I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Halloween. Ours was terrific, with the exception of Nolan’s double ear infections + pinkeye kicking in with a fever around 6 p.m. I brought him home early and took Jack out for a bit longer, just him and me (Grandma came by to hand out candy until Kevin came home).

When I returned, Nolie was at the top of the stairs (our front door opens to a small foyer and long stairs leading up) sobbing, which he’d done the whole time we were gone. I brought him downstairs, cuddled him on my lap with his two blankies, and he passed out. Poor baby! I still managed to get his dose of antibiotics into him, which he sipped while in a feverish sleeping state. Sleep was fitful till about 1 a.m. for him but he woke rested and happy. No wonder he’s been a whiney nightmare lately; his body was under siege.

While we were out, we hooked up with another family for some trick or treating. This other couple and their son were walking a white standard poodle that they’d spray painted in a rainbow of colors (darn me for forgetting my camera on the walk!!). The owner was dressed in a clown suit but had an evil clown mask. Nolan would not go anywhere near that clown, who walked about a house ahead of us down the whole block. Strains of “NO CLOWN!” could be heard for miles, until I got him back home. Good instincts, kid.

Nolan had fun till the fever arrived, and Jackson and Aaron had a blast. Our kickass neighbor, “Carold,” gave the boys gift bags loaded with goodies, something she does for them each year at major holidays. Aaron enjoyed helping Grandma hand out candy and when Kevin came home at around 6:15, he walked Aaron down the block and people kept exclaiming over how cute he looked. “Look! A penguin!” Jack and Nolan were the Spiderman brothers and looked both adorable and comical w/the fake puffy muscles built into the suits.

If I hadn’t been sick all weekend and driving Nolan to the doctor and pharmacy for a good part of our Monday, I’d have done a nice meal and maybe some hot cider on the stove. No rest for the Martha wannabe.