On July 4th, the only thing we were thinking about was picnic food, fireworks, keeping cool in the river, and everything was red, white, and blue themed. It was summer, and nothing feels more like summer than the Fourth of July.

On July 5th, Kenzy asked me a question.

“Momma, when we get home from the river, can I decorate my room for Halloween?” she asked.

I told her that we just got done with the Fourth of July and explained that I didn’t want her to decorate too early, so that when we finally get to October, she wouldn’t be sick of her decorations by then. She seemed to understand my thought process until we went home two weeks later and again asked, “Can I decorate my room for Halloween now?”

I told her that she would be leaving for camp soon, but when she came home, she could decorate her room because when she gets home from camp, it will be officially August.

Well, Saturday, August 1, our Kenzy Mae came home from a week at Camp Susque. On the drive home, can you guess what she asked!?

“Momma, when I get home, can I please decorate my room now for Halloween?”

I just looked at her and giggled and said, “Boy, you don’t forget a thing, do you? Yes, you can decorate your room now, but aren’t you tired from camp? You looked exhausted, honey. Why don’t you give yourself a rest day, then start?”

“I’m not tired at all! I have so much energy to decorate my room right now!” she exclaimed.

“Well, girl, then go for it! But you have to dust your room and get your summer decorations put away first.” I told her.

She was so excited that she screamed with joy and her arms flurried with excitement.

Shortly after she got home, we unpacked everything, and I started a load of laundry. Damp, wet clothes from a week of camp had to be the first thing we tackled. Once she was all unpacked, I told her she could get started.

Well, she started her room while I organized a few things in our basement. All I wanted to do was gather up boxes and boxes of canning jars I had for years of overflow. It was time to put them up for sale. I had over one hundred ball jars and three totes of just regular jars. They sold in less than two minutes on Facebook. I felt like I had kicked butt that day! Chris got home that afternoon, and we took the time to clean out our outside bar too. Totally not planned, but we hadn’t had a full day home in weeks, and Kenz was off doing her thing, so I just kept busy. I went to bed that night feeling so accomplished!

August 2nd, our girl, late evening, finally got her bedroom all done. It took her two days to get ready. When she gets married someday, she will have one heck of a hope chest. She has two totes of Halloween for her room, plus started a Halloween village last Christmas for gift ideas from her grandparents, uncle, aunt, and us. She told us when the sign on her door was gone, we could come in and see it. I could hardly wait! She decorates so cutely, and I waited patiently to see it.

That evening, about dusk, the sign on her door was finally gone, and my husband and I went and knocked on her bedroom door. I could smell the scent of her Bath and Body Works pumpkin waffle candle coming from her room. She opened the door, and Thriller by Michael Jackson was playing in the background.

Flashing purple and orange lights were hung around her room. Cut-out spiders and bats were on her ceiling. Her village lay across her dresser, while different jack o’ lanterns lit up her room. The bed had on her Halloween comforter that we got her two years ago (that she even took the initiative to wash all on her own!) and a black wreath that lights up with red eyes was above her bed. It looked and smelled just like Halloween should. It was perfect and just so much to look at.

Why would I take that joy away from her? We live for the BER months. From Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, we just love it. And decorations? Well, they make us happy, and it’s so much work! Why do all that work for one month? Put it up, enjoy it! I say, do what makes you happy.

For now, I’ll be snuggled in Kenzy’s room watching “The Nightmare Before Christmas”or “Hocus Pocus” with my girl, living viciously through her until I get our house decorated for fall. I’m thinking about the end of August, because why not?

Fall is my favorite, and last year I couldn’t get as much out because I was so sick. I’m going to take full advantage of going all out this year.

I really gotta start coming up with a plan for Bonnie and Clyde! The time is coming for our happy, friendly skeletons to shine.

Happy Augtober to all you fall and Halloween lovers out there. Our time is soon among us! Mauh-ha-ha-ha!

Simply Creamy Peanut Butter Icing

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup Crisco
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 to 1 1/2 lb. confectioners sugar
• Milk
• A few dashes of salt

Directions:

Cream Crisco and peanut butter together.

Add confectioners’ sugar, then add milk to desired consistency and a few dashes of salt. (Top on cooled cake.)