Halloween!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 11:32AM The holidays are here, along with cooler weather which is welcomed relief after spending the summer on fire. I find myself too eager to pull out boots and wishing for more reasons to be outside. But for as much as I love this season, it's also the time of year that I feel constantly overwhelmed. I know this is not unique to me. But I'm trying to be more mindful about the ways I spend my thoughts. So I'm setting two intentions for the next eight weeks: 1- to make my calendar correlate to my priorities (as much as possible), and to be in the moment (as much as possible).
I know it's way easier said than done. I know that I won't be perfect at it. And a sense of calm actually just came over me as I typed that last sentence. We do so much, don't we? Performing. Expecting. Juggling. Planning. It's like the long way of trying to get back to ourselves.
I'm not good at sitting still, and am the type of person who can barely go 30 seconds in the car without the radio on. For me, taking pictures has always been a kind of meditation. Because when you're taking pictures, you're forced to look at what is happening around you. When you're focused on that, there's no room for incessant voices and frenetic worrying. So yesterday, when I felt myself anticipating this seasonal overwhelm, I decided to bust out the camera again, maybe to use it as an anti-anxiety medicine. It helped me slow down. It helps me notice details. It helps me to actually be in my life.
Even when life is as mundane and frustrating as the 5th grade homework. Dudes. I'm not even kidding, Jason spent an hour googling in order to help him, and I'm pretty sure that we are ill-equipped for the next ten years.
The girls had to wait "ssooooooo long" before we could leave for trick-or-treating. To illustrate the extent of their boredom they spent at least half an hour rolling a marble to each other. Not like they have two entire bedrooms filled with toys or anything.
Every year, I buy the worst candy in the neighborhood because I'm selfish and don't want to be tempted to eat whatever is left over. This year I might have gone overboard. People, I left this entire bowl on our porch while we went trick-or treating. It was full when we came back.
Clearly not a fan favorite:
I'm not sure what Jason was. Maybe a suburban vampire.
Chance was Obe-Wan. I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but am too lazy to check. 
The Spider Countess kind of blew me away with her grown-up prettiness. These were test shots and also my favorites. I love the relaxed expressions of people when they don't think you're focusing on them.
Emily on the other hand, had a fever for the second day in a row and was pitiful. She was TOTALLY AGAINST the idea of us leaving her at home, and was generally miserable. She couldn't bear the idea of missing out, so there she went, heated neck pad and all.
Doug was almost as sad at the idea of staying home.
When we got back, I let my daughter with a fever eat as much candy as she wanted. I might be a bad mother. But I've noticed that when I tell them they can eat as much as they want, they usually stop at a decent spot. Kids are amazing, and I want to be more like them.
Megan and her fiance Tyler came to see the kids. She even recycled her 70s costume from their party the prior weekend. The kids loved having them there.
And I loved having someone to have a glass of wine and watch Housewives with.
Good end to the day. Nice start to the season.
Reader Comments (5)
Damn we need to be neighbors. miss you