Because I have nothing better to do with my time, I hosted a Halloween Party today for 15 one year olds (give or take a month or 4) and one 3 year old. Because what else would I do with myself on a Saturday?
If I do say so myself, it was a huge success. We had a bumble bee, 2 lady bugs, a greaser, some super hero’s, a bear, a cow, a princess or 2, a flower girl and a bunny all in attendance. And I have to say, they were all adorable. I think everyone had a great time, including the adults. There was minimal crying, excellent food (thanks to Tiffany for her help), excellent decorations, pumpkins, bales of hay, spiders, bats, cobwebs and on and on.
I made some adorable meringue ghosts, dipped in chocolate and coconut that were a huge hit. Paul called them “turds,” everyone else thought they were adorable. And yummy.
It wasn’t a great day for us to have a party but Halloween falls on only one day a year and we can’t really move it. The minute the last little bear left, we tore around like crazy people, trying to get things cleaned up so we could move on to our next adventure. I have to say, 16 little people are CRAZY messy. There were cheerios in all the cracks and crevices and there’s glitter everywhere.
The highlight of the day, the best moment of all, happened when there were just a few people left. Our little friend Leif was standing in the play area Paul was encouraging him to walk. In the meantime, not 10 feet away, Courtney WALKED!! She took several steps! It was awesome. And a little overwhelming, for me. A few of our friends were there to see it (poor Paul missed it because he was working on Leif’s walking) and one of the moms mentioned she’d seen Courtney do the same thing a little earlier in the day. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe just a few weeks shy of her 12 month birthday (this is the beginning of my denial that C is going to be one soon), Courtney is officially walking. There goes what little peace I had left.
I love where my life has taken me. I feel so fortunate to have such a great group of friends who have such wonderful little kids. I feel especially lucky that I have these days to spend with Courtney, watching her grow, watching her change. I may not tell Paul enough, but I love him immensely for carrying the load of our little family so that I can have this time. This has been the greatest 11 months + 1 week of my life.
