Halloween only comes but once a year

The sun was just beginning to dip below the earth, the warm air quickly turned cool, and the sounds of children laughing and running through the fallen leaves that lay under their feet echoed throughout the town. The dimly lit porch lights each slowly turned on, inviting everyone to their home. The sky was almost dark as night and the street lights shimmered a bright glow, lighting the way for all the fellow trick or treaters. Children anxiously waited, dressed head to toe in their favorite costumes. Some pretended to hide around trees, eagerly waiting to scare their friends. Others paced back and forth next to their parents, waiting for the "ok" to get started.

My daughter twirled her plastic pumpkin around in her hand, dressed in her favorite Snow White costume, with many under layers donned, to prevent her from being cold. My son spun around in circles, wearing his favorite Robin costume, occasionally pretending to fly off to help Batman -as they both anticipate how much fun the evening will bring.

The majority of the homes were finally lit, as they sprung out of the car, my daughter running ahead, then stopping to yell back to her brother, "hurry up." His little legs trying their best to keep up. They ran quickly up to the first house, rung the doorbell, then said, "trick or treat!" in unison... They received their candy, said thank you, then ran back to us all in the blink of an eye.

Both bouncing around in front of us as they talked over each other saying, "let's get going to the next house!"

Nana, Poppy (my parent's), my husband's sister and her two older children, joined us this year for the Halloween festivities. We set out to trick or treat for 6:00 pm, then ended the evening after 8:00 pm. With tired feet and wired bodies, we trudged along, trying our hardest to keep up with the excited children. 

The evening went as all Halloween evenings go, knocking on more than the average amount of doors, obtaining more than your average amount of candy, and staying up waaay past your bedtime. 

The grown ups walked together, staying at the edge of each driveway. My parent's trailed in the car, following us house to house. I walked to the door with all four of the children, happily standing in the cold, and helping my son navigate the uneven sidewalks -with the help of the older cousins. My daughter didn't need any assistance, as she is an old pro at trick or treating. The older children and I laughed about silly things, all the cousins were racing each other through the yards, and my daughter tried her hardest to scare her cousins. This was the first Halloween where my children were able to enjoy trick or treating with other people, besides us. Their cousins were incredibly great with them, patiently walking right by their sides and not once complaining with the amount of walking my daughter expected them to do.

With our bags heavy and the streets growing dark, we packed up for the evening. The crowds of children were dwindling down, with occasionally crossing paths with another costume child. The air grew colder and my children grew tired. The night was becoming later. We said our goodbyes, before walking up to that last house, knowing Halloween was over for the year. The car ride home was quiet, as my children's eyes grew heavy, only opening to acknowledge the amount of fun Halloween was this year.

Once home, they were carried into bed, their eyes now tightly closed shut, not even opening to see the amount of candy they received. That would have to wait until tomorrow. Because tomorrow, all the candy that is spilling over the top of their plastic pumpkins will be consumed with a tall glass of chocolate milk for breakfast. 

Because Halloween only comes but once a year.