My baby boy,

Happy Halloween, sweetie. It was our second Halloween without you, but I’m actually happy we weren’t still in our neighborhood in Hawaii. It’s very easy to see you walking around there with us as a “past” idea in Hawaii. Since you had never been here in Pittsburgh with us, I was able to picture you with us and how it might be if you were still with us today.

It was a bittersweet day because although it’s another holiday that needs to be celebrated without you on this Earth, we got to be in Pennsylvania for it. The last time we trick or treated in Pittsburgh was back in 2015 when you were only about three and a half months old and Ellie had just turned two. Even then, I don’t feel like it was a real trick or treating experience because you guys were so young.

It was just such an odd, yet comforting feeling to be walking around the neighborhood. Here I am, with my kids, trick or treating somewhere I never thought would happen because of our Army lifestyle.

You would have loved trick or treating here. I definitely think this is the best your siblings have ever done for Halloween. One of the houses gave them a dollar and that house was frankly the one they’ll most likely talk about for years.

I love you more than anything, my baby boy. I wish you were here, sweetie. TV I love you and miss you so much.