October felt a little extra special this year. I felt more settled and all cozied up in our home. Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the cool fresh air with everything seeming a bit spookier - creating special and enjoyable memories with Emet and Abner made it even better.

HUBER’S

We started the season by going to a local winery and orchard to pick out our pumpkins. Some of the pumpkins were as big as Emet! We spent the day at Huber’s enjoying the slow Saturday, eating some local food in the picnic area, and listening to live music.

SELECTING A COSTUME

We went back and forth on what we wanted to do for Emet and Abner’s costumes this year. We wanted something whimsical and fun for both of them.

We went through Halloween costumes in Target just for fun, because why not. Emet had a blast running around and letting his imagination go. This year, we decided to dress Emet up as Peter Pan and Abner as a Lost Boy.

Abner: We dressed him in a dog costume which matches, almost exactly, the outfits worn by the Lost Boys.

Emet: For Peter Pan, we cut a green polo shirt to make it raggedy. Then we got green felt and sewed it together, and added a red felt feather for his hat. We made his belt out of a corded strip of material. His sword is my most favorite. Calvin and Emet have matching swords that were made earlier this year that they use to play together. They’re made out of two pieces of crossed wood and black tape binding them together. Then, we just used a brown pair of leggings for the pants, and he was ready to go.

Oh, how I love watching them play. Emet’s imagination is a complete joy at this stage. He enters anther world and gets lost there. It’s so fun.

TRADITIONS

As you know, I love traditions. I love anticipating them each year. Here are some more that we try to keep up each year for Halloween:

Halloween Crafts - I love thinking of new fun crafts for Emet and me to do together with each season. I love helping grow Emet’s creativity and watching him make his own piece of art. Thinking of some specifically for Halloween has especially been a blast. We’ve done everything from cutting out paper bats and pumpkins and decorating them, to stretching cotton balls and making spider webs, to painting rocks, pumpkins, and wooden haunted houses together.

Stories - I try to pull out books to read to the kids that match the season. Autumn books are some of my favorites.

Hillcrest - This street goes all out each year. It’s almost like walking through a theme park or haunted house. Each year that we’ve been here in Louisville, we’ve made it a tradition to at least drive (if not also walk) down Hillcrest.

Food - We celebrate Halloween by eating grilled cheese, tomato soup, and monster juice (green Hi-C).

Trick-or-Treating - We live in a great little neighborhood. Having everyone come together on special occasions like this is what I think I like most.

What ways do you like to celebrate Halloween?

{October 2018}

| Credits: Author - Jacintha Payne; Photography - Jacintha Payne, Calvin Payne, Abigail Cavanaugh, & Sarah Burgess |