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October 2026
Trick-or-Treat! Halloween is one of our favorite family holidays, and at this point, our house gets more chaotic every time it rolls around. You know those families with giant inflatables covering their yard? Yep, that’s us! Every year, the girls pick out a new blowup, and we add it to the collection. We have a cat-dragon because Sybil loved cats and dragons as a kid, so obviously, a cat-dragon was the perfect choice. Elyse picked out a skeleton unicorn. My wife isn’t thrilled with our growing collection, but the girls love it. At this rate, we’ll eventually have more blowups than actual yard! Costumes are another part of Halloween that we’ve always had a lot of fun with. Every year, we do a costume, and a lot of times it’s a family costume. At least one girl joins in, and if we’re lucky, both! Last year, one was a cat, one was a mouse, and I was the cheese. We hit the neighborhood as the ultimate food chain, collecting as much candy as humanly possible! That kind of theme has been our goal every year since they were really little. When Frozen came out, we dressed them up as Elsa and Anna. We have a very walkable neighborhood, so we’re often walking around with friends in a caravan, seeing who can get the most or the best candy, and running from house to house. OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST More Blowups, More Candy, More Fun OUR FAMILY’S HALLOWEEN TRADITION “Watching my sister go through not one, but two car accidents, showed me just how stressful and overwhelming those situations can be. Seeing everything she had to deal with made me realize how important it is to have someone you can trust in your corner. Hopefully, my family never has to go through something like that again, but if we ever do, Alex would be the first person we’d call. Just knowing he’s there brings a lot of peace of mind.” –Presley H.
Now, I find myself cherishing the last few years where we can still get our 13-year-old to put on a themed costume and parade around the neighborhood with us. I’m hopeful she’ll still be into it this year. I think she is, but we’ll see … my fingers are crossed. We also carve a pumpkin every year, a classic Halloween tradition. Living in the South, you really can’t carve your pumpkin too early, because if you carve it a couple of weeks before Halloween, it becomes completely rancid. So, we usually carve it the day before Halloween. That way, we have a fighting chance of it still looking like a pumpkin on Halloween.
We stick to one family pumpkin. Multiple pumpkins sound fun until the girls lose interest and we’re stuck finishing them! Sage and Sybil usually handle the artistic magic, and we’ve had some pretty creative pumpkins over the years. We also love supporting local businesses and churches. Every year, we visit a nearby church’s pumpkin patch, pick out our pumpkin, and give back to the community. Of course, there’s the candy. The girls are definitely into the sweets and goodies, but they have two completely different candy personalities. Sybil is more of a chocolate lover. She’ll eat all the Hershey’s and other chocolate-type candies first. Elyse really likes the citrus fruit candies, so she’ll go for the Skittles or gummies. Then, at the end of the night, there’s always a debate about who got the most candy and whether someone accidentally took somebody else’s. Usually, we end up playing judge for candy problems when we get home. Somebody’s missing something, somebody has too much of something, and suddenly, we’re holding a full candy court in the kitchen.
One way or another, we always have a spooky, festive, and enjoyable time. Wishing you all a fun Halloween … goblins, and ghouls, and ghosts, oh my!
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- Alex Weatherby
404-689-1287 · WeatherbyLawFirm.com
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Before Trick-or-Treating Begins ESSENTIAL HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
Halloween is supposed to be filled with costumes, candy, and excited children racing from one doorstep to the next. But once the sun goes down, familiar neighborhood streets can become surprisingly challenging for drivers and pedestrians alike. With more children walking near roadways, darker conditions, and delivery vehicles making their rounds, a few extra precautions can make a significant difference. Why Halloween Creates Extra Pedestrian Risks Alex Weatherby, who once defended trucking companies, saw firsthand how commercial vehicles and pedestrians interact on busy residential streets. Halloween can intensify that challenge because drivers may encounter far more pedestrians than they typically would, including children who may suddenly cross the road or move between parked cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises drivers to slow down, remain alert, and watch for pedestrians in unexpected locations. Drivers Boo! When you think of Halloween pumpkins, you probably picture the classics: spooky jack-o’-lantern faces with triangle eyes, silly toothy grins, scary monsters, creepy cats, or maybe a pumpkin glowing on the front porch with a candle inside. Carving pumpkins has been a favorite fall tradition for generations, but let’s be honest, it can also mean scooping out slimy pumpkin guts, dealing with sharp carving tools, and cleaning up a big orange mess afterward. That’s where no-carve pumpkin decorating comes in! Instead of cutting into your pumpkin, you can turn it into almost anything with paint, stickers, craft supplies, and a little imagination. No-carve decorating is a fun way for kids of all ages to join in without the stress of traditional carving. Whether you’re looking for an easy Halloween craft, a creative weekend activity, or a new way to decorate your home, these ideas prove that pumpkins don’t need to be carved to steal the spotlight.
should also be particularly cautious when entering driveways, backing up, or traveling through residential neighborhoods. Teach children to make eye contact. One of the most practical lessons parents can teach children is to make eye contact with a driver before crossing. A child should stop, look at the vehicle, and wait until the driver acknowledges them before proceeding. Crosswalks and intersections also remain important on Halloween. Families may be tempted to take shortcuts to reach the next house, but crossing at designated locations can provide a safer, more predictable path. The NHTSA recommends crossing at crosswalks or intersections whenever possible and continuing to watch traffic while crossing. Make children visible after dark. Darkness can arrive earlier than families expect, especially when trick-or-treating stretches into the evening. Flashlights, glow sticks, reflective tape, and brighter clothing can help children see where they’re going
while making them more noticeable to approaching drivers. Parents should also consider the costume itself. Masks that restrict vision can make it harder for children to spot vehicles, while properly fitted costumes can reduce the risk of trips and falls. Drivers must be more aware. Halloween safety isn’t only a responsibility for pedestrians. Drivers should eliminate distractions, reduce their speed, and actively scan intersections, curbs, and residential streets for children. The NHTSA emphasizes that children can behave unpredictably when they’re excited, making heightened attention especially important. A memorable Halloween should end with overflowing candy buckets and happy families, not an avoidable pedestrian injury. Taking a few deliberate precautions can help everyone get home safely.
NO CARVING REQUIRED
Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas Kids Will Love
Paint your way to a pumpkin masterpiece.
The possibilities are endless, and there’s no wrong way to decorate. Create a festive pumpkin theme. A fun way to make decorating even more exciting is by choosing a theme. Families can create matching pumpkins, such as a group of friendly monsters, a collection of favorite animals, or pumpkins inspired by a favorite movie or book. Themed pumpkins also make a great Halloween display for porches, entryways, or family gatherings. Everyone can add their own style while still creating a fun collection that looks great together. Make it a family pumpkin challenge. Turn pumpkin decorating into a fun family competition. Everyone can choose a pumpkin and create their own design using the same supplies. Once everyone is finished, vote on categories like “funniest pumpkin,” “most creative,” “best use of color,” or “spookiest design.”
A plain pumpkin can quickly become a bright, colorful decoration with just a few brushes and some creativity. Kids can paint traditional Halloween designs, such as ghosts, bats, spiders, and monsters, or they can create something completely different. Paint pens and markers are also great options for adding small details, patterns, and funny faces. Add texture with craft supplies. No-carve pumpkin decorating is the perfect excuse to use up those extra craft supplies sitting around the house. Items like googly eyes, ribbons, stickers, felt, yarn, pom-poms, and foam shapes can turn an ordinary pumpkin into something full of personality. Kids will love creating silly pumpkin faces with oversized eyes, wild hair, or funny expressions. Younger children can enjoy adding stickers and decorations, while older kids can create more detailed designs.
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WeatherbyLawFirm.com · 404-689-1287
October might belong to pumpkin spice, but not everyone is reaching for a pumpkin spice latte. For me, the real seasonal treat is experimenting with coffee at home, especially when a demanding workday calls for something a little more enjoyable. October 1 is National Pumpkin Spice Day, but I’m not particularly into pumpkin spice. My wife is a fan, and we share a passion for coffee. I started drinking coffee in law school because there were plenty of nights when studying went later than I expected. That habit followed me into my career as a lawyer, where early mornings and long days made coffee an easy way to hit the ground running. From Coffee Fuel to a Creative Break At first, I stuck with classic drip coffee, and I still drink plenty of it! Over time, though, I started making more interesting coffees at home. When I’m in the middle of legal analysis, preparing for court, or working through something particularly tedious, it’s nice to have a fun drink to look forward to. We have a small espresso machine, which has given me the chance to experiment with cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso. I’ve also gotten into making cold brew, which has become one of my favorites. Cold Brew Without the Fancy Equipment When I first thought about making cold brew, I assumed I’d need elaborate equipment. It sounded much more complicated than it actually is. I eventually discovered that a regular French press can work incredibly well. All I do is put coffee and water into the French press and let it sit for about 24 hours. The result is a smooth, refreshing coffee that’s ready to go in the refrigerator whenever I need it. I especially like having cold brew available when I’m preparing for court or spending a couple of hours working through something that requires a lot of concentration. It feels like a small treat in the middle of an otherwise demanding day. A Favorite Unlocked I’ve experimented with plenty of different flavors, even though pumpkin spice isn’t really my thing. My favorite is lavender. I tried a coffee with lavender simple syrup at a coffee shop once, and I immediately liked it. Caramel would come next, followed by chocolate. Most of the time, though, I drink my coffee without sugar. On weekends, I’ll give myself a little extra treat, while my wife definitely prefers her coffee on the sweeter side. For me, that’s what makes coffee so enjoyable! Sometimes, a familiar cup is enough, and sometimes, adding a little lavender turns an ordinary workday ritual into something worth looking forward to. Cheers! Here’s the Coffee I Reach for Instead PUMPKIN SPICE ISN’T MY THING.
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SQUASH CASSEROLE A Taste of Home
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • • •
2 tbsp salted butter
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1/2 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 18 butter crackers, crushed and divided
1/2 yellow onion, julienned
1 tsp salt, divided
2–3 yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch discs, about 4 cups
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
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1/2 tbsp fresh parsley
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter, add yellow onion and 1/4 tsp salt, and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes. 3. Add squash and cook until al dente, about 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. 4. Transfer cooked veggies to a casserole dish. 5. Beat eggs with milk, parsley, remaining salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, and pour into casserole dish. 6. Add half the crushed crackers and cheddar to a bowl and mix well. 7. Stir mixture into the casserole dish, then top with remaining crackers and Parmesan. 8. Bake for 45 minutes and let cool before serving. DIRECTIONS
- Alex Weatherby
404-689-1287 · WeatherbyLawFirm.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Cat-Dragons, Skeleton Unicorns, and Candy Court 2. Keeping Kids Safe on the Streets This Halloween Fun Designs Without the Messy Pumpkin Carving 3. My Fall Coffee Ritual Has Nothing to Do With Pumpkin Spice
Tell Us How We Did Squash Casserole 4. The Cozy Holiday Season Starts With a Little Prep Today The Best Holiday Seasons Don’t Happen by Accident!
Start Planning Now (Seriously)
Every year it happens. One minute you’re enjoying fall, and the next you’re wondering how the holidays arrived so quickly. Shopping lists are unfinished, decorations are still packed away, and your calendar fills up faster than you can keep track of it. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way! Now is the perfect time to spread out your to-do list, save yourself unnecessary stress, and actually enjoy the festivities when they arrive. Lay out the groundwork. Start now by making a master list of everything you want to accomplish. Include gift ideas, travel plans, holiday meals, decorating projects, and seasonal events you don’t want to miss. This is also a smart time to set a holiday budget. Knowing how much you plan to spend before the shopping season ramps up can help you avoid impulse purchases later. If you’re mailing gifts or holiday cards to family across the country, now you’ll
have plenty of time to gather addresses and supplies. Your holiday shopping can begin now, too. Picking up a few gifts whenever you find a good sale spreads out the cost and means fewer last-minute shopping trips in December. Bring your plans to life. Once November arrives, it’s time to start checking items off your list. Finish most of your gift shopping before the busiest weeks begin. You’ll likely find a better selection and avoid the panic that comes with sold-out items. It’s also a great time to decorate if you enjoy a longer holiday season. Even if you wait until after Thanksgiving to put everything up, you can still organize decorations, test lights, and replace anything that’s worn out. Don’t forget meal planning! Even though Thanksgiving requires lots of prep,
decide what you’ll be serving for the December holidays, create your grocery list, and purchase pantry staples in advance. Breaking these tasks into smaller steps makes holiday hosting feel much more manageable. Instead of racing through it, enjoy the season. Not everything has to be perfect. Give yourself the gift of time! Start now so you can avoid the last-minute scramble that steals the joy from the season.
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WeatherbyLawFirm.com · 404-689-1287
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