I was really excited for Halloween this year, and not just for the usual reasons. I couldn’t wait for the Kindergarten Halloween Festival and, finally, a chance to spy. It’s a tradition at the girls’ school. (The festival, not the spying.) Every Halloween, all the kindergarteners — and only the kindergarteners — parade through the […]

After months (literally) of preparation, Halloween was a blur. My main goal each year is to nail the perfect picture of the girls in the their costumes, and til this year I’ve even managed to convince them to dress as coordinating characters (angel/devil; two black cats; vampire and bat). This year all bets were off. […]

One of the things that no one tells you is that carving pumpkins is really freaking hard. Tonight my friend Kathy stopped by to say hi — after two margaritas — and pretty darn perfectly carved Barack Obama’s profile in a pumpkin. Damn her. My stars were almost impossible, and Sophie’s pumpkin is a mess. […]

I actually think I wrote that very sentiment two years ago, so I’m clearly not original in my thinking, even amongst my own thoughts! But don’tcha think it’s true? A few weeks ago, NPR predicted record Halloween retail sales, even in the face of an economy so scary it makes the big kids’ haunted house […]

The other day, Sophie pointed to the top pocket of the thing hanging on the back of her closet door, (as opposed to the thing hanging on the front of her closet door, the thing hanging on her bathroom door, on my bathroom door, in Annabelle’s bedroom, on the back of my own bedroom door — you get the […]

I love all birthdays but mine — and not for the reason you’re thinking. This morning, my friend Terry emailed to wish me a happy birthday, adding, “every year gets better. really.” Terry’s got a few years on me, it’s true, but I already know she’s absolutely right. I don’t mind getting older. Not really. But […]

Summer will not end. Every year it’s the same, but I never get used to it. I only hope it’s cool enough on Halloween for Sophie’s Cookie Monster fur and Annabelle’s white-vampire-cat tights and leotard. Abbie and Trish graciously sent the above photo along today — I think it was taken in May, the day […]

OK, so I don’t want to go all Martha on your ass or anything, but if you’re looking for a fun and easy craft to celebrate the Halloween season and Day of the Dead — one that even a kindergartener with Down syndrome can do! — go to www.mexicansugarskull.com and buy a mold. Here are […]

When it looked like the creation of sugar skulls (a tradition honoring Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead — celebrated November 1, All Saints Day, in Mexico among other places) was iminent, I called Kathleen. I have two gringa friends — tall blonde women who have long been inexplicably obsessed with all […]

It fell out today. And not a moment too soon, since it’s been hanging by a thread for days. It finally came out at school with some advice from a friend (“Pull it!”) and two complete twists. When I heard that, I swooned — and not in a good way. I advised Annabelle to ask […]