Always In Search of a New Treat

I think we all know it deep down, but one doesn't realize just HOW MUCH food and holidays go together until, let's say, their child is on a special diet that doesn't allow them to partake in the yummy part of the celebration.

Halloween of course is no exception.  Heck, it may even be the rule.  When you're young, trick or treating is the coolest, and it's not whipping cream and sticks of butter people give out, it's (of course) candy candy candy.

Last year, with the help of some very special friends, family and neighbors, I arranged a kind of Halloween treasure hunt for Vivian and her friend, Sarah.  The girls had great fun, and while I thought about doing that this year, it's wasn't the option that Vivian chose in the end.

Interject funny story.......OK, so many dentists in our area do a "candy buy back" sometime this coming week where kids can come in and get $1 for every pound of candy they "donate" to the dentist.  Most dentists are then sending the candy overseas to soldiers fighting in the war.

Well, I thought Vivi would be all over this.  She loves nothing more than doing things for others.  However, when I presented this idea to her, she became very thoughtful and said "no."  When I asked her why not, she said that soldiers who are fighting in the war need to be strong and healthy, and that candy would not help with that.  Further, since they're not used to getting candy, they could overindulge (and then there was a reference to her sister) and get sick. 

No amount of reasoning could get her to see past this, so sorry soldiers...no candy from Vivian for you.  Of course she did talk about sending a picture she will draw instead.

After many options were both placed on the table and knocked off of it, Vivian has decided that she will sell her candy to her Granny for 10 cents a piece.  Granny can do what she wants with the candy (probably sent it to soldiers) and Vivian can do what she wants with her money (probably put it in her piggy bank). 

Trick or treating is tonight, yes, a day earlier than Halloween, but as a working parent with a child who has a shortened day at school, I'm OK with that. 

Can't wait to see how much her bill to Granny is.