Our Collection of Festive
There's just something about the game face of a celebration. Taking the time to hoist up happy emotions from family and guests by the presentation of your baubles and bits collected is something I appreciate. It's no secret that I adore Halloween. No, I'm not a witch. Although being a witch was my absolute favorite costume when I was a little girl. Every year it was always a toss up between that or a gypsy. Bet you didn't see that coming, did you? Yes, Halloween is fun. It does not require massive amounts of money spent. It does not require traveling to eighty bajillion different family functions. It is simple. It has spirit. No, not the evil demonic kind. It is kid centered with a focus on fun and family in our home.
My memories of Halloween are carved so beautifully into my little girl story. My Aunt Sharon and cousins, Aaron and Bryan, would come to our house decked out in their killer costumes complete with gobs of face paint. My Aunt Sharon loved to paint some faces up. I have no doubt this is but one reason why she has always been a rockstar aunt to me. And just as the slightest bit of dark nestled into the crisp night sky, we would all begin our march around the circle of our neighborhood in pursuit of candy and fast foot races to the next doorstep. I loved that we waited until dark. It made the family adventure together that much more magical to me. Trick-or-treating in the light? Um, no.
Mom wasn't much of a Fall decorator. No. The decorations in our home I remember most are our Christmas ones. And, that's just it. I remember them. Vividly. In detail. In an moment's notice, I can recollect where each sign of the holiday was placed in my little girl home. It brings me to a place of ease and of importance too. Comfort whirls up in my heart and takes me back to a time where smells and sounds flood my mind even today. Nostalgia is a such a beautiful thing. I kinda like to think that these conjurings of the heart catapult us into the life we choose to live as adults. These memories shape our future and what we choose to transcend to our children.
So, this post is for you, Eli and Casey Cobble. I know that your little boy minds are chock full of the happy of your home already. At least I hope they are. But, I wanted you to have a place to return to that would help to stir up memories of your little boy life during one of the happiest times of the year for our family. Who am I kidding? You're boys. Boys that grow into men. Well then, this is a place you can send your wives to so they can critique their mother-in-law's decorating skills. Because, let's be honest here. They're gonna make me wear a hideously dyed carnation PIN corsage for your wedding while the mother-of-the-bride gets the immaculate rose-drenched-with-coordinating-ribbon wrist corsage. Ahem. Who me? No issues here. We are golden.
Most of these decorations were bought at after-Halloween sales so to get rock bottom deals. {Mrs. Eli Cobble & Mrs. Casey Cobble, if you're reading, take note from your evil mother-in-law} I also love the fact that most of them were purchased before either of you were born. The ghost and skull planter sticks, the Happy Halloween sign, the Scarecrow the tin jack-o-lantern, the mini fall pumpkins with leaves & twigs and almost all of the decorations on on the Halloween tree were all procured when I was pregnant with you, Eli. The wreaths, larger pumpkins atop the buffet, end tables and counter were purchased 3 years ago at 80% off to celebrate the moving into our new home. The pumpkin light beside the sink was a gift from your Nana. The Sock Monkeys on the Halloween tree were a gift from Ma. You two asked to purchase the scary spiders and beetles last year the day before Halloween as you mentioned our house needed to be a bit scarier. We decided to use them to help us decorate our contribution to the super fun Halloween party we attended, remember? The hand blown glass pumpkin placed right below the drawing of you two was purchased at a local craft festival. I was with your Mom-Mom when I bought it. It was the day your cousin, Colton Scott, was born. I keep it out year round to remind me of his sweet little presence in our family. "The Cobble Family" pumpkin pillow was handmade by me. {Daughter-in-laws, you can fight over who gets that one once I'm dead and gone because I ain't giving it up until then. Not no way. No no how. Where'd that carnation pin corsage get you now, ladies, hmm?} The candle lit in the jack-o-lantern tin as well as the others around our home are made by me as well. Pumpkin Spice, Sugar Cookie, Cinnamon Buns & Apple Strudel are the scents we tend to rock this time of year. k.Mac does come in handy with the art of homemaking. We've had the Halloween door decals since Casey was a year and a half old. Every year we put them back on their plastic healing mat to save for next year. I bought these at the Dollar Tree. I try to grow pansies. I suck at them. Sorry, guys. Mama just needs to honest here. Just this year I've added cinnamon-hued Snapdragons to my green thumb hopefuls. Lucky seven. No whammies.
Enjoy these memories, boys. Remember that in any celebration or holiday, it is all what you choose to make it. Not in the matter of money spent, but more importantly in the manner of how your heart shares and in the sweetness of your smiles with the ones you love. Make it a point to send out hope in the little ways you can look forward to the life happenings of your everyday. Celebrate with intention. Oh, and most certainly, read this.
Happy Halloween!
Mama :)