Halloween 2008

Trick or Treat!!! Halloween came and went as fast as a Jackalope in the sights of hunter's shotgun. Before I go into who was what, jack-o-lanterns, and candy mountains, let me say this:

Halloween is a dying holiday here in the United States. Fear and lack of community are holding Halloween hostage. Parents are afraid to let their children go trick-or-treating door to door for fear of weirdo's, oddballs, and/or crazies. The lack of community feeds that fear. Most home/apartment/condo dwellers do not know their neighbors. Many neighbors are too caught up in the lives, too busy with work, and sometimes even, too self-absorb to get to know their neighbors. Other neighbors are shy and timid; thus keeping to themselves in their safety zone. What is this world coming to? Hmmmmm?!?

*breathe in*

*breathe out*


okay.... I'm done.


Thankfully, we live in a wonderful neighborhood where there is a sense of community, a sense of family. Neighbors aren't just neighbors, but they are friends. We are very blessed to have such wonderful neighbors.

Benjamin and Isaac enjoyed carving pumpkins; wearing their costumes; handing out popcorn (I give out individual microwave popcorn packets instead of candy to change up the monotony of candy--if there is such as thing) to trick-o-treaters; going trick-o-treating; and most of all enjoying their candy haul.

We read this wonderful article that give a great way to regulate candy. In short, you let your kids eat all they want after trick-o-treating and then allow them to only have candy for snacks and dessert. The kiddos are allowed to hold their own candy if they stick to the rules. This regulating of Halloween candy teaches them how to eat candy in moderation. This seems to work. The boys are learning responsibility; and they don't feel like we're withholding their treats.

Isaac loved being a dragon. When you asked him, "What are you?" he would reply "I'm a dragon!" then turn around, wag his bum, and say, "See my tail!"

Ben loved the muscles on this Spiderman costume. He'd sing the spiderman theme song: "Spiderman Spiderman. Spiderman Spiderman. Spiderman Spiderman. Spiderman Spiderman." (sung to the Spiderman Theme song)

Trick or Treat!!!

We did pumpkin carving at Grammy's home. It was fun to watch the boys do their thing. :D

The boys enjoyed cleaning out their pumpkin innards.

They each drew a face on their respective pumpkins. Tom tried to decipher their sketch and cut out the face. The final products are found below.

From top to bottom, Tom's jack-o-lantern, Ben's jack-o-lantern, my jack-o-lantern, and Ike's jack-o-lantern.

I don't know how to end this post. . . . so um. . . THE END!