Between pregnancy, night classes, and a husband who could not care less about the holiday, Halloween celebrations were pretty simple this year.

And you know what? It was also one of the best years.

Community connection has been heavy on my mind lately. Life just feels so much more real when sharing experiences with others. I love that a simple Halloween provided those opportunities.

It began with the local church’s Halloween party. The party planning committee went all out.

The teenagers of the congregation put on a “spook alley” throughout the church’s classrooms and hallways. The kids LOVED seeing their favorite babysitter performing a levitating magic trick.

Arrow got to finally reveal the costume she’d been planning for months: a dinosaur knight!

(Thank you Libby for the heat-bond adhesive tip to get that knight’s crest in place!)

The next day was the actual holiday, starting with the elementary school parade 🙂

Followed by crafts in the classrooms. We dressed up little ghosties in their Halloween costumes!

At last, the heavily-anticipated night of Trick or Treating arrived! PoTS + pregnancy don’t mix well, so I nearly missed out. Fortunately, Taylor realized he & I could slowly drive along as the kids romped from house to house.

Not only am I grateful to still be a part of the kids’ Trick or Treating, but I’m also so grateful for the interactions with our awesome neighbors. We munched on tater-tots and caramel apples in driveways. Got to pet a scarecrow’s (live!) pet chicken. Such a fun night of community bonding.

Of course, the kids were pretty anxious to get home and sort their candies.

(Archer has the best “forced” smiles hahaha.)

Pretty simple & amazing Halloween night!