The Return of Halloween

Halloween is our favorite holiday. The girls start talking about and planning for it months before. They love coming up with costumes and have a blast knocking on doors for candy with pals. I love the cultural symbolism, the vast creativity and the opportunity for kids to be kids in such a silly and spooky way. Even Don is on board with this holiday. Don may say Christmas is his favorite time of year but each year he decks out the yard like a creepy cemetery, complete with a coffin he made (with a Skelton that lays inside!) Last year, we were all super bummed that Covid-19 put Halloween on hold. This year we made up for lost time! The girls came up with creepy, creative and whimsical costumes. We invited a bunch of friends (old and new) for pizza in the backyard and then we headed out to Hercules-by-the-Bay for trick or treating. And we were not the only ones. It was crowded. It seemed like so many others were feeling the exhilaration of the return of Halloween while still being safe with masks and distance. Houses were decked out, there was enough candy to make teeth rot a few times over and the weather was just perfect. 

Amara had been planning this years costume for a couple of years. Of course, as usual, her Dad helped her make her three headed person come to fruition (he is such a good sport as well as creative). I also helped with getting some ideas how to put it together from my super creative friends Janet, Agnes and the posse I went to Nola with. Don, Amara and even Aunt Paul did such a good job pulling it all together that Amara won most creative costume at her school. Havana took a little more time putting things together. She used a combination of things to make herself into an elf, sorcerer.  And of course, Don spend lunch breaks the days leading up to get the perfect robe (he is a good sport and a great dad). I did my share as well. I made the arrangements with other parents, ordered stuff online, fed the kids and then took them out to do the actual trick or treating. When I saw these tween and teens out and about giggling, comparing candy, oohing and ahhinng at all the spooky and whimsical decorations it made my heart happy. Our Soul Child should always be allowed to be free and have fun. I loved seeing that our older kids were allowing themselves to be kids. We were all so thrilled for the return of Halloween, despite on-going pandemic concerns. So to Covid we said, boo and had a great time anyway.

Our front yard.