I told Livia yesterday that Halloween wouldn’t be so exciting if we trick-or-treated every week. As it is, it’s once a year. And it takes so very long for it to get here when you are eight years old. Oh, the agony! But when it shows up, the excitement about bowls you over and then suddenly you’re surround by butterfly wings and wigs and mascara and glitter hair spray. This year even the weather cooperated and—dare I declare it?—Halloween 2012 was my favorite Halloween yet.

Dressing an eight year old was simple.
Feeding the eight year old was simple.
Taking the eight year old to grandparents’ houses, simple.
Going door to door for over an hour in the dark with an eight year old, simple.

And fun. Lots of fun.

Jeremy and I managed to recall all nine of Livia’s Halloween costumes, and yet, I couldn’t quit commenting on how adorable she looked with her monarch wings and homemade antennae. At each door she was really sweet and very polite. And this year had the bonus of trick-or-treating in a fabulous neighborhood we’re blessed to call home. We ran into friends in the dark and just had a really great time together as a family. Thank you, God, for sweet memories like these.

Bumblebee, giraffe, ballerina, Husker cheerleader, Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell, tooth fairy, pirate and butterfly. There, all nine recorded.