Happy Halloween

This year is Gracie’s third Halloween.

For her first, she was only six months old and she was a butterfly. She didn't do anything Halloween related except sit in her wings for a few minutes and shake a box of candy like a rattle.

Last year, Gracie decided to be a cow. She loved her cowbell necklace and ran around the house mooing from morning until night.

She didn’t understand the holiday. She didn’t seem to care, and was just in it for the cowbell and the Halloween stickers I bought for her.

But this year was different.

My two and a half year old discovered the joy of Halloween this year.

It started when I asked her what she want to be (a monster, a clown, a princess, a mermaid, a fairy… I finally put my foot down and she became a hula dancer-- I really like her hairbow!!), then she discovered Halloween story books.

The first trip to the Halloween section of Target had her shaking in her sneakers, but she wanted more. And last, she discovered the candy. Piles and piles, bags and bags. Gracie knew that Halloween was going to be fun.

My mom and I took Grace to Sweet Berry Farm for pony rides, goat feeding, hay rides, pumpkins, ice cream and a fun day with her best friends, Anabelle and Meredith.

The neighborhood Halloween festival this past weekend was the icing on the cake, as far as Gracie was concerned.

Her grandma and her godmother, Jenni were there, as well as all her friends dressed in costumes.

There were games she was big enough to play, face painting, arts and crafts and hot dogs.

Before the party was over, the kids began the Candy Trail, in which Grace ran from candy holding mama to candy holding mama shouting “TRICK OR TREAT!!!” at the top of her lungs (until the end, in which Gracie held her bag behind her back shouting, “Its MY candy!!” to all of the children walking near her).

Tonight we carved our pumpkin and Gracie was just thrilled when the candle was lit. It was magic to her.

She sat right down next to her jack-o-lantern and said, “Say cheese, Pumpkin.”

I can’t imagine what Christmas is going to be like for her!!

I wanted to capture the joy of a child’s first real Halloween in the two items I’m featuring tonight.

This darling little 1.5 inch button, from the shop Hearthside Cottage, is the epitome of a sweet season and a fun celebration for children. I just love that it is made from a vintage postcard! You can find this pin and so many others also with a vintage Halloween theme at http://www.hearthsidecottage.etsy.com

Owen and Emma Bows has these little Halloween play cookie sets that look good enough to eat. Each felt cookie is a one-of-a-kind creation measuring between 2.5" and 3" around. This set has black icing with orange and white sparkling "sprinkles.”

I just love that the cookies come in a bakery carry out container decked out for Halloween with an adorable spider on the front and orange organza ribbon on the sides! You can find this play set and more at http://www.owenandemmabows.etsy.com

Happy Haunting, everyone!!