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: halloween, kids, family, fun, babies, toddlers, remembering, time flies