A trick-or-treating primer...with marching bands!

We are fortunate enough to live in a town that is the perfect size -- not too small and not too big -- to throw some crazy parades. After experiencing the serious awesomeness of the Halloween parade last year, we decked the boys out in their costumed finery and headed to Main Street again to prime our trick-or-treat engines.



We met up with fellow parade-goers Carlos and Anthony, whose smart parents brought chairs and a wagon. Here, Dread Pirate Anthony, Woody, and Baby Cow have a pre-parade wagonside conference to discuss their candy strategery.




Once again, the parade did not disappoint. Lots of beauty queens and clubs and costumes and candy. This year we had the added spectacle of people running for office, all of whom handed out flyers and stickers. Note to you wishing to be elected: while I appreciate that you are out there pounding the pavement, if you are participating in a Halloween parade to get my vote, BRING SOME STINKIN' CANDY.

There were four marching bands, many of whom parked their drum sections right in front of us for a few minutes at a time so I could shake what the Grandma gave me. Last year Isaac boogied down with me; this year his entire mental efforts were required as he kept a watchful eye for mobile parade-going candy-givers. At first Isaac was really shy of the approaching strangers, not that I'm complaining. It didn't take too much coaching from the Daddy, however, before he realized that there were suckers going in his pumpkin candy-receptacle, and then he got the hang of shoving his pumpkin out as the appropriate people came by.

Isaac's been brandishing the eight pieces of candy he got from the parade like precious jewels all day long, never tiring of hearing me name them piece by piece. I think he was actually sad when I let him eat two pieces after lunch today. I enjoyed it, though, since this is really the first time he's introduced to traditional-kid candy. I made a huge deal of it and in the end felt a little like the sommelier at a wine-tasting class. "This, sir, is a Tootsie Roll. No, it's not exactly chocolate, but I think you'll find the caramelly notes extremely delicious."