“This year, she was able to go trick-or-treating without paparazzi, just like a normal mom,” a friend of Kate’s tells PEOPLE.

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Two days before Kate expressed deep pain and remorse about her life in a revealing TLC interview, the reality star dressed up as a glamorous witch and joined her sextuplets when they hit the streets in their quiet Pennsylvania neighborhood.

“Alexis was an adorable witch, Hannah a Spanish princess, Aaden a pirate, Collin was a Spider-Man, Leah was a kitty and Joel was Batman,” says the friend. Meanwhile, 8-year-old twins Cara, a ghost, and Mady, the devil, went out with their friends instead of their sibs.

The family’s show – Jon & Kate Plus Eight – stopped filming earlier this month after Jon Gosselin sued TLC to stop production.