Family Lines and Fat Rolls

I don't want to forget this time--the velvety softness of Simon's fat little legs or the fake cough he does to get our attention. The way Jonah gives goosebump inducing "arm rubs"--such a gentle contrast to his clumsy, loud boyness. Or the way Maya makes quotations in the air with her fingers or mimics my facial expressions and sighs of exasperation.
Already I have watched these little people transform before my eyes--I can't believe that it has been nearly 5 months since Simon blinked up at me for the first time, 3 1/2 years since Maya learned to ride a bike and nearly 5 years since Jonah made his first babysign ("more") with those perfectly dimpled fingers.
They are so big, and so little too...I can't believe how much they have learned, and how much more lies before them. And then there is the passing of time, with milestones they will remember, things that we take pictures of for their books, like how this weekend was full of holidays--Friday was a whirlwind--a Halloween party at Spanish class, home for two hours then ballet class (in costumes), trick or treating in the building followed by going to West 69th Street. Halloween is a funny holiday--one of my favorites, even though we don't really do the candy thing--Jonah can't (or won't) eat most of it so I generally "buy" his candy from him--then Brett and I nibble on the good stuff for months. Despite this, he *loves* trick or treating. This was our first year doing it in New York. The weather was fabulous (low 60's), the block party was hopping in that way New York has where it feels like this is the only thing to do that there is. So fun to stroll up and down the street as a family just taking in the festivities. Almost all the restaurants and shops participate in trick or treating--so you can just go up and down Broadway and trick or treat. It is a real kick. And the subways are full of people in costumes that make you laugh out loud. Like the woman who was a nun with big fake bare breasts hanging out. Or that guy in a tiny leather miniskirt and fishnet stockings and no shirt. Everyone hanging out on the stoops drinking wine and handing out candy. Sometimes you laugh at a costume and have to hide it when you realize it isn't a costume. Others are so decked out they look more like an actor in a Broadway show. The costumes for the kids weren't as big of a deal as in the past--in fact Maya was a ballet dancer for half the day then switched to a Harry Potter character for the final leg of trick or treating. Jonah is just not a dress up kind of guy. He was barely Harry Potter--refused to wear the glasses, didn't give a hoot about the authenticity of his outfit, but cared more about wearing shorts and sandals under his robe. It was more about being out there, contributing to the melange.
We were home by 9:30 and all of us crashed.
This morning Jonah had soccer then we got ready for our Day of the Dead party--it might be a new tradition for us. Once I won my battle with the frosting (food coloring all over my fingers, frosting like concrete covering just about every surface of the kitchen), and our guests actually arrived, it was very fun. We had made the skulls earlier in the week (20 of them) and everyone decorated with frosting and shiny paper. They turned out really cool. The day was beautiful so we spent the last 2 hours of the party outside at the rocks. I think this might be the oldest holiday in the world--3,000 years old. The spirit of it is really great--honoring your relatives that have died, making the fact of death a little more accessible and less intimidating. Celebrating life, really, and remembering those who came before you. It was lovely, and we were grateful for the company of our friends.
It makes me wonder what my kids will remember about this weekend when they are grown. Will they realize what a delight they are to us and know how we see the passage of time in their fat rolls and gestures? Strange to think that someday someone might remember them as Grandma or Grandpa so and so...those crazy old geezers who told tall tales or their childhood in New York City...