I’m not always on the ball when it comes to Halloween. There have been years when I’ve thrown something together at the last minute, and years when I’m way ahead and know exactly what the kids are going to be.
This year, as soon as the costumes came out in the catalogs and online, I let the boys start looking so they could decide. I don’t sew, so there was no chance I’d be making anything. Hudson and Hayes went back and forth on a few different options, but ultimately they decided on Buzz and Woody from Toy Story.
Hudson actually loves to coordinate costumes with Hayes, and I’m sure our years of doing this are numbered. But he only wanted to be something that had a “friend” that Hayes could wear. They’ve been obsessed with Toy Story for a couple of years now, so that’s what the decided.
On Friday morning, they were up bright and early, and I got them dressed in their costumes. Then they waited outside for Hudson’s ride to school. They just couldn’t wait! Their school does a little Halloween parade, so they dressed up and I was able to go watch.
That night, we all walked down to our neighborhood cul de sac for a little block party. The boys rode on a hay ride, we ate pizza, and RC and PC joined us for the fun.
RC always makes them smile!
And my little pumpkin heads!
After the party was over, I went to the house to hand out candy while Todd walked door to door with the boys. After about thirty minutes, we traded places and I walked with the boys. It had become pretty dark and Hudson was holding tight to my hand. He was pretty spooked.
And as we were walking on a quiet, dark street, just me with my precious boys, I just prayed that I would never forget that moment. Nothing unusual happened. There’s no real story to tell, except that it was just the three of us and they were trusting that their mommy would take care of them in the dark. And they were so excited to trick or treat. In some ways they’ve grown up so much, but in so many ways they are still so small and vulnerable. And I just loved that I was the one there to reassure them that we were going to be safe. And I was the one to talk to them about the bright moon. And I was there to hold their hands when the cars drove by.
It was a sweet moment, and the first year that we’ve split up. And while I do wish the four of us had been together instead of having to split up, I’m always so thankful for those quiet moments when we can have those sweet conversations and moments of trust.
We came home and sat on the back porch where everyone was allowed to eat five pieces of candy before going to bed. Hudson and Hayes both had the time of their lives. It was so fun to be in our new neighborhood and to get to sit on the front porch and pass out candy while our kids walked around and met the neighbors.
It’s true that kids change everything. I was never a “Halloween person” until I had kids. And experiencing it through their eyes is one of my favorite things now.
Awww….Woody and Buzz! Two of my favorites! 🙂 They look adorable!!
They look so cute in their costumes!! Isn’t it just so much fun having kiddos this time of year?!? And next year…we’ll each have one more :).
They look adorable! My oldest was Buzz too! 🙂
Your boys looked so sweet as Buzz and Woody! My bigs wore those together and Batman and Robin one year and were so darling I could hardly stand it. Those years of them being each other’s “partner” are some of my favorite memories ever.
I wasn’t much of a Halloween person either before kids, but they have changed everything. I even went to school and read to my son’s class dressed as Minnie Mouse (which I NEVER would have imagined doing) per my middle guy’s request. What sweet memories!
Precious! My bigs were Buzz and Woody one year and Batman and Robin another time. Now they pick whatever they are into and don’t match, but those years of seeing them as each other’s buddies are some of my favorite memories.
You are right that having kids changes your perspective on so many things. I wasn’t a huge Halloween person but this year I even went to the boys’ school to read dressed as Minnie Mouse (per my middle guy’s request) which is something I NEVER would have thought to do before they came along. Such sweet memories!
Just visiting from the Jessica’s linkin! Adorable woody and buzz you have! And how sweet that they want to dress up together, to coordinate. Love it.
SO precious! Connor was Buzz last year for Halloween and it was my favorite costume yet (well, tied between that and when he dressed as Brayden’s cow 😉 ). Can’t wait to see all THREE of your boys dressed up next year!
Just love their precious costumes! I loved trick or treating with the kiddos too. Especially once it got dark — just holding their hands, not worrying about capturing a moment on my camera, and just being. Made my mama heart happy too!