Precious precious time...

My four year old  began asking if his dad could trick or treat with us MONTHS ago.  And so, of course, he would be getting invited.

I didn't even need to ask him.  About two or three weeks ago, he started telling the boys that he'd be here to trick or treat with them.   So that was that.  The boys were so excited that their dad was coming trick or treating with us.

On Saturday, the northeast got crushed by a crazy ice and snow storm that took out trees and power lines by the tens of thousands.  John's house lost power Saturday through Sunday.  Sunday night, he texted me to tell me that if his power didn't come back by Monday (Halloween), that he would not be coming trick or treating because he didn't want to leave the dogs home alone with no heat all day... umm, ok.

Great.  So now I had to wrack my brain to figure out what excuse I was going to come up with to explain why he didn't come... because he didn't want to leave the dogs alone on a 50 degree day.

Fortunately, he texted me hours later that the power was back and that he would be coming after all.  I have a funny feeling that his decision to not come, and then to come probably had more to do with Sunday football outcomes or hangovers than the pups needing him to snuggle them to warmth.  Call me a cynic.

So he showed up, on time.  I gave the boys lunch, and we headed out to get some candy!  So cute.  I love Halloween.  I love the good old fashion tradition of heading out and seeing all the neighbors and the kids in costumes and the pure joy that they all wear on their faces as they run from house to house squealing with sugar fueled excitement.

We completed our block, and headed to the next street over.  The 2 year old was getting carried part of the time because he hadn't napped that day, and he needed some help keeping up.  So naturally, this made the 4 year old remark to me that he was tired too.  I told him that if he's tired we could start heading back home.. to which he quickly changed his mind-  "NOOOO!  I'm not tired!!  I don't want to stop yet!!!! Please no!"   I chuckled to myself... I didn't want to go back yet, Mama likes candy too!  So he ran to catch up with his dad and brother who were already up to the next house.  Literally about 20 seconds later, he came running back towards me screaming that he wanted to go home NOW!

Huh?  So I called to John and said, "WHAT the heck did you just say to him to make him want to go home????"  and he answered that he didn't say anything.  J got close up to me and said with big smile, "daddy said when we get home that we can eat all our candy!!!!!"  John heard him say this and said, "no, no... I said let's go to more homes!  not YOUR home, I said MORE homes!" 

Fucking asshole.  We were only out for about a half hour, and he was already tricking his son into heading back so that he could leave.  Unbelievable.  Mind you, last year when the kids were only 3 and 1, we trick or treated for hours!  I was so disgusted.   I was glad to see him go, but heartbroken for the boys who didn't even realize that they were getting ditched. 

All in all, the boys had a great Halloween.  They got to see their dad, they got tons of candy, and their Mom let them eat as much as they wanted AND they got to stay up till 8:30-- a very big deal.