creative wins over scarry

i don't like being scared, and sugar just isn't good for children, so i don't have much fondness for halloween. the past couple years we figured zoom was too young and we just skipped the whole thing. this year we decided to stay home so that the kids could get to bed at a reasonable hour. that meant we had to have something to hand out, just in case some kids came to our door. i spent way too much time agonizing over what to pass out; stickers, noisemakers, fun pen/pencil, bouncy balls, and even contemplated raisin boxes (which would delight my little ones!). in the end i bought a marketed package of candy just like everyone else. if i really wanted to protest, i guess i would just shut off the lights, but there are some cute costumes on the little ones.
zoom asked why we were buying candy - we NEVER buy candy - so i explained that some children might be coming by to go trick or treating, and that most kids preferred a treat over a trick.
we had dinner and were playing around when zoom asked if the twick-o-tweeters would be coming. "i better get on my costume" he told me, and disappeared into his room. a few minutes later he emerged with his superman pjs, a diaper cover over the pants and a pair of pants on his head. he was hysterical! dancing in front of the mirror he exclaimed, "what will the twick-o-tweeters say when they see me??!!", but before we could answer he continued, "they'll say, ' look at that guy with supa-man pjs on! he's got a diaper cover over his pjs' and pants on his head, WHAT??' " we were laughing so hard and so proud of his clever costume.
he and hubby set up a pile of beanbags and sofa cushions and practiced flying.
we had a handful of kids come to the door. of course when he went to the door, all the boldness disappeared and zoom just stood behind hubby and watched the bigger kids.
around 9pm a kid around 6 years old stopped by, alone. sad.
about 9:30 a dad came, with a picture of his child, who apparently was sick and unable to come out. seriously? it makes more sense to go door-to-door than to just pick up a bag of his favorite candy? questionable.
i'm pretty sure zoom put it all together this year...these kids are my age, and we're giving them candy! i have no regrets - we actually held off for three years! we had a great evening and i do not think i have withheld anything good from my child!
then there's this one, trying her best to scare people away from our front door