Halloween

So here is a little update about the greatest holiday in October. A few years ago, I didn't go shopping for pumpkins until Halloween day. That was a huge mistake that I hope to never repeat. There were no pumpkins left in the grocery stores, not one. So I had to go to one of those expensive pumpkin patches and paid over $20 for one pumpkin. Each of the kids carved a side that year. In order not to re-create this tragedy in my children's life, I asked Todd to pick up some pumpkins about a week before the big day. Here is his story in his own words:

"I am now officially one of (add reverb to James Earl Jones' voice) "The People of Wal-mart." Regardless of how I feel about this, it's my new reality. Friday night I got sent out to do some errands, which included buying two pumpkins from Wal-mart. Right as I pull into the parking lot, somehow my water bottle empties all over my.....um.....crotchal region. I sat in the car for a minute staring at my light green cargos against my dark green lap. Then I realize, "I'll fit right in." I walk down the aisles with only two pumpkins in my buggy, looking for some other stuff, which they turn out not to have. I see a shifty employee pretending to shuffle merchandise around, all the while cutting his eyes my way. At that moment, what comes over the speakers, "Hey Soul Sister." So now I have a headache too. I feel a little better when I get all the way to the check out stand. I look over at the eye glasses place and see someone even more curious than myself. An older lady, surely somebody's beloved grandma, dressed to the hilt in all wedding white. White brimmed hat, white shawl, white blouse, and the whitest-tightest spandex pants I've ever seen-oh yea, along with some of those white granny high heels, the ones that look like bookends with straps. I love me some Wal-mart people." 

We got a good laugh when he came home and told us what happened. We missed having Ariel home with us this year. She carved her pumpkin with my brother and his family and they were nice enough to send me a picture. Aaron and Megan did an excellent job as usual. Aaron made the Grim Reaper and Megan made the cat.

This year was the first year I wasn't able to make it to trunk or treat. Aaron went with some friends and made his own costume, he was a super creepy zombie!

Halloween night the kids went off with their friends. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Megan. She dressed up as Hermione-on the run, but she ran off before I could get a picture. I stayed downstairs to hand out the treats and watch the football game. I even watched 15 minutes of "The Gremlins." That's all I could stand, I don't know if it was a hit back in the 80's, but it wasn't as good as I remembered it to be. Two days after Halloween, Aaron brought his pillow case full of candy into our room. Meg and I were on the bed, he threw it down and said, "Divide the rest among yourselves." I can handle that arrangement, he does all the work and we reap the benefits. Maybe this is a sign that he has outgrown trick or treating, and deep down, that makes me sad. They grew up too fast.

Every year I think how great it would be if I were to put on an awesome Halloween party like my mom does. My parents always did such a great job with their parties. Over the years, they came up with the most creative costumes each year. We couldn't wait to see what they were going to be, it was always a secret. This was our second Halloween without my dad. Even though it's been hard to do, my mom has carried on the tradition alone. I admire her so much and even though we weren't able to be at her party this year, I have to include a picture of her. She was the most adorable...Mary Poppins.