It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween
Halloween is such a fun time of year; my enthusiasm for it seems to grow each year. That's a bit ironic since the kids are getting older and are definitely not little kids anymore who dream of their costumes and sugar laden treats. But, I associate Halloween with the best of times when the kids were growing up and I love candy so it's not too surprising that I like it so much.
Our first Halloween as parents was an inauspicious one- baby Jacob did not like his lion costume. Jacob was such a chill/ normally happy baby that to see him so clearly irritated about wearing a costume (it was the hood that seemed to perplex/ irritate him the most) was just plain sad. I have no pictures of him smiling in his costume. No worries, by the next year's Halloween, he was all smiles in his Superman costume, a tiny superhero clutching a plastic jack o lantern bucket in one hand, to be filled, as the evening progressed in the sweetest way, and clutching his daddy's finger in his other hand as the two of them made their way up and down several streets in our neighborhood. I would have been with them of course, but an even tinier one (Abby) was in my arms so I stayed behind. Every Halloween since Jacob's second one has been a good one. And not just the Halloween themselves but many of the festive activities leading up to them.
Jacob- Halloween 2001. There’s no lion about it- baby’s first Halloween was a bust! He didn't like his costume and he didn't get to enjoy eating any candy.
Jacob literally every other day in the month of October, 2001
I could easily delve into all Halloween pasts (and enjoy every memory along the way) but that would take too long and it isn't the point of the post anyway! Here are some highlights of Halloween this year:
Decorating:
Every year, I place a few Halloween decorations in the house. In addition, I string some orange lights on a few bushes outside. Nothing fancy- just a little festive.
I keep Halloween decor devoid of all things macabre which is easy to do with the plethora of jack o lanterns/ sign based decor that is readily available. I also try to avoid non macabre but cutesy Halloween icons like witches and ghosts. I don't like to focus on anything related to the occult, witchcraft, etc even if it's done in a lighthearted way. It's my way of keeping Halloween about what I think it's about- celebrating fall, having fun dressing up and getting/ eating lots of candy and not about dark forces, the occult, Satan etc.
I feel like a hypocrite because I just said that I don't like ghosts or witches on display even in a lighthearted way... which is true. So, my explanation for this friendly ghost abiding in the family room is that my mother in law gave him to us. She recently moved and didn't have room for it. I didn't feel right judging her for having it by not displaying it plus he is kind of a cute ghost. Now, I do have standards and if someone gives me a gigantic inflatable of say, Satan, I will not display it...
Decided to add some lights to the inside of the house as well as the outside.
I also like to display Halloween pictures from back in the day. This photo would perhaps look better if the lil' pumpkin was looking at the camera and Spidey man hadn't insisted he need a Band-Aid on his face for a tiny abrasion moments before I took the picture but I still love the picture!!
Outside lights
Costumes:
Alyssa and one of her good friends have the same costume this year. They will trick or treat together in the neighborhood.
Abby and Donnie both have new costumes this year. Donnie was Kylo Ren the past few years while Abby has been various Star Wars figures over the last few years. This year, their costumes aren't Star Wars related at all. Abby plans on trick or treating this year but she doesn't want any of the candy. Donnie plans on walking around with her, Alyssa, and Avery (he won't be trick or treating, lol).
My costume is the same that it's been ever since I bought the costume six years or so ago- a Tootsie Roll. I think getting a new costume each year (like a child does) would be weird. But then again, I'm dressing up as a Tootsie Roll which is definitely a little on the weird side of adulting. I enjoy dressing up in my Tootsie Roll costume and, while behind my back I may be known as the crazy lady who dresses up as a Tootsie Roll, to my face, I'm "Mrs. Tootsie Roll" when kids at school recognize me as the lady who dresses up as a Tootsie Roll. I will pass out candy this year to trick or treaters.
A pic from last year- This year, I'll be reprising the 'Roll, Alyssa's costume will be warm and kind of fluffy like her last year's one and Abby's will be a complete departure from Star Wars.
Candy:
I love to have a nice selection of candy for the trick or treaters. Of course, I buy items that we like so that we'll enjoy eating the leftovers. I've never run out of candy- I always buy way more than I think we'll need. Our local Kroger has had really good pre Halloween candy sales the past three years and I've taken advantage of it. I am a marketers dream because I am completely enticed by the bright colors of candy bags' packages. I love to not only eat candy, but I get a kick out of looking at candy. I even photograph candy.
Here is the candy that I purchased for trick or treating this year:
The forecast is calling for rain on Halloween this year. NOOOOOOOO!!
Our first Halloween as parents was an inauspicious one- baby Jacob did not like his lion costume. Jacob was such a chill/ normally happy baby that to see him so clearly irritated about wearing a costume (it was the hood that seemed to perplex/ irritate him the most) was just plain sad. I have no pictures of him smiling in his costume. No worries, by the next year's Halloween, he was all smiles in his Superman costume, a tiny superhero clutching a plastic jack o lantern bucket in one hand, to be filled, as the evening progressed in the sweetest way, and clutching his daddy's finger in his other hand as the two of them made their way up and down several streets in our neighborhood. I would have been with them of course, but an even tinier one (Abby) was in my arms so I stayed behind. Every Halloween since Jacob's second one has been a good one. And not just the Halloween themselves but many of the festive activities leading up to them.
Jacob literally every other day in the month of October, 2001
I could easily delve into all Halloween pasts (and enjoy every memory along the way) but that would take too long and it isn't the point of the post anyway! Here are some highlights of Halloween this year:
Decorating:
Every year, I place a few Halloween decorations in the house. In addition, I string some orange lights on a few bushes outside. Nothing fancy- just a little festive.
I keep Halloween decor devoid of all things macabre which is easy to do with the plethora of jack o lanterns/ sign based decor that is readily available. I also try to avoid non macabre but cutesy Halloween icons like witches and ghosts. I don't like to focus on anything related to the occult, witchcraft, etc even if it's done in a lighthearted way. It's my way of keeping Halloween about what I think it's about- celebrating fall, having fun dressing up and getting/ eating lots of candy and not about dark forces, the occult, Satan etc.
I feel like a hypocrite because I just said that I don't like ghosts or witches on display even in a lighthearted way... which is true. So, my explanation for this friendly ghost abiding in the family room is that my mother in law gave him to us. She recently moved and didn't have room for it. I didn't feel right judging her for having it by not displaying it plus he is kind of a cute ghost. Now, I do have standards and if someone gives me a gigantic inflatable of say, Satan, I will not display it...
Decided to add some lights to the inside of the house as well as the outside.
I also like to display Halloween pictures from back in the day. This photo would perhaps look better if the lil' pumpkin was looking at the camera and Spidey man hadn't insisted he need a Band-Aid on his face for a tiny abrasion moments before I took the picture but I still love the picture!!
Costumes:
Alyssa and one of her good friends have the same costume this year. They will trick or treat together in the neighborhood.
Abby and Donnie both have new costumes this year. Donnie was Kylo Ren the past few years while Abby has been various Star Wars figures over the last few years. This year, their costumes aren't Star Wars related at all. Abby plans on trick or treating this year but she doesn't want any of the candy. Donnie plans on walking around with her, Alyssa, and Avery (he won't be trick or treating, lol).
My costume is the same that it's been ever since I bought the costume six years or so ago- a Tootsie Roll. I think getting a new costume each year (like a child does) would be weird. But then again, I'm dressing up as a Tootsie Roll which is definitely a little on the weird side of adulting. I enjoy dressing up in my Tootsie Roll costume and, while behind my back I may be known as the crazy lady who dresses up as a Tootsie Roll, to my face, I'm "Mrs. Tootsie Roll" when kids at school recognize me as the lady who dresses up as a Tootsie Roll. I will pass out candy this year to trick or treaters.
A pic from last year- This year, I'll be reprising the 'Roll, Alyssa's costume will be warm and kind of fluffy like her last year's one and Abby's will be a complete departure from Star Wars.
Candy:
I love to have a nice selection of candy for the trick or treaters. Of course, I buy items that we like so that we'll enjoy eating the leftovers. I've never run out of candy- I always buy way more than I think we'll need. Our local Kroger has had really good pre Halloween candy sales the past three years and I've taken advantage of it. I am a marketers dream because I am completely enticed by the bright colors of candy bags' packages. I love to not only eat candy, but I get a kick out of looking at candy. I even photograph candy.
Here is the candy that I purchased for trick or treating this year:
The forecast is calling for rain on Halloween this year. NOOOOOOOO!!
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