Time to break out the fleece footed pj’s, peeps – it’s November in Chicago! With full tummies, we three Bischoff’s closed out our busy weekend with a quiet evening at home. Home stretch, here we come!!

Charlie in her scrumptious Deux Par Deux from Fall of ’08…LOVE Deux Par Deux!!

After about two and a half hours of solid trick or treating, we headed back to the Rylander’s house where Olivia’s Daddy Mr. Stephen treated us all to an AMAZING meal. Here’s what was on the menu: Glazed ham, mashed potatoes, spinach salad, sweet rolls, and for dessert, pumpkin parfaits. I mean, I think I made up for aaaaallll the prego weight gain in the WORLD in just that one meal. It was phenomenal, and Mr. Stephen and Ms. Alisha are truly gifted at hospitality. To top it all off, Ms. Alisha also made homemade hot cocoa right there on the stove. I think Vann was in heaven.

When we got home later and our sugared-out girlie was safe and warm in her bed, we commented on how blessed and lucky we are to have such wonderful and giving friends. With the Rylander’s hospitality and the Fearing’s (always funny) storytelling, we felt like we were given this special pocket of memories that we would cherish forever. God is so good!! To be able to walk through life with such fine people (and their sweet babies) is just a treat and a gift.

Phase 2 of our Halloween extravaganza started at right around 5 pm on Saturday. It was pretty cold by then, so we bundled up and headed out to trick or treat with Charlie’s good friends Emilyn and Olivia. To say that we and the girls had a blast would be a huge understatement. Our little Dorothy was grinning from ear to ear the entire night.

For being just 2 years old, the girls hung in there like champs. We ended up walking west on Eastwood and came across the most charming neighborhood I think I’ve seen here in the city. It’s called Ravenswood Manor, and if you live in Chicago, you probably know where I’m talking about. It was like we stepped into a family time warp. The hood is filled with bungalows, sweet single family homes that boast big craftsman-style porches and all kinds of refurbished details. If we were planning on buying in Chicago, this neighborhood would be at the very top of our list.

There were kids everywhere. Every house was decorated and parents/adults were posted outside each home with huge bowls of candy. Everyone smiled when we passed and there were even dogs dressed up and loving on the kids as they passed. The fallen leaves were everywhere and it really was such a magical night. For Charlie’s first “real” round of trick or treating (last year I think she was sick and the year before she was only 2 months old!) it was definitely one for the books.

And can I just mention how much these three little girls love each other?? Granted, they are 2, so there is always the requisite issues with sharing and shoving (mostly on the part of Charlie), but after the second hour of trick or treating came to a close, none of them wanted back in their strollers. They definitely did not want the fun to end. And you should have seen the “take”. Coupled with our stash at home that was (ahem) supposed to go to kids on our block, we’ve got quite the stash which I will absolutely have to get rid of, and fast…

After our morning trick or treating, we found a warm pub to set up camp in and ate a hearty meal. (Too bad Mommy can’t have a bloody mary, because she was sure craving one.) As you can see by Charlie’s red nose, we were happy to be inside!!

A word about her second outfit: a Halloween gift from Great Aunt Issy. So fun, right?? Unfortunately, our lunch was not meltdown-free…we seem to be in a place where we can’t get through a meal in public without having to carry Charlie out kicking and screaming. She did “ok” this time (ok being a relative term) because I stuffed her full of candy any time she got squirrelly. Ah well. Sorry friends, if we can’t meet you for lunch until this phase passes. Baby Emma got the prize for being best behaved at the table…isn’t she a doll??

These adorable pups were mascots at the new Steve Quick Jewelers, conveniently located right around the corner. I jokingly mentioned to the men that the Mommies deserved some “treats” as well, but I don’t know that anyone heard me…or maybe they were just pretending not to…

I mean, how cute is she?? Ms. Marla loaned us this amazing costume (handmade by her Mom) and Charlie looked adorable in it this morning. Kelly wore this same outfit when she was Charlie’s age, and all we had to do was pick up a basket for her Toto. I attempted to get her hair in “pigtails” but they didn’t stay in for long. I’m afraid we walked around with one pigtail for most of the morning.

There’s No Place Like Home, There’s No Place Like Home…