The halloween that almost wasn't.

The weather for this Halloween didn't look too promising.  Between an impending storm, strong winds, and a tornado warning, the weather reports kept getting scarier and scarier.  The final message from the weathermen was to get all your trick-or-treating done by 5:00pm.  WHAT??  How is that even possible?  Is anyone home to hand out candy at that early hour?

I had arranged for us to go trick or treating with one of Sam's friends, Riley.  We had a plan to get together at 6:30pm.  However, as the weather reports would get updated and much bleaker than what was reported before, we kept moving up the time we would meet.  The tornado warning was the final straw and we made the decision to go to the local mall where they were doing a 'Malloween' event and the kids could go trick-or-treating safely indoors.   The mall event ran from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and we decided to meet at 6:00pm.  This whole time we are not only changing the plans and time with Sam's friend's mom, but also with Ian's friend too.  It was a crazy topsy-turvy back and forth all afternoon changing our plans.

Around 5:10pm, the sun is shining!  This is the craziest thing ever!  One final change of plans and we decide to take it back outdoors and let the kids trick-or-treat for as long as they can.  We thought the kids might have about 30 minutes before we have to take cover.   Everyone started early to get a jump start before the storm moved in.   Here's the thing -- the storm didn't come until 8:30pm!   The kids were out trick-or-treating for 2.5 hours!  The amount of candy they brought home was insane.

Sam had big plans for us to dress up in the same costume.  She got much delight from this.  Ian was on the fence on if he should even go trick-or-treating at the ripe old age of 14.  After checking in with his good friend, they decided they are not too old to go door to door.   Ian found himself a hysterical inflatable costume and waddled his way around the neighborhood.  It was hilarious to see him in action.