It’s less than two weeks to Halloween, and the season of the spirit has taken over our house.
Pre-kids (PK), Halloween was another reason to go out with friends. Almost 10 years in the bar/restaurant biz had given me a party view of the holiday. It was a fun night to work – costumes were encouraged, the more extravagant the better, as long as they weren’t going to dip into the broccoli cheese soup at the wrong time. And heels were out, since they’re a no-no on often slippery kitchen and bar floors. But I perfected the gypsy, the pirate, and a rather unimaginative one year when the date caught me unprepared. Once work was over, it was a blast to head out to the parties still dressed in our holiday garb, and get to play at being very grown up kids for the night. PK Halloween was all about the parties.
Halloween after kids (AK) is a whole different kind of day. It becomes a several week event of decorating (“The bones have been placed by the gravestones with care, in hopes the Great Pumpkin soon will be there... “), pumpkin patches, and costume shopping. AK, it’s hard to go into Target without the pleading starting. “Can we get some more decorations? We still need to get our candy! I don’t like my costume; I want a new one.” We’re avoiding Target for the rest of the month.
This is the first year my daughter has really liked the getting scared part though. She’s found “Goosebumps” on one of the kids channels, and she begs every night to be allowed to stay up and watch it. She’s only 6, and I was worried the first few episodes that this slightly spooky show could lead to some nightmares, so we compromised. Record at night, watch in the light of the day. And she absolutely loves getting just a bit freaked out. Several of the neighbors do dark-and-spooky for Halloween, and in the past she’s preferred to skip those houses. I think this year she’s going to love them.
So our countdown to the big day has begun. How will you be spending the scariest night of the year?
2 comments:
Halloween is low key for us these days. My kids are almost grown - 21 and 16 - and more interested in parties than trick or treating. Daughter is away at school and son will be at a friend's house out of town that weekend. In this neighborhood, in contrast to our last one, we have fewer than a couple dozen kids - almost not worth getting out all the decorations for. And I have tons of decorations, complete with fog machine. Sigh...
This year we're only planning to get one pumpkin instead of the customary two or three. It's just not as much fun without the kids...and funnily enough, my son HATES pumpking carving! LOL It totally gicks him out - the slimy pumpkin guts, even the smell.
My daughter really gets into the messiness of it all - can you tell she's the one that wants to be an ER nurse? LOL
Our kids are getting older and we only have two non-teens in the house -- 8 & 10. But everyone still wants costumes. This year we have Sally the Ragdoll (from The Nightmare Before Christmas); a skeleton; a Steelers fanatic; a mime; and a spy. :)
We do the trick or treat thing with the younger kids; buy candy for the older ones who feel awkward going door-to-door; and then settle down for some scary movies and snacks. Of course we have to watch the Peanuts gang every year.
It's one of our favorite holidays, honestly. I love the season and the decorations and costumes. Plus it's a lot less nerve-wracking than the Christmas rush. ;)
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