Halloween - Maybe It's Fun Again

Halloween has never really been "my holiday."

Maybe it's because I grew up in Michigan and, more often than not, Halloween costumes were covered by warm coats.

Because it was cold.

And raining.

Come my teenage years, when we were living in Oregon, I opted to pass out candy rather than dress up.  I think I went to one Halloween party in high school?  Maybe?

In college, more of the same.  Although, we didn't get trick-or-treaters.  So when I opted to "pass out candy" I was really opting to sit at home and eat candy.

The past 3 Halloweens, we have been in California.  And we have not had a single trick-or-treater.  Sure, the first year we were living in a trailer behind a barn.  But the other two years we have been living in an apartment in a very well lit and safe part of town!

Well, this Halloween has been different.

Because of J.

It was his first Halloween.

 

And it was like he knew something was different.

He was so happy all day long!  

Full of smiles and giggles (which sound more like screams, but they're accompanied with smiles).

Any time I said "Happy Halloween" to him, he burst into huge smiles!  

(You better believe I was saying "Happy Halloween" all day long - how could I not?  Look at that smile!)

I knew we couldn't just sit at home with no trick-or-treaters.  Not on J's first Halloween.

So, we went to Uncle C and Auntie S's house!

His cousin's helped him trick-or-treat.

They even shared their candy with him!

(Seriously, L insisted that J get to take home some candy.)

And he loved it!  

Every person who opened their door got huge smiles from J!  

He didn't mind the dark, he didn't mind his hat, he didn't mind the noise, he didn't mind the chill in the air.

He loved it all.

And I loved watching him!

I loved watching his eyes get big as he saw other kids go running past.  I loved watching him watch his cousins and smile so big as they yelled "Trick-or-treat!"  I loved how he tried to eat his treat bag, more concerned with getting the fabric of the bag into his mouth than the candy inside of it.  

I loved it all.

This is how Halloween is meant to be celebrated - with a kid.

 I can't wait until next year!