Two nights ago I did something I have never done in the entirety of my life, thus far:  I carved a pumpkin for the first time. I know this may be hard for you to believe, but I’m pretty sure it’s true (Mom, if you’re reading this, feel free to correct my poor slipshod memory). A smiley face on a pumpkin is a much more friendly gesture than a mouth full of jagged, imposing teeth. Besides, the world’s already got more than its fair share of jagged-toothed empty heads anyway.

Yesterday, we went trick-or-treating with our 2-year old boy, Ellis (dressed as a banana, a costume my wife made for him) in Five-Points here in our eclectic neighborhood of East Nashville. Walking about, the trees are making their brilliance known, just in time too. There was a petting zoo, but Ellis wasn’t nearly as enamored with the animals as he was the crushed shale in the story-time and costume judging area where we tried to get him to take notice of anything outside of the rocks on the ground to which he was transfixed. I am (humbly) proud to say that he won first place in the costume judging. I mean, how can you not vote a two-year old in a banana outfit the overall winner? There were at least two monkees in the lineup, and though several jokes were made as to his being endangered in such company, little Peters won hands down. *Insert cute smiley face*

We had a very fun afternoon – it’s good to be a kid with your own kid – until he OD’d on sugar and junk food later that night. Parents, learn your lessons. Ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you the winner of the 2008 East Nashville costume contest in the Five-and-Under category, Ellis Perrin Peters: