A Halloween to remember.

This is Eleanore's first real Halloween. Really, its her third, but the first two were spent either with a bottle in her mouth, or stumbling around learning how to walk in a zebra costume. She's finally at the age where shes beginning to understand things, and gets excited about them. For the past couple of weeks we've been talking up Halloween. Reading her books, carving pumpkins, scouting out costumes, treating her to white fluffy marshmallow ghosts and ooey gooey chocolate pumpkins. And the big thing that we got her ranting and raving about, was "Boo at the Zoo". For the past 2 days its how we've bribed her into naps, gotten her to put her toys away, and magically gotten those peas on her plate to vanish. "If you're not a good girl, then we can't go to Boo at the Zoo". And, it worked.

Last night was her night. She originally wanted to be a kitty cat, but changed her mind at the last minute and went as a bumblebee (remind me to return the previously mentioned cat costume). Oh the cuteness! We lucked out and found a parking spot only 5 miles away from the entrance, stood in line for only 15 minutes, and then hit diamond mines of candy that none of us could have. Along with Eleanore's gluten intolerance, is a citric acid intolerance. So anything fruity was out of the question. If we saw a candy stand passing out Starburst or Smarties, we'd just pass right by it. She didn't know the difference. But if there was a Tootsie Roll stand, watch out, cause here we come!

She said "trick or treat" just like we taught her, always followed by a "thank you", even if it wasn't directed at the right person. All of the animals were out and active, more so than any other time we'd been there. She called the Buffalo "Elephants!", and dripped chocolate slobber down her chin and onto her costume. Aside from having to holler at Christopher to hold her hand a million and three times, and a falling incident involving a missed step and some mud, her first Halloween experience was seemingly perfect. By the 31st my little Bumblebee will be a pro...