HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This is Vanessa's second Halloween. Remember how chubby she was last year? She fit into her costume again this year. She was a little lion, although she often referred to herself as being a tiger.

We asked her to roar and she did this pose:


She has stopped napping during the day and was very tired when we arrived at the downtown trick-or-treat event. She looked like she had toothpicks holding her eyes open, but other than that, she was able to go store to store, say "trick or treat," and even "thank you."


There were so many adorable children and stunning costumes. However, people still found a reason to stop and dote over the little mop-headed lion. She got so much attention it reminded us of being in China. Basically, she had the perfect mane for the costume. "Hair by God," I tell people.


We bumped into the triplets, Marley, Audrey, and Cordell. They were busy. Oh my heavens, we literally said "Hi," snapped a photo, and they were off with their triple stroller and fleet of babysitters.

Daddio took Nanners around to all the businesses that were handing out candy. Mama ran the camera. After quite a bit of trick-or-treating, Vanessa felt she wanted to run off some energy (she had her New Balance running shoes on, afterall). Daddio bent over and chased her through the throngs of people, Mama not far behind. That rascal was following the sounds of a polka band, playing at an open cafe for Oktoberfest. She stood outside the cafe and did a lion dance for a few minutes, very much to the delight of the beer drinkers there. "Uninhibited" comes to mind. Just the way we like it.

We bumped into Vanessa's bff, Andrea, and her mom, Jen. They live right by us and they babysat Vanessa a couple times last week. They treat VH1 like family. The feeling is mutual. Andrea is 10 - the age Auntie Anne was when I was two.


We also bumped into a couple of Daddio's athletes, Chadnei and Jerae. Little Bananakins was sans costume at this point, and needing that nap.



When Jack put her into her car seat to go home, Nessa asked, "Daddy, you ride in the back seat?" Hello: a complete sentence. It was an exciting day for a lion cub, but, when we got home, Daddio had new pumpkins to carve.

Vanessa didn't get to bed until 10 p.m., and even then it was under protest.