Happy Halloween

When Paula and Greg bought their Keys home in the Indian Mound neighborhood, we all lucked out. It's one of only a few neighborhoods where Keys kids go for fun and frights on Halloween. We gathered there with about a dozen friends and kids for some pre-trick-or-treat snacks, and then hit the 'hood.

Sidney and Ben practice saying, "Trick-or-treat!"
And again, in his Bob the Builder costume (with the axe he swiped from his fireman friend). Sidney toodled around in the stroller wearing her Little Pumpkin onesie, and fell asleep while making the rounds.
(The red shoe, blue shoe thing is all his doing. Now that he can put on his own shoes, he usually chooses colorful combinations.)

Ben and fireman Cayson pose on a fire truck. There is a big police and fire department presence in the neighborhood on Halloween. They hand out glow-stick necklaces to the kids and generally keep the "trick" part of the holiday in check.

I was worried that Ben would be freaked out by all the scary decorations but he charged ahead confidently -- gleefully...
Even at the lady who's leg was "chain sawed" off.

Giddy up, Mark Johnson. A cowboy in flip-flops. Only in the Keys!

Throughout the night, Ben would happily comment on how heavy his treat basket was getting, adding, "But it's not full yet!" And he did start November 1 with a mini snickers, a tootsie roll and some smartees. Hey, it's once a year, right?
Looking forward to doing it again next year!