Thursday, October 13, 2011

Halloween is almost here


Halloween is almost upon us and I have to say it is my favorite time of year. Since I live in the Valley of the Sun, the heat finally breaks in October and the morning temps drop into the frigid low 80's. Heck, sometimes I even wear a jacket. I drag out my plastic bins and decorate the house. My Department 56 miniatures inspired my Halloween book Some Enchanted Autumn and the fall leaves are the only way to get a little color in the valley (Cacti thorns don't change color).

But my Halloween celebrating has changed over the years. As my children have gotten older, there's no more kids pouring over the Party City ads looking for costumes and dreaming of what they want to be. We rarely carve pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns, so there's no more pumpkin seeds roasting in the oven. No hot spiced apple cider or pictures to scrapbook. No fresh popped popcorn and hissing and giggling as we made popcorn balls.
Nowadays, my children go to parties with their friends. Sometimes, if I'm lucky I can catch them on their way out the door.
Of course, there's still the Halloween candy. Yum. I love those snack sized pieces and last Halloween, I even found small sized Big Hunks at Wally world. Sadly, they're not carrying them this year. But they still have my other favorites--Skittles, Rolos and Blowpops.
And the kids still eat my stash.
So has Halloween changed around your house through the years, and which candy is your favorite?

6 comments:

Chrisbails said...

I love halloween. we go all out and decorate our house. we also dress up and take the kids out for halloween. my daughter is going to dress as a devil this year and I am going to be an angel.
I have already bought a couple of bags of candy and is gone already. My husband is worse that the kids. He is a candy/chocolate freak. Have a great halloween.
christinebails@yahoo.com

catslady said...

We started a tradition when my two girl were young and have kept it up. We have a pumpking carving party every year. Not everyone can always attend but they always try. This year it will include my 24 and 27 year olds and my 89 yr. old mother to name a few.

Anonymous said...

I love Halloween, oo. The outsde of my house is decorated and the inside will be done this weekend. This year is especially exciting because we moved into a neighborhood that finally has trick-or-treaters. Our tradition is a kids Halloween Party. Everyone dresses up. me included. I'm a witch--not much of a stretch for me:)

Linda Andrews said...

Catslady, I love the pumpkin carving contest.

Chrisbails-my husband eats all the snickers

Kim--no comment:-P

catslady said...

roflmao my husband eats all the snickers too and I too always dress up as a witch. I use to have a natural white streak with dark hair so I was a natural - now it's grey and that works too lol.

Author Kathryne Kennedy said...

Bittersweet post, Linda! My fav is Reese Peanut Butter cups. :}