Trick-Brrrrr-Treat

Dear Addie,

This week was Halloween, and everyone dressed up, even Mother Nature. That's right, she traded in her warm fall vibe for something straight out of my Midwest childhood trick-or-treating vault. Cold and wet. Gross.

With Daddy out of town for business, Gabe with friends, and Clara at work, it was up to us to get any determined, weather-can't-stop-me, brave trick-or-treaters their sweets! We got this! Ready, set, oh wait….brrrrrrrr. Insert an auditory assault roadblock.

Okay, so it's no secret you don't like the sound of the dogs barking - It's like nails on a chalkboard to your auditory system. Side note: there is a love/hate relationship here between you and our trusty hounds, who alert us if you are wandering, sick, or if a pesky copperhead snake is near. All good things, but the tone of their barking drives you up a wall, leaving nothing but a full-blown anxiety response of anger, screaming, and crying (and that's with headphones.) Any candy-seeking children ringing the doorbell would produce nothing but this type of chaos, and I wasn't so interested in managing that. No, thank you! So we bundled up (or at least I did; you refused to keep shoes and socks on), grabbed blankets, made some tea, and sat on the porch to see if anyone was willing to brave the elements and venture out to our house in the woods. Grab a flashlight, kiddos - we've got candy!

One hour down and nothing. Not a single soul. You, however, were unfazed and very excited to be swinging on the porch, with it being so dark, cold, and rainy outside. Extreme temperature changes are apparently your jam. You sang "Rolling down the Bayou" from The Princess and the Frog at the top of your lungs like your life depended on it, ultimately shifting gears to just reciting all the colors you knew from the original rainbow, adding in black, white, coffer (copper), genta (magenta) and beige. Like a skipping record, you went back and forth between singing and colors.

…and then it happened.

I suddenly heard chatter coming from in the distance! This was happening! Had you summoned them with your beautiful singing? And just like that, standing before us were at least twelve kids shivering, smiling, and ready for treats. You immediately sprung into your hello song of "Who let the dogs out?" and the whole group responded, "Who, who, who, who. Who?" You laughed and stimmed with excitement at the interaction and immediately returned to serenading me with "Rolling down the Bayou."

Addie, about twenty-five trick-or-treaters, made their way back to our house in three hours. All of them, from teens to parents, sang along with you to "Who let the dogs out?" and made it a point to tell you Happy Halloween before leaving. Quite literally the most polite group of trick-or-treaters we've ever experienced.

Extreme cold, swinging, singing, and no barking – those might be the secret ingredients to your best Halloween ever, as you had a blast with it all. Now, excuse me while I continue to thaw out.

Great job, baby girl! Another Halloween is in the books!

Love,

Mom