Halloween; Odds and Ends

Anders was "Jack 'O Letters" for Halloween.  It was a smashing success!  Anders did not like going to a Halloween party on Oct. 19 because it was too early, but once our friend Stephen Kehs put a jar of candy corn in front of Anders to guess how many were in the jar, then he was much better and enjoyed the remainder of the party.  He had another great time at Sugar Land Town Center for their Halloween bash.  He stood in two really long lines for candy.  This is the first year he has been patient enough to do so. We had lost his good will by the time I wanted to pose in front of the giant inflatable pumpkin.  We also went to Zoo Boo last weekend where we once again saw the Kehses.  Anders' Zoo Boo tattoo is still showing in parts.  We didn't stay too long because it was, well, a zoo. 
Halloween was almost a washout.  It rained from afternoon on the 30th until early afternoon on Halloween.  Even the bayou in front of our house had water. It was gorgeous weather by the time that we went out. Anders had quite a hall as he took home 83 pieces of candy, up from his record of 76 pieces last year.  These are Anders' numbers, so you can rely on their accuracy.  One of Anders' friends from school, Oscar, came trick or treating at our house, which was a pleasant surprise.  The other interesting cultural difference between here and back home or even our old neighborhood is that over half of the adults and some of the people sitting outside handing out candy were drinking!  It made for quite a cheerful Halloween. 
Anders has become more accepting of the little brother he has coming.  We had a meltdown in Trader Joe's about a month ago when we were buying pumpkins after Anna explained that she was buying a family of four pumpkins.  About 10 minutes later, Anders fully melted down.  Once he was calmer, he asked, "Why do you need another baby when you have me?"  That was tough to hear.  Anders is talking about the baby more now and in a more constructive manner, but that positive trend line can always change.  One of the things that has helped Anders is the role playing game he has created where he is the father, I am "Mother," and Anna is "Kid."  Anna impersonates Anders.  She revels in doing all the annoying things that Anders does to drive her crazy.  It's funny to see him get exasperated with her and hustle to the kitchen when "Kid" demands water.  Kid is a boy if you were wondering.  Anders listens to me as "Mother" better than in real life as my nagging compels action rather than ignoring.  The long and the short of it is that he is dealing better than before.
Anders likes kindergarten at his daycare.  He calls it Kindergarten because it's kind of kindergarten.  He gives his after school teachers homework to do with the worksheets he makes up.  He also does this for us at home.  Anders received an "unsatisfactory" in science class because he didn't follow directions.  This is a problem for Anders.  The assignments are too easy for him, so he answers questions that he wishes he was asked.  Anders also very much enjoys Sunday School.  I think he'll like choir too, which is Sunday at 4 pm, but he's only been 1 out of 3 times since choir often conflicts with nap time.  I think God understands that Anders needs his naps.
One of the fun things about being a parent is remembering a bunch of stuff I'd forgotten.  For example, I now lay down next to Anders in his bed for five minutes at bedtime.  It seems to help him calm down, refrain from popping out of bed, and ultimately going to sleep. My uncle Fred used this technique when we went down and stayed with him.  Anders holds his poop at school, so when he gets home he has to go, but he needs me to hold his hand.  I used to get my aunt Marilee to hold my hand.  Marilee would amble in, pull up a stool next to me, and then squeeze my hand hard when I needed it.  I know it sounds gross, but it's a really sweet memory that I'm glad I have again.  Halloween also reminded me of how much better today's old people are at giving candy than they were when we were kids in the 80s.  I don't know how many of those orange peanuts, strange wax paper candy, or packages of candy corn I used to get.  Today's old people understand that giving snickers or M&Ms or something of similar high quality is preferred.  I feel like the old people of the 1980s knew their candy was bad, but they gave it anyway because it offered those old folks the opportunity to tell us perplexed trick or treaters how their parents gave them orange candy peanuts as they broke the news of President McKinley's death.
I've rambled long enough.  November in Texas puts me in such a good mood, like May used to back home.