First, I have been given this:
For this, by her (ok Her is SleepyNita of Drowning in Laundry.. the least I can do is use her name!!).
I can’t even tell you how touched I am. But I’m sure you can imagine. :-)
ANYway, yay me and thank you SleepyNita. Seriously.
Moving on… Halloween and the Holiday That Almost Wasn’t.
I had been dragging my feet on Halloween. I didn’t get new costumes because, well, they had plenty that had barely been worn and it’s not like anyone here would know the difference.
I wasn’t excited about trick or treating because I wasn’t even sure when or where this was to be done. Back home we had a set date and time (shut up, yes I know now most places don’t do that, back off me) and here we… uh… they… uh… fuck, I had no clue.
We didn’t get pumpkins because we hardly ever get pumpkins. Because grandma and grandpa get pumpkins for everyone.
I was kind of bummed, thinking of all the stupid little traditions from back home and the fact that I was so freaking lost here when it came to even the simplest of things.
In short, I was being a HalloScrooge. And a pretty shitty mom.
Thankfully, at the last minute, I pulled my head out of my ass.
I sent the husband to the pumpkin patch to prepare for an afternoon of carving and cookie baking. I left work early to pick up The Dora Costume and The Something Scary That Totally Covers ALL of Me!!
They carved, we dressed up, we prepared to venture into the great trick or treating unknown.
And wouldn’t you know it - a neighbor showed up at the door. In fact, the entire family showed up. Sure, they were begging for candy. But they also shook hands and smiled and talked and made us feel like… well… neighbors.
When we finally headed out, every new door opened revealed a real life, smiling person. Right here. On my street. Down the block. Around the corner. For the first time since we moved here, I felt like I lived among people and not just the shells of model homes with cars that are never driven and yards that are never played in.
The neighborhood was alive with kids and teenagers and parents and laughing and… just, everything. For the first time the streets breathed. And I grinned and laughed and sweat my happy little ass off as we walked in and out of the throngs of people.
And it was magic.
One holiday down.
Two more to go.
But for now… I’m just going to bask in the glow of one really good night.
Edited to add: people, click on the ONE picture and you can see the rest. Sheesh. :)
Posted in It's All About Me, Photoshop is not an addiction, all in the family, the transplant
Yay! You made it! But, according to my post tonight, I am the worlds shittiest mother, literally.
Your babies are beautiful
Dora and ooooooooo Scary Boy! Woo hoo!!!
I am so glad it turned out well. SO glad.
Oh my gosh, Britt…when she smiles, she looks just like you! What a cutie!
I know how you feel: I was less than enthusiastic about trick-or-treating this year. After 16 straight years of doing it, it is losing its appeal. But I sucked it up and went tromping around, had the pumpkins glowing on the porch, and the 7 yr. old was happy. (sigh)
J. :thumbsup:
This is the post you promised yesterday? Seriously?
Fucking slacker.
Whoa. Once HoosierGirl pointed it out, it’s really true. Spitting image.
CP: we should have a contest.
AmyD: thank you
HoosierGirl5: Oh man I’ve only been doing it for like 5. of course… that’s probably why it’s still fun!
avitable: I’m sorry, I was trying to edit all the pictures and get a post done last night because I don’t have any fucking time during the day or in the afternoon or when I get home from work.
What’s YOUR excuse?
Rich: yeah, we both do the Jay Leno Chin when we Cheese.
I’m sorry, but you promised pictureS, and you only delivered one. I want my money back.
It’s the cow tipping you miss most, isn’t it?
Im glad to hear you have neighbors! That is awesome.
it is all over the news and in the papers around here when trick or treating will take place. some neighborhoods do it on the saturday before halloween, others do it on halloween. so i see nothing wrong with you being a tad confused. easy to do.
but i am so glad that you managed to get it all together and have fun begging for candy with the other free loaders. halloween really can be so fun!
i’m sorta scared to say this, but i agree with avi. (yes, that was terribly weird to agree with him.) we wanted pictureS.
oh…and you totally deserved that award. that was one hell of a post.
Very cool that things are feeling more and more like “home” too. but I dunno… sweating and Halloween… just don’t seem right somehow.
Very cute (Dora) and scary (Scream)!
I would be hard for me to miss those little traditions with family like grandparents getting the pumpkings. But on the other hand, you can trick or treat in shorts and people can actually see the kids costumes. Not like in the colder parts of the country where you have to wear a winter coat.
Your kids are the cuteness! Loved the pictures …
Those photos look remarkably like the expressions on my oldest and middle child.
And I was a HalloScrooge this year. I literally stapled together a costume at the last minute for my middle daughter.
avitable: click on the fucking LINKABLE picture.
Mr. Fab: that’s done in the Spring.
DeannaBanana: of course they’re not like YOUR neighbors.
hellohahanarf: well I’m glad someone else gets my confusion!! LOL
(and click on the one picture it will take you to the set - I wasn’t sure how many pictures of kids in costumes people could take)
RW: yeah, it is kind of weird, I have to admit. But I’ll take weird over snow suits under costumes!
Wicked H:
Summer: it was nice for Dora to actually be in shorts.
J.: awww, thanks!
jozet: I think that makes you a REFORMED HalloScrooge!
Wait. Did you give out lollipops? Bossy will see your lollipops and raise you a bowl of Milky Ways.
Actually, I bought a bag of Kiddie Mix that had lollipops and Smarties and Now and Laters and Shitty Ass Gum.
I also bought a bag of Milky Ways. Three Musketeers. And Reese’s.
But we only had to share the Kiddie Mix. :-)
Great to hear you had such a great time!!!