Erin Akin Carroll

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.