Hey there, fellow Chaos Planners! Buckle up, because Halloween in our house is…well, let’s just say it’s a full-on event.
Now, before you picture a haunted house with cobwebs and creepy crawlies (though that would be amazing!), imagine five little boys, aged 2 to 10, bouncing off the walls like supercharged pumpkins, each with a wildly different vision for their costumes. This year was no exception.
The Costumes
First, there’s MJ, my eldest at 10. He’s a horror movie aficionado in the making, so naturally, he wanted to be a scream. Fine by me – a store-bought mask and a black robe can be pretty low-maintenance (ahem, keyword: can be).
Then there’s Jasper, our most creative ringing in at 8 years old and this year he went pretty chill, a Minecraft character. Easy.
Next comes Matthew, the more reserved of the 8-year-olds but who just LOVEs himself a good scare. Past costumes have included the best Chucky I’ve ever seen. And this year, he went with… drum roll… a police office? Haha that’s right, something on the hero side, surprising but oh so cute!
Now we have Mateo, the ever-energetic 6-year-old. His costu
me choices are always exactly the same. Spiderman. Or Iron Spider. Or Spidey. But always some version of that! But this year he settled on…another scream! Haha looking up to his big brother seems to be a new priority!
Turns out, little Jack, our two-year-old ball of mischief, was also enthralled by the scream masks as his brothers ran through the Halloween store. Mostly he just wanted to walk around with the big staff with scary hook scraping the walls and clawing everything (a scythe staff I think it’s called?). So, there we were, facing the possibility of three identical screams running around our neighborhood!
Oh and how can I forget, what would Halloween be without Papi in a blow-up costume of a man on the… um… throne and mom riding a dinosaur? Would you expect anything less!?!
The Pregame: Our Neighborhood, Parkstone
Now, getting five boys of varying ages and energy levels dressed up and out the door in a timely manner? That’s an accomplishment in and of itself. But with a little planning (okay, a lot of cajoling and a healthy dose of distraction and candy bribery), we managed it.
Our first stop was, of course, our own neighborhood. We live on a street filled with amazing families who have become like extended family. The anticipation crackled in the air as we walked, the boys chanting “Trick or Treat!” every few seconds. Seeing the familiar faces, the houses decked out in spooky decorations, the laughter echoing between houses – it’s the kind of Halloween magic that never gets old.
The Big Game: Winding Hollow
After a successful raid on our beloved neighborhood candy stashes, we piled into the minivan and headed to a nearby neighborhood where many of our friends were gathering as families to spend our evening together. This was the highlight of the night, a chance to connect with other families, share stories of costume mishaps and candy victories, and let the kids run wild.
Now, “run wild” is kind of an understatement. Picture a chaotic mix of giggling ghosts, superhero capes billowing in the breeze, and a very determined “Baby Scream” chasing after a princess with a mischievous grin. Papi and the other dads became the official “wrangler squad,” chasing after runaway superheroes and making sure nobody got lost in the Halloween frenzy.
As for the moms? I thought we could carve out a little time for ourselves, sipping drinks and exchanging war stories. I imagined the laughter being contagious, the camaraderie palpable. But then I realized, I have 5 kids. 5 boys actually! Unfortunately, after the initial meat up, any hopes of having any time with other moms quickly vanished like a ghost in the night. And while it’s hard, and somewhat lonely being a mom of 5, these are the moments that make me grateful for the chaos, for the messy joy of raising a family and sharing it all with other families who “get it.”
By the time we finally got back home, the boys were a tangled mess of sugar highs and giggles. The candy haul was impressive, the costumes slightly worse for wear (a small price to pay for a night of fun), and our hearts were overflowing.
Conclusion
Halloween with five boys is definitely a test in logistics, patience, and maybe a little bit of sanity. But it’s also a beautiful reminder of the pure joy of childhood, the power of community, and the importance of making memories that will last a lifetime. So, to all the Chaos Planners out there, here’s to surviving (and thriving!) this Halloween season. May your candy bags be full, your costumes hold together, and the laughter be endless. Happy Halloween!