A happy, rainy, dreary, sticky Halloween

If I could sum up Halloween in one word, I'd say - sticky. Or at least the post trick-or-treating part.

This year was our first trick-or-treating experience as a family and it almost didn't happen. The weather was rainy all day and plans were being changed continually. 

Due to lack of coffee supplies, I finally got us all out the door and into the van at 4pm. Destination, New Starbucks drive-thru. I suited the kids up in costume just in case we drove past an awesome house and I felt comfortable enough to run them up to the front door. 

Coffee mission complete and our fist candy of the night in hand from the barista, I took a right down Glenlake. I was hoping the Lickety Split custard shop might have an indoor party for rained out trick-or-treaters. Nope. Instead I saw a few bundles of parents with umbrellas shuffling their kids door to door. We parked and fell in step with two middle school girls, fearlessly ringing every door. Got LOTS of candy!

Even though it was dreary and damp, Glenlake was ready for their trick or treaters. Some sat on their front porches with buckets in hand and even one mom manned a tented station next to the sidewalk with her baby. I asked an older couple how many kids they normally get each year and they said '500'. I think they'll get 502 from now on because David and Judah will definitely be among the regulars.

We stopped by the Driscolls where David was ready to call it a night and play with all their Halloween decorations. Then headed home to have post trick-or-treating pizza with David's buddy Jana and family. They reported excellent trick-or-treat options on our street. 

Trick-or-treating turned out to be an activity that rain could not ruin. David went from timidly repeating the appropriate words after me to singing 'Thank You!' as he rushed on to the next house. I kind of wish there we're other times to mingle in this way with our neighbors. It was so fun.

Cafe Bustelo & a tbsp of sugar

Last Year's RP Parent's Group Halloween Party
where Kerri's family met mine

Last year, this time, I met Kerri and her two young red headed boys at our park on a city cleaning day. The leaf blower man loudly cleared debris from each nook and crevice of the play structure, while we attempted to play. Judah was only 3 mo. old and napping in my Ka'Tan wrap. This was a memorable day because we learned how to make new friends.

Kerri was tall with gorgeous long highlighted hair and I was sure she couldn't be American. Her oldest boy was 4 and walked along with David up and down a half-moon cinderblock wall as we waited on the leaf blower man. Her youngest sat snuggly in his stroller. Kerri initiated conversation with me and I discovered that she was new to RP. They had just relocated from the East Coast for her husband's job. Our conversation carried on for the next hour as her oldest patiently directed David around the big kids play structure. I so enjoyed talking to Kerri, and before we parted she invited us over to play. Our first invitation to have a play date with new friends!!

Heading over to Kerri's apt for the first time, I reassured David that our destination contained lots of new toys and his new buddy. Upon entering Kerri's beautiful home, my hopes were confirmed - amazing toys and David's friend was ready to give a tour. Kerri and I chatted about our families, her husband's job at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, and I felt like I had known this woman for years. We discussed this shared familiarity, how we were thankful to have found one another. However, I was most thankful for Kerri's example of reaching out and inviting new friendship in. I'm not sure she even realized all that meant to me. She had come at a time where I was navigating the loss of close friendships and anticipating winter.

In the Spring, Kerri and her precious family ended up moving back to the East Coast for her husband's job. We didn't get enough time playing with them before they left, due to our youngest boys, their nap schedules and runny noses. However, I think of Kerri often, and it warms my heart to think about the possibilities of relationships in our futures. Kerri's family did not claim any specific belief in faith, but God definitely used her in my life to remind me that He provides. I didn't have to reach out to find her friendship, she reached out to me.

Sometimes it's easy to forget about people who are in our lives for short seasons. And sometimes, little events bring the memories back. I remember now why I knew of Cafe Bustelo, beyond that my bud Kelly shares her daily pot with me often - It's the coffee Kerri poured me on our first play date. Still more memorable was the heaping tablespoon of sugar I was offered to sweeten it! She had asked me if I took sugar, to which I replied, 'Oh yes.' And apparently that translates into a heaping tablespoon. Cafe Bustelo is so intense that one must have a heaping tablespoon of sugar to sweeten. And thus, I'm thinking of my dear friend and praying for her two boys as I enjoy yet another cup (and tbsp of sugar).

Peter Pan & Wendy VS Captain Hook

For Halloween this year we combined the dress up holiday with the Lee's going away party. I have to say, it was a much cherrier way to celebrate the Lees moving! Tripp and I dressed up as Peter Pan and Wendy and David was our antagonist Captain Hook.

The story of the pink panda pajamas is this. I sent Tripp to Target to pick out a 'nightgown' for my wendy costume. He called me in a panic when the nicest think he could find turned out to be pink panda pajamas. We toyed with the idea of getting the full body (with footies) pajamas with sock monkey feet, but they were $7 more. Anyhow, there you have it. I was a modern day tacky Wendy!

Doesn't D make the sweetest little Captain Hook?