Mantoan Family Traditions – October

Remember how I mentioned I was feeling much better and thanked everyone for their prayers? Well that all changed early in October. Unfortunately, I started experiencing new complications from the procedure I had back in July and felt like garbage for most of the month. I had another procedure done last week and I’ve been assured that I should feel better going forward. I’m trying to remain optimistic. So while I tried to do all our usual October traditions, for most of the month it was hard to do more than the bare minimum.

Month of the Holy Rosary and Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Oct. 7

Here’s where we do all the Marian crafts we forgot to do in May! When the kids were younger, October was early enough in the school year that I made sure we hit all the liturgical feasts. In addition to OL of the Rosary, there’s lots of other great saint feast days. October is the month of all the crafts! Now we just maintain our habit of a daily family rosary and do some readings for specific feast days.

Teddy’s Birthday, Oct. 8

Teddy turned 14!! It’s crazy that I’ve got so many big kids now. As i’ve written before, we typically give experience gifts but Teddy’s going through an indecisive phase so he still hasn’t decided what he wants yet. It was also a challenge for him to pick a birthday meal or family movie to watch. I’m sure he’ll settle on something soon, but in the mean time he’s enjoying several new books and games from his grandparents and siblings.

Our Anniversary, Oct. 13

Tony and I celebrated 23 years of marriage! This year we went to a winery that was featuring live music and a taco food truck. It was perfect weather and we had a nice afternoon sitting outside eating tacos and drinking wine. I find our dates are more relaxed now. It used to be we got so little time alone together, that when we did get out, we’d be talking non-stop; and our dates were rarely long enough to hash out all we wanted to discuss. Now, we’re blessed to be able to talk throughout the day, on our daily walks, and regular date nights so that we can now go out and just sit and enjoy one another’s company in silence. There’s not this feeling that we need to talk about ALL THE THINGS RIGHT NOW or who knows when the opportunity will arise again and we’ve forgotten everything. We still usually have interesting conversations, and there’s no one I’d rather spend time with.

Halloween Costumes

We had picked out another family theme this year and I was planning on making some elaborate costumes and props, however, eventually I realized I wouldn’t have the stamina to finish everything in time. So we switched up at the last minute and all went as characters from Over the Garden Wall. I love making costumes and so it was hard for me to admit I couldn’t create what everyone wanted this year. But ultimately, I was still pleased with how everything turned out. I will save the supplies I bought for our original theme and next year hopefully bring back some over the top costumes. Past costume posts are all visible here.

No surprise then that I didn’t have costumes ready for our local Comic Con, aka Geekfest, which is held twice a year (the Saturday before Halloween and Holy Saturday). Tony took the boys over and everyone stocked up on old comics. We’ve been attending Geekfest for several years now, though I think we’ve only managed to have costumes done in time twice, and only once did any of the kids enter the costume contest. While it’d be great to someday make it to the official Comic Con in San Diego, this smaller event is definitely a more affordable way to enjoy geeky culture and get more costume inspiration.

Carving Pumpkins

I feel very strongly about carving pumpkins. I think because my parents never wanted the mess of carving, and insisted that my sister and I always draw or paint our pumpkins, I resolved early on to only ever carve Halloween pumpkins no matter how messy or chaotic the process. Of course, every year I question why I’m willing to die on this particular hill. This year I invested in some heavy duty pumpkin carving tools and it made the process 100 times easier. (Should also make carving a watermelon for the St. John’s party easier.) Part of the process is also roasting a mountain of pumpkin seeds of which Tony with eat 1/4 with the rest getting tossed in the compost pile.

MDA Halloween Party

Every year our local Muscular Dystrophy Association office (the same one that organizes summer camp) holds a Halloween party at Dave & Busters. It’s a bit of a drive for us to get there, and it’s always a weeknight, so some years when Fulton and Teddy were in school, we couldn’t go. But we’ve made it work the last two years, and we regularly went back before COVID. It’s always a fun time and I’m so appreciative of all the hard work the MDA and the event sponsors do to make the event possible. The fact that it’s at Dave & Buster’s makes it fun for the entire family vs so many Halloween events geared towards little kids.

Byron’s Birthday, October 29

Byron turned 21! He told me he wasn’t planning on doing anything crazy and I chose to believe him, though I’m sure had a fun weekend. We visited him earlier in the month and went to a football game together. Kutztown University’s team is having another great season so we got to watch them destroy Lock Haven before going out to dinner at a local brewery. It’s crazy having two kids in their twenties. I still miss not having them here on their birthdays and celebrating the day with them.

Halloween

We did our usual trick or treating around town, but didn’t have friends over this year. Tony had his fog machine on full blast, and we played music from the Over the Garden Wall soundtrack. Next year, I’d like to have a party in our driveway again with guests. As our kids grow up and move out (and our friend’s kids as well), our Halloween has gotten smaller. Our neighborhood gets some trick or treaters, but not a ton. I’m not ready to give up all the costumes and celebrating but I think we’re nearing the end of an era unless I can somehow motivate my neighborhood to up their game.

October always goes by in a flash, and even though I felt terrible for most of the month, I still tried to go and do (and enjoy) all the things. It feels like from here on out we’re quickly rolling downhill to Christmas. I feel more behind than ever and am hoping after a week in Virginia with Tony’s parents I will be feeling well enough to jump into the rest of November and get all the things done! I hope you all had a Happy Halloween, now go pray for some souls!