Halloween is long gone by now except for the bag of candy that will surely last until February. Instead of trick or treating around the neighborhood, we brough the kids to New Orleans.
Our nanny Julia, matched our little witches.
The VooDoo Festival had a kid portion, called VooBoo. It offers a safe alternative for the youth in New Orleans who might not normally have a great Halloween experience going door to door in their neighborhood. They have their own kid stage, games, etc.
Magnolia making the first tshirt of the day.
We were the first ones there.
It was great except, I was this annoying mom asking where all the candy was. The face-painting, screen-printing, balloon decorating stations were totally cool. But, there wasn't really a place to trick or treat. The only reason I even cared (because I really don't like my kids chowing on sugar all day and then transitioning into freak out mode by bedtime) is because we, being the assuring parents that we are, prematurely promised there would be trick or treating at the festival. Oops. Plan B...
We convinced the girls to walk around the whole festival and spot booths with bowls on their table because bowls meant candy. Then we'd carry them across the mud (it rained the night before and rain doesn't seem to have anywhere to go in New Orleans once it hits the ground which is technically below sea level-remember?)So we'd carry them across mud puddles and they'd say "Trick or Treat" to the planned parenthood or hippie gear selling booth and get their treats that way.
It worked! We just looped around and hit the same booths a few times and everyone played along when the girls came back for seconds and thirds.
They even got their fair share of beads to play with (June's favorite)
People in New Orleans really are super nice and chill. And, with what has happened their over the past few years, I'm really astounded that there is so much positivity and personality-literally everywhere you go. Our waiter at the hotel restaurant became our instant friend; we talked about our kids, shared photos and talked school together. The people make the place.
Anyway, the kids had their Halloween, we had our show (dressed as a Captain and Tenille) and we were back on the plane Sunday morning. Mission accomplished.