There’s nothing spooky about this Halloween

An overwhelming sense of happiness overcame me this morning as I drove away from Dylan’s preschool.  I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face.

Side note: Did I mention he goes mornings now?  Still three half-days a week, but the afternoon schedule only lasted a week.  Mama needed his nap-time back.

Halloween in New Jersey is today thanks to Hurricane Sandy.  When I dropped Dylan off at preschool this morning, I was reminded of our reason for starting a family.  I’ll never forget the moment we decided.  We both knew kids were part of the “plan” well before we got married, but agreeing on the timing was a different story.  The reason was so simple and Dylan’s unbridled excitement today reminded me.

The year I married my soul mate, we bought a house and moved from Philadelphia to Colorado.  We chose a safe neighborhood near reputable schools, but, with all the changes that go along with those major milestones, we agreed that waiting a year or two before kids was probably best.  Then Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas came and went and we knew we were ready.

There’s just something about small children that makes everything more exciting.  EVERYTHING.  Trucks, buses, spiders, clouds, planes… everything.  You name it.  The same thing holds true for holidays.

What is it about a child’s presence that makes Halloween so special?

I think it’s the unrestrained joy that gushes out of their little bodies.

Today as Dylan bounced around the house in his lion costume, roaring at everyone in his path, and in and out of the car as we picked up some treats for his Halloween party, I couldn’t help but smile.

What really did it for me, though, was when we got to school and he actually asked me to take his picture!!  He can be a ham, but usually it involves some sort of bribery on my part.

Not today.

Today, this little guy couldn’t have been more excited to roar for the camera in front of his school, before going in to show his costume off to all his friends.

So, as I sit here reflecting on this day’s start, I’m more than content.  There’s nothing scary about this Halloween.