But we have Mel and Mel makes every holiday worth celebrating. She makes everything way more fun.
The first thing we did to celebrate the holiday was something I have not done in years. We carved pumpkins. Mel loved helping scoop out the slimy seeds. She was also very eager to help carve the pumpkin.
I asked Mel what she wanted to be for Halloween and I never got a real answer from her. She hasn't gotten into playing dress up so I don't think she quite understood what I was asking. I think next year she might be able to decide her own costume. After looking at a few costume options I decided to have her be a bee for Halloween this year. Since her name is Portuguese for honey I figured it was a fitting choice.
At Halloween I look for every opportunity for her to wear her costume. The first time she got to wear her costume was for her playgroup. When getting ready she initially refused to put it on. I actually was chasing her around the house. I wasn't sure what I was going to do if she wouldn't wear her costume. But then I mentioned the wings and she got all excited and happy to dress up. It was so cute to see all of her friends at playgroup all dressed up in their costumes too. At the end the kids got a goody bag and to trick or treat a little. Mel loved it!
The next day she got to wear her costume again at the library story time. All the kids dressed in their costumes and they read Halloween books. At the end the kids paraded around the library and got another goody bag.
Friday night Meric's work did a trunk or treat activity. It was put on by/for the hospital unit and two other units on post. They had a parking lot lined with cars decorated and full of treats. Mel loved going trunk to trunk. She really loved the people that just let her take a hand full of candy from the bowl. It is amazing how big those little hands can get when reaching for candy. There was also a tent set up as a haunted house. We could hear kids screaming inside and we weren't sure if Mel would like it or be scared. As we entered the tent a kid (probably 10 years old) jumped out and screamed to scare us. Mel started laughing. Another kid would run up to people screaming to scare them. Again Mel just laughed. She loved running around in the dimly lit tent having kids jump out from behind decorations to scare her. We walked out of the tent and Mel immediately turned around and went right back in. We watched her for a little as she ran around laughing and being scared by the kids. Eventually Meric had to go in and make her come out. Mel had a blast.
On Sunday we went to a local Halloween event. There was a train ride, horse rides, a petting zoo, games, candy, food, balloons, face painting, and bouncy castles. It was so much fun. Mel had an absolute blast!
On Halloween we stayed home and handed out candy. We dressed Mel up one last time in her bee costume and set up outside to greet trick or treaters. Mel loved handing candy out and was calling down the street for kids to come. She even went trick or treating at the neighbor's house.
All in all it was a very fun and successful Halloween. I can't wait to to it again next year.
