Neither snow nor H1N1 can keep this family from our first real trick-or-treat outing for Halloween 2009. Reagan is at that perfect age where carving pumpkins, dressing up in colorful costumes and collecting candy door-to-door is actually feasible and fun: two-and-a-half. I know a lot of parents take their one-year-olds trick-or-treating, but I’ve always found that a bit suspect. Am I really just contributing to these people’s sugar addiction when they show up at my door past 8pm with pillow sacks full of loot and their newborn snoring away in a stroller? Seriously? The kid doesn’t even have teeth yet. And he has no idea why you’ve dressed him up like Mr. T. complete with sideburns and gold neck chains. What’s the point? Perhaps the parents just can’t wait to relive their own childhood memories and have an excuse to trot along the sidewalks with ghouls and goblins more than half their age. I understand the anticipation. I’ve been waiting two long years. Up until this year the most we’ve done is dress Reagan up and take her to Fall Festivals and the like. This was to be our first year going door-to-door. So, imagine my disappointment when it looked like my family was going to be stuck several states away, assuring I’d be watching tacky scary movies on TV and handing out candy all alone. We hadn’t even had a chance to carve our pumpkin yet.
That’s how it looked when I got a text from my husband last Saturday saying he had a 103° temperature. He and Reagan were in New Orleans visiting family and it was just a few days before they were supposed to be flying home. Instead, Danny ended up in the hospital for the next three days with suspected H1N1. If not for his weakened immune system after chemo, radiation and a stem-cell transplant, he would’ve been sent home like everyone else who shows up at the ER with flu-like symptoms. But, since he falls into a high-risk category, they needed to keep him to be sure he didn’t develop an infection or other complications. Thankfully, he recovered quickly and was released on Tuesday. And, by the grace of God, the rest of the family (including Reagan) were spared from illness. Danny and Reagan could come home as soon as Danny’s symptoms subsided. He began looking for availability on the next flight home, unaware of the storm brewing here in Denver. Literally.
Tuesday night the snowstorm moved in. By Wednesday morning we had 6-10 in. throughout the valley. It was only going to keep coming and getting stronger through Thursday. So far, only a few flights had been canceled. Danny and Reagan made it home Wednesday night before the worst of the storm and flight cancellations really started kicking in today. Had they waited one more day, they for sure wouldn’t have gotten home until next week. Bah, Humbug!
It now looks a lot more like Christmas here than Halloween. Only the west wind knows whether we will be trick-or-treating door-to-door, or just at the mall, as the snow continues to fall. But, either way I’m thrilled that I won’t have to wait a whole ’nother year to begin our Halloween traditions!
SO glad to hear Danny recovered quickly, and that he and Reagan got home safely.
What a storm! What a week for you!
Love the pic, too.
If Halloween looks a lot like Christmas, will Christmas look a lot more like Halloween?
What I’m sayin’ is just keep your pumpkins around.
You will have such a good time with her. One of the sweetest moments in parenthood is hearing your kiddo say “Twick or Tweet!” to smiling neighbors. Sigh.
(I do like the idea of a Mr. T costume for a baby…)
I like the Mr. T costume too. Obviously, it left an imprint on my mind! Can’t wait to hear my baby say those magical words! SO excited!
Holy cow she is beautiful and thank goodness she didn’t get sick too! We were all sick this week yuck but returned to health just in time for school parties and a church trunk or treat my favorite because I go to one parking lot and don’t have to knock on doors! We have snow too but not that much!
Thanks, Brandie! Glad to hear everyone is feeling better!
So glad everyone is home for the spooks (which, in your case, would be the WEATHER witches!).
I can’t believe how much Reagan has grown up since we first ‘met’ thru the CL group! She’s beautiful.
Lucy
Thank you, Lucy. It only took 1 week away from her for me to realize how quickly they grow up. She had changed so much!
Talk about Trick or Treat – It looks like you took the trick – and got a bunch of snow you lucky mamabird!
Wow, it sounds like your husband has been through a lot. How wonderful everything turned out o.k.
I made my son’s first costume for when he was 1.4 years old. All the boys wore it at the same age. For years. We only went by family for Trick or Treat the first few years.
What awesome pictures!
I’m so glad that Danny & Reagan were able to return for Halloween. I was thinking about how hard that would be for you to have them in another state and not be able to be with them for Halloween. Looks like ya’ll had fun!
I really enjoy your blog!
Chris, I love looking at all your pictures! Wow. What an amazingly blessed family – despite what the enemy meant for harm! I see goodness all over you guys!