A Princess Party

When I was a child, we enjoyed Halloween.  Ignorance was bliss.  I didn't know about its history - the druids, pagans, spirit worship, wicked things done during cover of night.  All I remember was freezing cold pelting rain every Halloween (it seems), glaring headlights of cars, my brother's wickedly silly costumes each year, and the belly ache after eating all that scrumptious candy.  

After we had children, or a child, I should say, we still had some fun with costumes.  Our oldest little tyke was Raggedy Ann one year and a Hershey's Kiss another year.  And then we began to research what Halloween was all about.  We decided together that we'd just do other family things instead of partaking of a day/night that has such dark origins.

Raggedy Ann of 1992

The Kiss of 1991

But this year I heard a radio ad about Petoskey's downtown district's Harvest/Halloween Treat Day.  Saturday morning from 10-12 some of the stores planned to give  candy to costumed children as an early Halloween time.  Yes, they recognized Halloween, but two days early and in broad daylight.  

The Medieval Princess of 2011

Since Life of the Party (Anders) had a flag-football game during that time on Saturday, I asked our oldest daughter - who was Raggedy Ann and the Hershey's Kiss, so would be naturally  drawn to costumes and candy - to take our youngest daughter Laney, who is 7, to the downtown and enjoy a piece of the action.  Hopefully many pieces of the action (read - candy!)


Laney got the added treat that her friends, fellow princesses, could go along!!  So after most of Anders' game was done, the girls changed in our vehicles and set off for the downtown with Laney's big sis, and her friends' big brother, to supervise.  How darling they were!

The Princess Friends of 2011

The stores were very generous and the weather was perfect for the princesses with long-johns under their gowns.  I am so appreciative to Petoskey's stores that participated in this event.  The 'chaperones' to the princesses told me that other kids' costumes were not frightening or dark; super heroes, police men, soldiers, more princesses.  What an enjoyable day for all and a reminder as to yet another reason we live near and enjoy this community.