Halloween

It's that time again. We've started talking about Halloween costumes. This year I didn't even have to push the idea of dressing up with a family theme, the kids just assumed that's what we would be doing and were even excited about it. (Yes, my plan for total family domination is working out just as I planned.) But then, just as naturally to them comes the plain fact that of course they'll each dress up as something different for trick-or-treating on the 31st. Which means more work for me.
But I don't mind.
It's all worth it.
I talked with the kids and we bounced around a few ideas and were able to settle on our theme this year (I won't tell you yet, it's a surprise, but not too hard to guess), with everyone eagerly and easily choosing their characters...except for Josh. Bless his little heart, he has a hard time deciding on things. He's chosen at least three different options for himself only to change his mind later and fret over what he should be instead. He was really worked up about it while we were talking in the car the other day. He kept asking me what he should be and I kept giving him suggestions (including those he'd already dismissed) but none of them would do and he just kept agonizing.
Lydia tried urging him, "Josh, you should be Hello Kitty."
(She was wearing her favorite Hello Kitty shoes at the time.)
(No, our family theme is not Japanese characters.)
Her insistence only added to Josh's agitation. "Lydi, no! I do not want to be Hello Kitty!"
"But Josh, you could just be Hello Kitty for Halloween."
"Lydi! That doesn't even...you're just...I don't...that doesn't even make sense!" (exasperated that she would suggest such a thing)
"But Hello Kitty is soft. And cute." (soft and cute said as two syllable words)
"No! Lydia! I do not want to be Hello Kitty!!" (losing his mind now)
"But Josh..." (calmly)
We finally managed to come up with an acceptable new idea for Josh. I'm hopeful this one will stick. In the meantime Lydia has decided she would like a Hello Kitty birthday cake.