Halloween in Florida is a little different from the experiences that I had growing up in New Jersey as a child. I fondly remember the cranberry picking, double-layered costumes and the best possible weather for bundled hayrides. Despite warmer weather, we still enjoy pumpkin painting and costume parades with our friends but we do seem to take off layers instead of adding them.
Halloween is also a really special time for me as a mom. I have realized now that this is our oldest son’s fifth Halloween that comparing his costumes and how he has grown year to year is really what makes this season special to me.
When Landon was three months old, my mom reminded me that my son needed his first costume. I had no plan. We literally just spent our days trying to keep him alive. I managed to pull together something last minute and he was awake in it for about fifteen minutes:
The following year, we were actively involved with a wonderful moms group in Jacksonville called Busy Moms and Tots of Jacksonville. I was so excited as I got Landon dressed as a spider for his very first Trick or Trunk experience. He, on the other hand, just really wanted to know where I was hiding his sippy cup of milk:
Somehow, another year passed and Landon was two and extremely active. I had to start sharing his Halloween candy with him because he suddenly became interested in eating it himself. Rude! Flashing back, it is so wild to see his baby cheeks gone and his mouthy grin, full of teeth and molars. Instead of holding him during that year’s Trick or Trunk event, I took pictures of him while he danced and ate candy:
I know what you are thinking – how could another year have passed by again? But it did. And fast. I was no longer picking out Landon’s Halloween costumes – he was telling me what HE wanted to be. He became an independent three-year-old who loved all of the Halloween events that Nocatee, our new neighborhood, held and was ready to share his love of dressing up with his new baby brother, Griffin. This picture was taken at a costume parade held by the mom’s group that I founded, The Real Housemoms of Nocatee and is one of my favorite pictures to date:
And Halloween as a four- year old boy? Well, some sort of superhero was selected, of course! And you can’t have superhero powers without consuming at least four pieces of candy and eating ice cream before dinner:
Moms, Halloween begins the season of exhaustion for all of us. Costumes, decorating, pulling something together for a Spooky Snack Swap at school. Once it’s finally over, we find ourselves Pinning recipes for an extravagant turkey dinner and let’s not even discuss the tasks needed to pull off a successful family Christmas!
But here’s the point: Just stop. Stop and reminisce. Pull out your children’s old photos of Halloween costumes and soak in the memories. The years and Halloweens, they are all going by so fast. And as much as the long days with our young kids can spook us, these memories will be sure to put the happy in Happy Halloween.
Please share along with the flashbacks by posting your child’s favorite Halloween costume that they wore in the past. Happy Halloween!
