Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Five Little Pumpkins

I find myself tonight, thinking about Halloweens past...

Might Dickens have erred with his Three Spirits visiting that other holiday eve?

First, I find myself thinking of the very first Halloween that I held my own child.  My parents threw a party for this chubby little 4 month old!  He alternated that year between being an adorable little pumpkin and a sweet little moo cow.  Now, he's 15, dear Hammer, but how come it feels like yesterday I was holding him in my arms?

Next, I remember the toddler years, after a stint as Barney at ages one and two, Hammer became Winnie the Pooh for ages three, four, five and yes, six.  I remember wanting him to change so badly, which he did, to Superman for the next few years to his little brother's Batman.  They were quite the pair.  

Fuzzy's first year, I will not forget.  He was Elmo.  A beautiful furry red Elmo, and he slept through the entire town Ragamuffin parade, but with a countenance so sweet and adorable, that with his big bro's help, he made the front page of the town newspaper.  How did he help?  Because Hammer told everyone, 'Look at my little brother, he is Elmo, but be quiet because he's asleep.'  Such a wonderful year to remember!

Pumpkin Muffin's first years were a blur!!!  Why?  Well, she hated any strangers at all!  She made an adorable little princess... from afar.  Her first 2 Halloweens she never left her stroller, and her brother's would ask for candy for her, point her out, way over there in her stroller, and tell everyone 'She's too scared to leave her stroller!'  Such good little helpers they were!  

Then, there was the year Pumpkin was finally ready to Trick or Treat!  She dressed as a little Giants football player, helmet, jersey, shoulder pads, and pants!  It was so cute!  After an exhausting day of gathering multiple bundles of sweets, she tripped and my mom grabbed her arm - her elbow popped out of the socket!  

We went to the ER, which was a wreck.  But, my quick thinking pediatrician knowing that I was of a fearless sort, and with some medical training, described to me how to fix it.  I did it while Hubby held the phone, right there in the waiting room!  Pumpkin exclaimed!  'Hey, thanks Mommy!  My arm works again!', and we happily went back home to enjoy the spoils of the day!   My poor Mom, she felt so guilty, but really, it could have been stitches had she fallen!  

Since those early years, we have had, Princesses, Jedi's, Wonder Woman, Witches, and Ghouls.  The older they get, the more creative and scary the costumes seem to get.  

Each year gives way to new things, too.  This year, instead of joining us Trick or Treating, Hammer wants to stay back at the house and hand out candy!  In other years, he was never really interested in doing that at all.  Now, he wants to see all the little kids and their costumes.  When Hammer first told me that... I have to admit, I got a bit choked up.  Shades of the man, the dad to come, and all that. 

So, Hubby and I and Mary Read, Piratess Extraordinaire (Pumpkin) and a Teenage Werewolf Boy Scout (Fuzzy) will do the trick or treating at our town center.  Hammer will hold down the fort, so to speak, here at home. 

I am looking forward to it.  The kids are so excited, each for their own reason, and it is hard not to be swept up in their excitement, of course. 

I can even cast a rueful eye to the future.  Someday they won't want to be spending their Halloweens at home with their parents at all, will they?

But, tonight...

Tonight I long for Halloween Past.

I long for the little pumpkin, Elmo and princess.  The Winnie the Pooh, my little Batman, and the kitty cat.  Sweet little chubby faces filled with wonder that people were giving them candy!!!!

Ahhhh time, she flies.

be well,
Dawn

Tags: , , , , , , ,

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

I often think it would be fun to start doing scrap books from the kids' childhoods...  You know gather all the pictures from all the years, and put them in a book and be creative.  If only I had the time!!  I miss making my daughter's costumes!  She is working this year..  My step-son is over 6 feet tall--nope, he isn't going out either, as you can imagine.  My 13 year old is going out with a friend.  At least I still have the little guy.  It will be me and the chicken this year.  It's weird as we grow older the more  we realize how blessed we truly are to have children.  It makes you want to go back in time and re-live those moments-even the ones that weren't that good.  Take care..  I'm still shaking with fret from the damn earthquake.  I hate them!!  Hugs - Julie :)

Anonymous said...

Little ghosts of Halloween are drifting around you tonight, huh?  Just wait until you see THEIR kids in costumes!!!

Russ

Anonymous said...

Awww.... this made me cry
Just because you made me remember taking my kids trick or treating
We stopped a long time ago
BUT now I have Kyan this is his third Halloween so I'm curious to see if he'll like it or not.
Hope you all have a great Halloween.
Take care, Chrissie

Anonymous said...

Oooopppsss forgot to say that Five Little Pumpkins is Kyan's favorite book right now and song. We sing it all the time.
Take care, Chrissie

Anonymous said...

Yes Dawn memories are precious and I must admit I will be wishing I was going out with my kids tonight. I Miss the fun years and the times I have been busy in the past making outfits for my four children now grown up and married,and my Grandchildren,now they all live so far away.BOO-HOO.Them were the days.Thankyou for sharing your memories today,I have realy enjoyed them.ENJOY now while you can,them times never come around again. I am afraid.When they are tiny we often wish they were grown up and when they are grown up we wish they were tiny again.LOL!! Have a fabulous Halloween.I hope the children and everyone else enjoy every minute .All stay safe.Take Care God Bless Kath
astoriasand http://journals.aol.co.uk/astoriasand/MYSIMPLERHYMES

Anonymous said...

Yes, time sure does fly.  I remember my daughter's first Halloween, she was a lady bug ! Ah, so cute. So little. I'm not sure if my son will stay home and hold down the fort or if he will "go maybe one more year !!"  
Have a wonderful day my friend,
Hugs,
Ellen

Anonymous said...

and I feel blessed to have had those supermen... ghosts.... hobos.... and other creatures. I appreciate the neighborhood where we lived when they were small and it was an entire neighborhood event. I would sit on the porch and greet neighbors - the stream of trick or treaters was too constant to go back in the house for  a second. Austin is going out tonight with a neighbor child and I'll be home greeting anyone who makes it up to our third floor condo...
Time does fly... but I'm as happy about the passage of time and the incredible people they've grownto be as I was about having little bitty trick or treaters. Everything in it's season!
*hugs*
heather

Anonymous said...

Happy Halloween
If you got an alert that  I went private-I didn't.
I set it private till I got an entry all  tweaked and I didn't know they sent out an alert if you did that.So,stop by when you can
connie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/specialadyfink/Anyway...../

Anonymous said...

I wish my kids were little again for Halloween. I miss that also.
Missie

Anonymous said...

Awwww.  That is soo sweet.  
Emma was Elmo her first year trick or treating.  Emma also popped her elbow out of her socket when she was little.  We were in the er when she lay back on the bed waiting to be seen by the doctor and it fixed itself.  Such "fun" memories!
Traci

Anonymous said...

Such wonderful memories. {{}}
Happy Halloween. :)
Sugar

Anonymous said...

I love your pictures!!  This was a great entry, I enjoyed reading about your past Halloweens filled with so many great memories.  Have a great time tonite!!  
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Happy Halloween, Dawn, to you and yours.

Anonymous said...

Have great time Trick or Treating with the kids.  :)
http://journals.aol.com/lattedah711/lattedah/     Tracy

Anonymous said...

Ah, the memories,  a bumblebee, mad scientist, Dracula(3 years), and the best one was the Phantom of the Opera.  Now he dresses up as an artist!!
                                  Happy Halloween, my friend,  Leigh

Anonymous said...

happy halloween

Anonymous said...

happy halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hugs,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Time sure does fly by and so glad we do have the memories of Halloween past :)
Have a great one!

Hugs,
Gretchen

Anonymous said...

my daughter, almost 19, often went as something a boy would do....Power Ranger, or a wrestler. That embarresses her NOW. I loved reading about your kids past Halloweens. I bet that first Halloween with the 4 yr old was as fun as when they grew up!
HUGS, lisa

Anonymous said...

The years fly by before you know it, so glad you are enjoying the memories.
Dawn            

Anonymous said...

aww....Dawn, this entry made me feel sad a little bit because it made me realized that our kids are only kids for so long..thanks for the reminder.
I enjoyed going in the neighborhood tonight with my youngest one.

And guess what?? I did a MeMe!

http://journals.aol.com/libragem007/collage/entries/2007/11/01/yayy--d/1739


....shocking huh?? LOL!! :-D

Gem :-)

Anonymous said...

We just had two little trick or treaters knock on our door. I got in so late I suspect they were the last of many. I had no sweeties for them, just two organic bananas in the fruit bowl!
Gaz xxxx

Anonymous said...

What a sweet story!  And yes, isnt it still amazing to realize people will actually GIVE you candy lol?  xoxo CATHY

Anonymous said...

I was thinking about Halloweens past as I watched my little guy, too. hey do grow up so fast. --Cin

Anonymous said...

I love looking at old Halloween pictures.  Over the yeate my kiddo was tigger, a lion, Woody from Toy Story, a football player, a monkey, a monkey again, a penguin and this year Anakin Skywalker.  I love looking at the pics.  Oh memories!!
Gillie

Anonymous said...

torby
to torebki mlodziezowe , torebki batycki , torebka kuferek . torebki damskie batycki , torebka damska ?