deal with the loot. One of our friends had their child boycott candy [I assume he didn't really know that he was boycotting it], another doles out one candy a day. I just confiscated some before he noticed, and he seems pretty happy with one or two treats a day [often he discovers that he doesn't like them, he is as picky with treats as he is with other foods], as long as he is distracted playing, reading, singing, and making up little stories about trains, planes, and his current favorite stuffed animal, a white and red dog he calls Yaya one minute and another name the next. He did ask to go trick-or-treating again on Thursday and Friday.

Halloween must be one of JT's favorite holidays. (So far, almost all of them have been hits.) The jack-o-latern started disintegrating already Thursday. Friday's "Fall Fest" at school (postponed due to the fires) was a hit with JT, but then again he loves to play with other kids and run around and act silly. The jump-house (inflated jumpy thing; popular here, maybe since they can be used year-round) was not his favorite. He braved the entrance and then quickly turned around and got out, but not before other kids squeezed in and out around him, laughing and giggling. His favorite "games" were the decorate-a-cookie game and the make-a-fruit-loop-necklace game.

Wednesday was extremely LONG. After I picked up the kiddo from school, we headed to his friend Active Boy's house for a little gathering and dinner. JT was the oldest kid there, and he seemed a bit confused. He had only met some of the kids once, and he also was groggy from napping in the car. Then he requested a sandwich, but the delicious cheese toastie didn't count as a sandwich. (Mr. Picky will only eat pb&j.) Then we headed back to our neighborhood and caught up with 2 little girls to do some t&t-ing. He really got into the swing of things, holding hands with A, giggling, and shouting, "Happy Halloween!" Some neighbors and Active Boy and his parents came over to our house then for a piece of graveyard cake and some fun.

I used a Martha recipe, but instead of cookies, we made white chocolate tombstones, a hit with the JT, oddly enough. The cake was not my favorite. I had to doctor the recipe - I mean, it called for 2 sticks of butter and 2 1/2 cups of sugar. For our next graveyard cake, I think I will try a different cake recipe, but keep the chocolate glaze. (I used half&half rather than heavy cream, and it was yummy.)

Today we were going to take it easy, and we mostly did. The hubster rewired our phone lines under the house, and JT even hung out under there for a while. (They obviously didn't see the gigantic spider I did the other day!) I did laundry, played trains and marble game, and fiddled around in the kitchen. After lunch we headed out to the tidepools by Point Loma. Today was overcast and cool, but a great day for throwing rocks and scurring away from little crabs.

Then we enjoyed a snack. The hubster's mistaken order of mexican cocoa instead of mexican mocha was a boon for the little chocolate monster.