Three distinct things happen in autumn that make me love October:
- The weather cools and, while I don’t like the shorter days, I do like the crisp mornings that require sweaters and fires in the hearth.
- The changing of the leaves from a bright green to a burnished orange or red. When the trees are on fire with color my camera never stops clicking to capture the beauty and power of nature.
- Halloween! I love to hear little ones planning what they will “be” and adults getting excited about haunted houses and forests, along with the smell of pumpkins being carved to scare the spirits away.
If you noticed that I didn’t mention drinking pumpkin spiced lattes then it might surprise you to know I have never had one! I may not know what I’m missing.
I just celebrated my 32nd year with Giraffe Laugh and fondly recall many autumns with parades around Hyde Park, near our Grand Avenue location, and near our State Street location, and all the fun we have with families and children trick or treating. Some of those little ones are now herding their own broods in the parades at Giraffe Laugh on Halloween, and the cycle of memories and fun continues. Those days are some of my favorite moments and traditions, but the pumpkin patch trips are a close second.
32 years of watching children and their families grow has been a pleasure that I will never take for granted. I am proud to be a part of an incredible team who delivers quality early care and education daily. AND, we are growing! In a few weeks, we will be breaking ground at our newest location, which is predicted to open next spring. Please join us if you can, and bring children and friends to help celebrate. You can sign up here.
If you’d like to learn more about the impact of our work, please join us at our annual Futures Begin Here Luncheon on November 2nd, 2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. If you would like to attend, you can sign up here. Attendees will see the impact of their gift(s), along with the impact of investment in early childhood education. Magic can happen when we all come together to ensure school readiness, empower families and build strong futures.
Happy autumn and happy Halloween everyone!