It's tough to make new friends when you're dressed like Aladdin.

Happy Monday, kids!

So this morning I was going through some old Halloween photos (because for the life of me I couldn't remember what Thing 2's costume was in 2006 and things like that drive me crazy.  I think I've told you before - it is not easy being me) and I came across some oldies of Husband and Thing 1 ~ pre-Thing 2.

Husband and I have always loved to dress up (shut up) and when we had Thing 1 Halloween became even more fun.

Husband couldn't wait for her to get old enough to go trick-or-treating, and has always been the one to take her out (which may or may not have something to do with the fact we live in Minnesota where it is usually around 34° on October 31st and I like to complain about the cold).
When she was 3, our whole family was crazy about The Lion King.

The next year? Star Wars. They're both obsessed.

But the real story today is about the next year.  

The year 2000.  

The year we moved into our neighborhood.  

It was Husband and Thing 1's first trick-or-treating outing in the new 'hood that was (still is) full of hundreds of kids on Halloween. We live in one of the only giant neighborhoods out in the sticks, so kids from all over come to hoard our candy.  Bottom line - the streets are packed on Halloween.

Husband and Thing 1 get in their complimentary costumes (of course) and head out.

Since we'd been pretty self-involved since we'd moved in with Thing 2 and the fallout from her premature birth, as well as unpacking and trying to get settled, Husband hadn't really met any of the other fathers that lived on our street.

Apparently, it's a big neighborhood tradition for the dads to take their kids out trick-or-treating, pulling a wagon full of beers that they not only enjoy themselves, but offer to the neighbors and vice-versa.  It's a very big social night for the men (did I mention we live in the sticks?).

And since it's usually pretty chilly, they're usually dressed in their jeans and parkas and snow-hats.  

Not like this -

Nothing brings your magic carpet ride down faster than having to introduce yourself to the other dads while wearing a purple fez with an elastic band around your chin.

Needless to say, the 'Daddy-Daughter' Halloween costume tradition ended - abruptly.

Now, Husband and his buddy like to very slowly tail the kids (their kids...not random ones) in his friend's camouflaged hunting 4-wheeler having a couple of beers and dressed in many layers of fleece and down. 

I think he's overcompensating and trying his best to eradicate the 11 year old image of the purple Aladdin vest...

...That I've just posted for all the world (or about 100 of you) to see.