Before October 31st actually hit this year, the tune I was singing was I do NOT like Halloween. In fact, I even declared it to be my least favorite holiday. And yes, I even told that to the kids.
This year it just seemed to d.r.a.g. on and on and on. Church parties, school bashes, friend parties, etc. How many times do I need to dress my kids up in costumes so they can get candy? Have I ever mentioned how I rarely dressed up when I was a kid? Have I ever mentioned how un-creative and un-imaginative I am? So when it comes time to create or even buy costumes for my kids it is like I have two left hands. Thankfully they haven’t minded being the same thing for the last several years in a row. 
Little Eli wanted nothing to do with dressing up. Though next year I bet I can get him to wear a tool belt so he can be a handyman. (I only had this great epiphany after Halloween had come and gone.)
Is there a Scrooge equivalent for Halloween? If so, that would have been me … at least before Halloween actually came.
However, after enjoying the excitement of the holiday with the kids and some dear friends this last Monday, I realized I do like Halloween. At least the ONE day of Halloween. Back in the day when I was little, we celebrated Halloween on one day only – October 31st. There was none of this lets celebrate for at least the 10 days before the holiday even hits. We would have a parade at school, perhaps a class party, most often a church party after school and then that evening we would go trick-or-treating.
Anyway, I truly did enjoy making my kids a little Halloween card for them to find the morning of. And I really loved going trick-or-treating with them in our new neighborhood. As silly as it sounds, it was almost magical, especially since there were SO many kids out with their families. (One house said they get about 200 trick-or-treaters every year. Holy smokes?!?)
A haunted house kit we made together as a family. We may or may not have made it the day after Halloween because there were so many other activities going on.
I loved seeing and feeling the excitement my kids had as they raced door to door (mostly with good manners) to holler trick-or-treat and collect their goods. I even had some good laughs when by the end of the night, the kids were being overly silly. After saying Happy Halloween and thank you for their candy, they would then serenade the unsuspecting door answerers with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” That always drew a big smile from the people handing out the treats.
So even though I have realized I do kind of like Halloween in doses, I still don’t dig the gory, creepy and dark aspects of the holiday.
Thankfully we are now onto the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Bring it on! I love this time of year!
I was thinking that I was the scrooge for Halloween and trying to figure out if there was such a thing. Glad I’m not alone.
I agree- the one day of FUN is ok. But I also can never think of costumes. Maybe if I start now??
By gone Halloweens…..ahhhhh What fun. But we only did it for one day. Darling pictures!
i’m so glad you guys had a pleasant experience! the kids look darling! it really DOES help having a fun neighborhood to trick or treat in…it’s truly magical and fun to see all your neighbors, eh?
love love!!