When I first found out that I was having a baby "on or around" October 15th, I could barely contain my excitement about having a HALLOWEEN baby. I anxiously picked out his first costume, wondering if he would arrive in time that we could attend Boo at the Zoo (which he didn't and then was way too "Newbornesque" to face the zoo. Little Stinker). However, he arrived in time that at least I was comfortable enough even HAVING a baby, so that I could dress him up and hand out candy all evening while holding him. Sweet.
I love Halloween and it has a long history. Such a long history, that I don't even remember it. I have pictures of faithful costumes put together by either my parents or my grandmother. I have memories of my dad dressing up with us to take us Trick 'r Treating - and my favorite was the Three Ghosts. Literally, my dad threw sheets over my baby sister, myself and himself. Sometimes, having a Hippie Parent is totally, completely, and utterly under-rated because that is still one of my most precious Halloween Memories EVER. Also, I have DISTINCT memories of him dressing up for my younger sister to the point it frightened her and he was banned from wearing the gorilla mask for several years. Furthermore, when I was a kid, we lived in the small Kansan town of Oskaloosa and folks, in the 70s, you Trick 'r Treated the WHOLE FUCKING TOWN. Seriously. Of course, even back then we heard the old Razor Blade in the Apple/Popcorn Ball story, but hello! That wasn't happening in Oskaloosa. Anyway, it makes me feel Warm n' Fuzzy to know that if we still live here when Arun is old enough, we can definitely Trick 'r Treat in our own neighborhood at least.
So, where am I going with this? I just sent out the Evite for Arun's 1st Halloween Party. I had decided WAY last year while Arun was still in utero that I probably would take advantage of the October birthday. My goal for this, is that it will always be a Halloween party and never, ever a Blow-Out Birthday party. Meaning, because it IS his birthday, Arun GETS to throw a party FOR his friends. My hope is that he will see this as a PRIVILEGE, this whole opportunity to do something nice for his friends. And of course, as he grows older, he will help in the planning and such. If he doesn't appreciate this? Then, obviously X and I went wrong somewhere and it probably started with that little red fuck, TMX Elmo. As you KNOW, Toys with Batteries? SPOIL the child, nevermind the rod.
Anyway, the only sad part of this whole Halloween Party is that it made me face the Stark Divide between MY friends and ARUN'S friends. My normal inclination would be to invite every single friend of MINE who has procreated in the past few years. However, we are having this Halloween party at our house and we have limited space, so I have to keep it to the actual people that Arun AND I hang out with. A very weird realization for me, but in a good way. It's always nice to have friends, isn't it? Even TOO many, if the case may be.
Oh, and The Official Halloween Costume for Arun? I've had it planned since MAY. I wish I was kidding.
No Bones About It
16 comments:
ok, well then prepare to be jealous - my cousin and his wife had 3 of their 4 kids on Oct 31 (and there were NO multiple births involved) how freaky is that?!!
We don't even do the whole Halloween thing over here (which, btw, is so not fair :madface: ) so the boy and I shall live viacriously through yours.
I too love Halloween and dressed up well into my 20's. The girls have talked me into having a Halloween slumber party and I have to admit, I am pretty excited at the prospect.
I am having a small world moment because I have family that live in Oskaloosa and seeing how it is a small town you probably know them - the Muiller's.
I LOVE the little skeleton picture - he is just too adorable!
Oooh, Howl-o-ween is my favourite holiday of the year. Can't wait to see what Arun is togged up as (the party sounds tres cool also).
I can't get over his little footses in the skeleton pic.
I have to admit that we already have a Halloween outfit for our kid and he hasn't even been born yet. My husband is a big Halloween fan as well and is altogether too excited to parade the poor child around the neighborhood and for the 4 trick-or-treaters that we actually get at our house. Should be a hoot.
You know? I think the Midwest dives into Halloween better than anywhere else. Maybe it's all the corn and big old barns and farm houses, but I love that it's so BIG here. The way so many people go over the top with their yards and house decorations. I adore it.
In the current barrage of information it is so odd to flip through the paper and realize you recognize a wee one named Arun from a local blog. My wife and I also joined our first CSA this year and have really enjoyed it. I hope yours proved to be good as well... even if it was a bit trying for some of the veggies, etc. this year due to the heat. Keep up the written word!
diana, I have to disagree. New England, the home of Ichabod Crane, is pretty good for it too.
Pretty much any place that has rustley leaves and cool winds blowing.
Unfortunately, Cali-4-nye-eh isn't that place.
Kelly,
OH, I am jealous!
Aibee,
Dress Daniel up anyway. Then hide from the neighbors. :-)
Flybunny,
I think I know who you are talking about. Will email you about it.
Monkey,
I am SO excited about his costume - I love the homemade-ish ones the best. I can't sew, but am pretty handy with a glue gun and puffy paint.
Shalini,
Yes, I bought Arun's costume well before he was born, too!
Diana,
Yes, we do a pretty fair job here in the Midwest, but I have to side with Monkey a little, too. The east coast has an "atmosphere" to it, particularly the area where Monkey is from. And nearby Salem? Has that atmosphere all year long - even in AUGUST. :-)
WindsorCastle,
Hmmm, methinks I need to run out and buy a copy of the Kansas City Star. I thought that was going to happen because the photographer seemed particularly enamoured of Arun that day.
Monkey,
Rustley leaves are sort of a "must have" for Halloween. I think it's an actual rule.
Wordnerd,
Yeah and when he is a teenager all of his friends will be figuring out how to sneak alcohol into it. Little will they realize, I KNOW ALL THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE. Been there, done that.
Glad to see others share my appreciation for the best holiday all year!! Lucky you that you get to roll it in with Arun's first birthday party!
I'm not due until December, but I'm still going to buy all the costumes - on clearance in November - and randomly dress up my baby. At least I get to be white-trash-pregnant-Britney for Halloween!!
ModernDayHermit,
My sister had a similar issue with Holidays vs. Appropriate Seasons while living in Hawaii.
CPA Mom,
I am so very excited about his party that it will be hard to not go overboard. And I really don't want to do that because my social group is very low-key on this sort of thing and I certainly don't want to start a trend. But still......
MB,
Your costume? Is going to be AWESOME. Must post pics!
How can you NOT go overboard at Halloween. It seriously is best time of year...
Non-freezing days but cool crisp nights
Pumpkin and apples
Candy
Howl-o-ween music (ack! I totally want to send you this great mix)
Lots and lots of warm comforting food.
Decorations!
Umm, yeah. Hi, my name is Monkey. I go overboard for house parties.
I have to go to a wedding this year but one of these days I'm going to dress up as Jem from Jem and the Holograms.
You can add me to the list of folks who bought their kid a Halloween costume before giving birth. He got to be a little sweet pea in a pod. Of course, I dressed up as Harry Potter:
http://mimidrama.blogspot.com/2006/08/harry-potter.html
:)
A Halloween birthday party sounds really fun!
and, uh, that'd be 'vicariously'.
Awww I LOVE the skelly costume!! He's sooo cute in that pic!!! I think next year I'll be having a Halloween party for Allie's birthday too.
p.s. I have hippie parents too, and they always made a big deal out of halloween!! We keep having more and more in common!! LOL
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