All Hallow's Eve and The Cookie Monster

As it turns out, Olivia isn't shaping up to be much of a girly-girl these days. She prefers t-shirts to tutus and prefers to let what little hair she has run wild all over her head rather than be burdened with something as silly as a bow or head band. SO, I was a *little* nervous when I went out on a limb this year with a VERY girly version of an old classic.

We are big fans of Sesame Street in this house so I thought it would be just adorable to have her dress as Cookie Monster (another of her many Toddler Obsessions). My sister, Michelle, saw a great idea on Pinterest for a Cookie Monster tutu dress for a little girl!! AWESOME!

I searched online for Cooke Monster blue tights and a leotard. I went to Hobby Lobby and priced out tulle and fabric to make the cookies on the dress. I looked at walls and racks full of sewing materials to find creative ways to create the face of the dress.

After a few days of finding the perfect materials, I logged onto Etsy and bought the costume from a lady in Arkansas.

Yeah, some mommies are good at making stuff. I’m a big supporter of those mommies by buying the stuff.

When it landed on my doorstep, I just knew it was the most perfect costume EVER. Olivia was even excited to wear it—for about 5 minutes. I started to get a little nervous about her school fall festival and Halloween. Would this Halloween costume that I so painstakingly took the time to enter my debit card information for even be worn?

Last Friday, the night of the fall festival, I excitedly called Mike on my way home from work.

“Is she dressed??? Does it look cute???”

“Um, she doesn't want to wear it…”

Crap.

When I got home I enthusiastically talked to Olivia about her school festival and how fun it would be to wear her costume.

“I watch Happy Feet,” she told me.

Double Crap.

I then switched tactics and opted for a tried and true method to convince someone to do something they don’t want to: Peer Pressure.  I told her how all of her friends would be wearing their costumes and how exciting it would be to see everyone. And IT WORKED!!! I was surprised at just how well this peer pressure tactic worked. No wonder I tried to smoke that Marlboro Red in high school even though I felt like my lungs were on fire…

At any rate, the fall festival was a success...Well, aside from the *tiny* meltdown over the Cookie Walk where she threw herself on the floor, blue tutu and legs flying like a crazed blue feathered gremlin. I think we handled it well though. We calmly took a deep breath and walked away, muttering to ourselves "Whose kid *is* that??" The costume though, temper tantrum and all, was definitely a hit! But we weren't done yet. We still had to coax her into the costume tonight—Halloween Night.

But our sweet girl surprised us and willing put on her costume and was out the door running down the street excited about her first real trick or treating experience. She went from door to door collecting her candy and getting side tracked by every pumpkin, shadow, blade of grass, etc. We walked around the block once and it only took us a solid hour and a half. Aside from the few stray teenagers with the plastic trash sacks wearing their t-shirts and blue jeans, our new neighborhood was very much in the spirit!

Though I was very tired afterward, I thoroughly enjoyed my walk with my little monster. I mean, are there very many things sweeter than a small child at Halloween?  As we approached the first door, I said “What do you say when you get to the door?” “Knock! Knock!” she proudly replied. Hmmm…okay, true. “What do you say when someone answers the door?” “Hello!” Hmmm…also true. What can I say? The kid is smart.

I loved watching her go up the steps to each house, pointing out the pumpkins and other décor. I got a kick out of hearing people ooh and aah over her cuteness. I especially loved the innocent look of gratitude mixed with joy and surprise when someone handed her a piece of candy. Each piece was worthy of being turned over in her little hands to be fawned over. Right in front of her was a huge bowl FULL of candy and yet she was completely enthralled by the *one* piece in her hand. Immediately she would hold it up to me and say “Open, please!”

Her gratitude and excitement over just one piece of candy was a small reminder to me of how much I take for granted. Oh to have the heart of a child again--to be so entranced by what you have right in front of you.

At the end of the night, 2 little boys knocked on our door as Olivia was taking a bath. I brought the bowl over to them and the boys each picked one piece of candy. Since it was the end of the night I said “Take whatever you want.” The look on their faces was priceless! They looked at each other, looked at me to make sure I was serious and dug right in. They each only took about 5-6 pieces but I've seen lottery winners who didn't look that happy!

I fully recognize that Halloween can be a silly and money draining activity but I really enjoyed this year seeing it through Oli’s eyes. I was reminded of a time when the thrill of my life was dressing up as my favorite character and running door to door getting small chocolate bars. My sisters and I would head out right at dusk and energetically approach each house with a booming "Trick or Treat!" hoping against hope that the people there weren't giving away something so lame as Smarties. I mean, was there anything that could ruin your Halloween like a sack full of Smarties or mints? I remember getting so excited over a prized Snickers or Butterfinger. We would come home at the end of the night and dump all of our candy on the kitchen table. We’d count up our loot and stare at it as if it were gold doubloons from a sunken pirate ship instead of foil wrapped sugar.

I've missed those days as an adult and I feel blessed to be able to experience it all over again through my sweet girl.

I’m already looking forward to next year, to searching all over to find someone who will make that perfect costume that represents whatever The Boss Lady’s character obsession is that year, to running door to door with her, to marveling at the simpleness of pumpkins and chocolate bars. To be reminded that sometimes the sweetest things are the ones you already hold right in the palm of your hand.

Happy Halloween! 

Excited to wear her costume!

We missed Daddy on our walk. He stayed to hand out candy! 

Ready to go!