The 1st Foursome Halloween

Dear M&M,

As I sit on our disappointingly small pile of candy, I can't help but notice that we have now made it through our first holiday as a family of 4. I have never considered Halloween to be a big deal, and I rank it just above "International Eat a Slice of Cheesecake Day", and given the fact that you two aren't even bring in candy yet doesn't help anything. However, just like anything else with you guys, I better enjoy this phase of it while it lasts.

To be clear, I am definitely in favor of any excuse to dress like a crazy person, and have a wild time. Back in my day, there was a time when I would trick-or-treat as long as people would keep giving me candy with minimal remarks of "stop coming back, it's 10 at night". And then there were times when it was more fun to run around and prank/vandalize people's things, then get dressed up and for candy (you aren't allowed to do this). Finally I reach the point where Halloween became an excuse to go to some pretty fun parties, and even cross dress. (in my defense your mom and I did place in a costume contest as Sonny and Cher, and you also aren't allowed to do this).

As you two go through the first phase of Halloween celebration, I also get to enter a new one. All you have to do is tolerate your mom and I putting some on uncomfortable clothing on you, and then sit through a barrage of pictures. For me, I am only partly ashamed to say, this involves me making my kids as cute as possible in their costumes, and then showing off to every neighbor, relative, stranger, and Facebook friend.

This does come with some new rules, just like the rest of the phases did. First of all, as I have learned the hard way, most people realize that when I held you and say trick-or-treat (which means "Give me free candy as fast as possible so I can bug the next person"), that the you can't yet eat the candy. So far, no one has actually called me out for trying to use a baby to get free candy. Unfortunately though, the look say give me makes me feel guiltier or than one of those criminals who you see on TV who accidentally says their name as they try to steal the $20 in cash the gas station attendant made that night. To their credit, some people did give us healthy, baby-friendly alternatives, like animal crackers, which was "very thoughtful".

The next rule I learned is that choosing a costume is almost like choosing a name for your kids. You want the costume to mean something and be easily recognizable (noone likes a costume you have to explain), but you also want it to be unique. You don't want to go too unique though (no offense to that kid named Lemonjello). However, this rule is somewhat lenient because even though I saw 10 other Mickey/Minnie Mouse is on Halloween, it didn't distract from how awesome I thought you two looked. Also, Marshall's favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so these costumes were for you. I will hold this against you if an argument comes up on who decides future costumes. Luckily for you, your Mom is the witty/creative one when it comes to these things. She will hook us all up.

Finally, the last rule I learned is that controversial costumes will have to wait until you're a little older. Even though I would've loved to have made Marshall dress up like "Caitlyn" Jenner, and make Maggie the Olympic Bruce Jenner from the Wheaties box. On a similar note, with this Halloween being such a big one for you guys, a costume that was too trendy may have made for some difficulty explaining what was going on whenever your mom shows baby pictures to future people you date.

 Even though these first Halloween's where a definite change to what I've become used to, as with anything else you two are involved in, I couldn't of had more fun, as we Trunk-or-Treated, visited family, and handed out candy in costume, at home. Your Mom, and you two, have a way of making me not want to be anywhere else in the world, except right where I am. Thanks for cooperating and being open to the costumes we chose for you. I love you guys, and will love you even more when you start bringing me pillowcases a free candy. Happy first Halloween Maggie,thanks for helping break her in, Marshall.

Thanks for the memories, and for reading.

Love,
Dad