Trick or Treating–Waukee, Ia verses Pittsburgh, Pa

A couple weeks ago my awesome friend Sara told me she had an elephant and Frog costume in my boys sizes I could borrow for Halloween. (well, the elephant was a little short but it worked) We took them home and Lincoln tried on the Elephant and loved it.  Check him checking himself out.  

Fast forward to Halloween weekend.  We zipped up to Detroit to spend it with Ryan’s sister Shannon and family.  It was good times all around.  We hit up their ward trunk or treat Friday night which was fun – although I wish we could have gone to ours.  Can’t have it all.

  Are these built in car seats not genius?  I thought so.Cousins Mya (Alice in wonderland) and Cysa (vampire) Uncle Miguel. Ryan’s sister ShannonAll the cousins :)

Saturday Ryan and his Brother Kevin who flew in from Texas went to a University of Michigan Football  game.  That was actually why the whole trip originated.  Not the hottest pictures of the pair but it’s all I got.  They took it with their phone. 

More cousin love.

Then we drove home in time to go trick or treating in our Neighborhood in Pittsburgh on Monday night.  We didn’t go out long but the half hour we were out was some quality candy collecting.  Growing up in Iowa we actually had to do a trick or tell a joke in order to get a treat.  I remember kids would work on their trick or joke for weeks leading up to Halloween.  Then you rang the door bell and did your thing.  Often times people would invite you in first.  It was quite the process especially because the houses were so far apart.  You could fit about 6 houses from my current hood between two houses in my hood growing up.

Here not only do you not have to do a trick or tell a joke, you don’t even have to ring the doorbell.  If your house is participating in trick or treating you stand out on your front porch for three hours handing out the candy.  And you may as well because there is a STEADY stream of or kiddos marches down the streets.  Lincoln didn’t even have to say the words before the candy was in his bucket and it was off to the next porch. 

And the houses here go ALL OUT!  Walking up to some of them I felt like I was in a haunted house.  Lights and sound effects - goblins, ghosts, and skeletons  that came to life…you name it and these houses had it.  This part about Halloween I love.

It was really fun.  I’m undecided on which way I prefer – the Iowa way or the Pittsburgh way.  I’m sure as a child I’d probably like the way they to it here.  It is much more efficient for candy collecting.  But as an adult I found myself wishing we could slow down a bit and enjoy getting to know our neighbors with a little joke or trick.  Plus, isn’t that why they call it TRICK or treating? And the Iowa teaches kids you don’t get something for nothing.  Just some food for thought.

Happy Halloween from a cute little Elephant and Frog :)