Happy November!!! How did you spend your Halloween weekend? Did you go all out or stay in and pass out candy?
For us, there's a good chance that Saturday night was our last Halloween in this house, which is something I tried not to think too much about while it was happening.
As you probably know by now, we recently bought a new house, and while we're beyond excited for everything that's ahead, it also means we're slowly starting to realize just how many things we're going to miss about the home we've spent the last decade in. The home that I (and now, our children) grew up in.
Halloween might be near the top of that list.
Going into this year, we actually thought Halloween was going to look a little different. Several of our friends and family members who normally celebrate with us had other commitments, and others have moved away since last year. We figured it would be a smaller, quieter evening than we're used to, which honestly felt a little sad considering how much we look forward to this night every year!
But wouldn't you know it, it ended up being one of our favorite Halloweens yet.
People came and went all evening, popping in to say hello, grab a bowl of soup, or stay for a glass of wine. The kids ran around the house with their friends, collecting candy and then took turns passing some out to the trick or treaters. We caught up with people we hadn't seen in forever, and, despite expecting a slower night, the house felt just as full of life as it always does.
PJ made his famous chicken tortilla soup, as he does every Halloween, and it was a hit. I took over chili duty this year, which is usually his department, with a recipe I've been working on and perfecting lately. I'm happy to report that it was a success, too.
PJ’s aunt Lisa, his mom, and his grandma
One of my favorite things about living in a small town is the way everyone seems to come together for certain traditions, and Halloween is probably the best example of that.
Every October 31st, our little town transforms into something straight out of Hocus Pocus. The streets fill with families, the old houses are covered in lights and decorations, and there are people in costumes everywhere you look. It's the kind of Halloween you see in movies and wonder if places like that actually exist. Turns out, they do! And we're lucky enough to live in one.
Our neighborhood especially goes all out. PJ decorated the house so wonderfully this year, with spooky details tucked into every corner, and the whole place looked appropriately haunted by the time trick-or-treating started.
The kids even got to take pictures with Tall Betsy, our town's very own local folklore legend, which is always a fun part of Halloween around here.
And, as they've done for years, the ladies of the neighborhood organized their annual flash mob, this time with a sweet tribute to Dolly Parton. I love that they do this every year. It's one of those wonderfully quirky traditions that makes living here feel so special.
By the end of the night, I found myself thinking about how funny it is that the evenings you expect the least from sometimes turn out to be the ones you remember most.
I don't know exactly what Halloween will look like for us next year. I know we'll find new traditions and new reasons to love our new house, and I'm excited for all of it. But there's something about celebrating Halloween in this neighborhood, surrounded by these old houses and the people we've come to know over the years, that will be hard to replicate.
If Saturday really was our last Halloween here, I can't imagine a better way to have spent it. And if there's one thing this house has taught me over the last ten years, it's that the best memories rarely come from the things we plan, but from the ordinary, everyday moments that become the ones we wish we could live all over again.
Here's to one more Halloween, and to whatever comes next. 🎃