The Great Pumpkin!

I have this little fantasy family dream in my head....

All four of us are sitting on the couch, with mugs of hot cocoa and bowls of popcorn.  We're snuggled together under blankets in our pajamas...little teddy bears are tucked in too...and we're watching the holiday t.v. specials from when Joe and I were kids!!!

I've tried them all.  Frosty, Peter Cottontail, Rudolph...you name it.

Nope.  The short people don't like them.

Nothing blows up, no myths are busted, all of a sudden a character shows up that is terrifying and there are tears.

Let's not talk about when Frosty melts....Jack will never forgive me for that.

I had just about reconciled the idea that I would forever watch these shows alone...me and an 'extra-special' mug of cocoa...

Until last Halloween.

Our fabulous friends had a Halloween party and started a new holiday tradition...

They invite everybody to come over after dinner, just when its truly dark, and we watch

'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!' 

OUTSIDE!!!!

IN THE BACKYARD!!!!

WITH COCOA AND POPCORN!!!!

Picture this....beach chairs for the grown-ups and bigger kids.  Little kids sprawled out on big blankets on the lawn, little best friend heads together sharing pillows.  Hands wrapped around steaming cups of cocoa (some with a little Bailey's and schnapps), kettle corn popping on the BBQ, and every now then, a little princess or super hero popping up for another treat.  The movie plays on an enormous screen, like their own little drive-in.

Its absolutely magical.

...and the movie is just like I remember...

Linus is still waiting in the pumpkin patch....

Charlie Brown is still in the downy-dumps, can't quite get anything right...

Pigpen still can't stay clean....

...and EVERYTHING is still better with friends.

Thanks Mark, Stefanie and Gavin!!!

Can't wait 'til next year!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lizy B and the boys.