The best holiday for mummies like me!
The whole Fam, my folks included, fit in Spina Farm's giant chair!
Halloween is nearly here and I am bursting with excitement! As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best holiday of the year. It starts a few weeks ahead of time with a wonderful trip to the pumpkin patch. The orange pumpkins against the blue sky is just gorgeous and makes for a fantastic family photo op. (If you’re a Halloween purist, like me, you go to the real pumpkin patch on the farm.) Kev and the kids decorate our yard. This year we grew our own pumpkin patch right out front which has made a nice backdrop for our “graveyard.” Then the night before Halloween, we have our pumpkin-carving extravaganza. Our family has a tradition of getting take-out from LaVilla (“Got Ravs?”) in Willow Glen and watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” It’s the perfect incentive for my Little Guys to finish their carving, clean their mess, and get showered. While all of that is happening, we’ve got pumpkin pie baking in the oven and a huge pot of veggie soup brewing on the stove for our annual Halloween shindig. The next evening, friends come over just before sunset, we have a huge photo op out front to showcase all the costumes, then we try to get the kids to eat some soup before we head out for some wonderful trick-or-treating!
Honestly, I think the number one reason I became a mother was to resurrect my opportunity to go out trick-or-treating. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I was almost old enough to drink legally the last time I went out on my own. The couple of years between, I borrowed kids from friends so I didn’t look too silly going door-to-door. Yeah, I guess you could say I LOVE trick-or-treating. And costumes- I love the costumes, too! It’s so much fun to come up with a creative idea and be something or someone else for a night. Last year, Kev and I were Pacman and Ms.Pacman. The year prior, Adam and Eve. (Don’t worry, we wore beige body suits.) My favorite was the year we were the Wonder Twins and Jeannessa, barely two at the time, was our space monkey Gleek.
Pregnancy offers another layer to make a costume fun. Since two of my three babies were born in July, I only got one opportunity with a bump on Halloween. That year I dressed up like a comical old miner, with suspenders and a long beard, straight out of a Scooby-Doo cartoon. My beer-belly looking bump gave it a little oomph. I’ve seen so many creative pregnancy costumes I just love! Check out these really creative ideas (including some Star Wars stuff, woot!).
I’ve never really understood the thinking that Halloween is a kids’ holiday. Historically, it certainly wasn’t. The whole tradition of dressing up and going door to door for candy evolved from times of yore when people would put on scary costumes to scare away spirits on the eve of Samhain, when it was believed the veil between living and dead was at its thinnest, and travel from farm to farm. At each house, they were offered snacks to sustain them through the night. Jack-o-Lanterns lit the way. So, I’d like to think I’m just kickin’ it old school with all of my Halloween shenanigans.
This year, I invite the mummies to celebrate with me! Come to my Halloween-themed classes October 29- 31* showing your Halloween spirit (costume, accessories, or just a fun Halloween T-shirt) and you will get a raffle ticket to win a Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte (or whatever you fancy- I’ll give you a gift card). If both you and your little one come dressed up, that’s two raffle tickets!
*Classes include:
Prenatal Yoga at Cindy’s on Sunday at 9:45am
Mom & Toddler Yoga at Blossom on Monday at 10:30am
Mom & Baby/ Toddler Yoga at Cindy’s on Tuesday at 10:00am
Prenatal Yoga at Cindy’s on Tuesday at 11:45am
And whether you can make it or not, please post your Halloween costumes on my Facebook page! I absolutely love seeing everyone’s costumes, especially pregnant mamas and the wee ones. Happy Halloween Witches!!!
Monkey See...
Monkey Do...
Monkey get in trouble too!