I never realized how exhausting Halloween is! Maybe because there were few years as a kid that I actually got to go trick or treating, or that I didnt attend a school that made the day so fun! After a trip to walmart near downtown, I dropped Bo off at a friends in Columbia then drove back to our neighborhood in baltimore ( I mention this because the travel time and driving I did didnt help my fatigue at all!) to help out at Caleb’s school. They were having a parade and then a party. To me I thought parade would mean walking the school hallways, boy was I wrong! Kids aged pre-k through 5th grade lined up outside their classrooms then headed out in the neighborhood to parade through a few streets, suprisingly where people were actually sitting out on their porches watching us! I was just beginning to realize how big of a deal Halloween is in our neighborhood.
we got back to class finally, at this point I couldnt stop yawning, but was put to work helping w/ food and the kids. It made me miss working in a preschool, I love working with kids. After school ended I had my first real parent-teacher conference, she’s a first year teacher and in an attempt to get to know parents better had everyone schedule a conference with her regardless if your kid is an idiot or a genius. Well caleb is not a genius but he’s definitely doing more than some kids in his class and I was proud to see some work he’s done and to actually spend time watching him in his classroom environment. She had nothing but good things to say about my big boy and I was so happy!
We finally got to head back to Columbia to claim Bo. Caleb kept telling me we, the teacher and I, were taking too long to talk, he was glad when we left! I called on the way and found out my friend’s 4 1/2 year old took it upon herself to get Bo up out of the playpen upstairs when he woke and carried him down their flight of stairs, which is almost like 2 flights of stairs. I was a little upset to say the least but at least she didnt fall and hurt one of them. after a short visit there we headed home in rush hour traffic to have to rush and make dinner to be able to make it to the rec’s halloween party then to go trick or treating. the party was not that spectacular but trick or treating was.
It’s all about the candy!
I’ve never seen so many people out in our community ever! it was amazing. About every other ,at least, townhouse had people sitting out in costume handing out candy.
A friendly monster who was handing out candy!
the roads w/ single family homes of course we less occupied but there were still major decorations and tons of candy to be had. At one point an older lady had to admit she was out of candy, of course the kids were sad but she was too! she told us she had bought 30 bags of candy and was already out! It wasnt hard to believe with the size of the crowds walking the neighborhood. Dean said this is how he remembers Halloween, with lots of candy and community. A lot different from my memories of Halloween. I’m glad my kids will get good memories, although I think all Bo got out of it was a runnier nose than he already had!
our friend who was with us, is torn about Halloween. Her hubby has never celebrated it, and I know his reasonings since I grew up in the same denomination as he did. I shared how for me I dont believe letting my kids play dress up and practice their manners (please and thank you) is going to hurt my faith. Sure at some point we will explain to our kids what the holiday really is about and how we dont agree with it, but to keep them at home being miserable while their friends go out and have fun and get goodies is torture, believe I know. I mean why keep them from fun times like these:
on Saturday it was too cold for Bo to be blue so he just went in his cookie monster sweater and he was too cute!
On saturday Caleb wore his clown costume complete w/ makeup!
We can shelter our kids, but it’s important to know that sometimes pushing our beliefs on them is actually going to hurt their faith not strengthen in. Anyhoo…let me not get started on that…I was in bed shortly after the kids, asleep mid sentence in conversation w/ dean or so he says. I dont doubt it, I was exhausted yesterday morning then I went non stop til being able to get in bed and then I was out!
I’m still dragging this morning but today is a big day for us, Dean and I are celebrating our 7 year wedding anniversary, another entry I hope to get to later but not sure if I will be able to. I’m so in love with this man I married and am blessed to have the life we have. We’re meeting for lunch today but no other plans. wish I had a sitter for lunch but bo is pretty good when we’re out so hopefully today he’ll cooperate!
