Toads-in-the-Hole

When one has got little kids, one has got to teach the important lessons of Halloween in the presence of other kids. Road trip time! We gathered together this weekend in Sartell for what is quickly becoming our family's favorite holiday.

On Saturday morning, there was the usual trick o' treating at the local grocery store, Coborns (or, if you're Joel CoBurns or Cubburns).

The kids scored a bag full of full-sized candy bars, packs of gum, freshly-baked
M&M cookies, and coupons!

This year, Adelaide was her hero, Pippi Longstocking, for Halloween. Adelaide has had her heart set on being Pippi for almost six months, and I was wringing my hands about the Pippi hairdo when I remembered my St. Cloud theatre connections. Adelaide's Pippi wig is courtesy of my high school theatre coach, the sainted Rick Cicharz, who was a treasure then and is still a treasure now. In addition to getting Adelaide a brilliant wig for Halloween, Rick invited us to a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at my alma mater on Saturday afternoon. We enjoyed the show, entirely produced by Rick's middle-school students (with his excellent tutelage, of course). It was my favorite Halloween treat!

There was sweet everywhere ... Erin came home from UW Superior to get spooky with us and enjoyed lots of time snuggling with Henry and her fella, Andrew.

True to form, Marmee had a new Halloween cookie up her sleeve to create with any willing participants. This year's delight was a little acorn cookie crafted from a Hershey's Kiss, chocolate frosting and a mini Vanilla Wafer. What a cute way to keep everybody out of the Halloween candy stash!

But I think Charles and Joel showed the true spirit of the season with an impromptu, but loving wrestling match.

And then, the moment of truth, Trick-or-Treating! Marmee the Kleenex Box, Erin the Referee, Andrew the Basketball Player, Adelaide as Pippi, Owen the Giraffe, Henry the Pumpkin, Joel as Bertie Wooster, and Ophelia as Old Man the Horse (from Pippi).

Pips and her Horse snuggle up during chilly trick-or-treating.

Bertie captures his 'unkin for a quick mug before dashing off to snag more treats.