Thursday, October 28, 2010

Halloween Grinch… What are you doing for Halloween?

Do you love Halloween? Do you decorate? Do you dress up when you hand out treats? Or do you turn out all the lights and hope for bad weather?


Some people get into the spirit and it’s fun to watch. Such as Lois Greiman’s daughter and fiancée. Aren’t they adorable? halloweenweb


And whoever would have thought our own sweet Christie Ridgway could be so creepy? Look what she did to her house and her favorite Halloween cat.


SAMSUNG            christiesfavoritehalcat


And Kathleen Eagle's graveyard! Where did those dark tendencies originate?



Deb Dixon says she'd love to get into the Halloween spirit, but no one comes to the door trick-or-treating anymore. Once there are grandkids to "scare" she'll start "haunting" the stores for great Halloween decorations. Until then she contents herself with a Mummy plaque for the front door, which she actually painted herself. (Because it’s not enough that she is a great fiction and nonfiction writer, editor, publisher, and speaker… She has to have other talents too.)


Me? I’m a Halloween Grinch. I don’t mind giving out the candy. It’s the whole jack-in-the-box thing from the doorbell ringing and the dog barking… followed by a pause when I sit down…. then more ringing and dog barking and jumping. Plus I don’t like scary or gross stuff. I remember going to a haunted house when I was a little girl where I walked into a dark room and was instructed to put my hands in noodles and told they were brains. Peeled grapes were eyeballs. YUCK I remember wearing the plastic costumes and getting cold, yet somehow sweaty at the same time. I collected the candy and “saved” it. Seriously I can remember finding a hidden bag of Halloween candy in my closet… at Easter. Petrified candy. How much candy can a child eat? Don’t answer that. I also saw instructions on what kind of candy to buy for Halloween and I broke the #1 rule. Don’t buy your favorites. Oops.


Even though I don’t love Halloween, it’s fun to see kids get excited about it. Like Cindy Gerard’s goblin grandchildren. cindysgoblins


And Helen Brenna’s son with his friends. (He’s in the sombrero). Dylan_and_buds_Halloween


And then there’s that time I dressed my dog, Bijou, as a princess. princessbijou


WHAT ARE YOU doing for Halloween? Share, share! We all want to know!


XO,


Leanne -- BOO!

37 comments:

krisgils33 said...

My husband takes my daughter out for the trick or treating while I stay home to pass out the candy. It's not the most exciting for me, as I'd rather be out with the fam, but we do have lots of neighborhood kids so someone needs to be home to get them all sugared up!

Cindy Gerard said...

We live in the country so sadly we rarely get trick or treaters. I miss that.
A couple of years ago some of my friends and I dressed up (I was a green nun) and hit the clubs and had a blast. but other than that, it's a few decorations and call it good.
maybe I'll dress the dog or cat up this year :o0

Terry Odell said...

This Halloween is our first in our new home--in a relatively remote neighborhood with dirt roads, far-apart houses, lots of steep hills and cold weather. We've been advised that most parents take their kids down to Woodland Park where the shopping centers have trick-or-treating set up.

Since we don't have kids, we'll probably sit around and watch a Netflix offering. I did buy candy, just in case.

Our kids, on the other hand are very much into Halloween. One daughter throws a huge party, and our son and his wife & kid have coordinated costumes from a television show I'd never heard of -- something gabba gabba? The grandson is an adorable robot.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

Keri Ford said...

all the pictures are so cute!

Like Cindy, we live in the country too. our treaters are my 3cousins who live down the road. that's it.

Son is going as Mario this year (can yall believe he's 3 1/2 now?!?!). He saw it in a magazine and then saw the costume in walmart and that was it. that's what he wanted. I think it'll be one of those he'll sleep in until it falls to shreds. we'll hit up a few family stops and his preschool is doing a festivle thingy.

Leanne said...

kris, haha. "someone has to get them sugared up". Makes me wonder what you are handing out... No toothbrushes or penciles?

Leanne said...

Cindy, pics pics if you dress up the cat or dog. My dog did NOT like playing dress up! Have a great Halloween!<3

Leanne said...

Terry... an uninterrupted movie sounds nice!:) But I hope you're getting pics of your grown kids and your little grandchild. That sounds TOO cute!:)

Leanne said...

Keri, saw it in a magazine and that was it. I wonder if he'll be like that about choosing his wife!:) What a cutie. Enjoy every minute. xo, Leanne

Margay Leah Justice said...

I am going to be watching the Ghost Hunters Live show with my younger daughter.
Margay

Helen Brenna said...

Fun pictures, Leanne!

I love Halloween, always have, and it's definitely worn off on both kids.

Alas, this year I'm not doing anything except sitting around waiting for the neighbor kids. We still have a few little ones around so that makes it fun.

Still need to buy candy, though. I'm quite behind this year!

Michele Hauf said...

No pics from me, because I'm a Halloween grinch too. This year I'm not buying treats, not turning on the lights, just going to sit in the basement and watch TV.

Kathleen Eagle said...

The big wind that blew in from wherever didn't blow back out again for 2 days! No lights, no computer, no landline, no TV, no heat, no stove--talk about scary! But we're finally hooked up again, just in time to turn the light on and welcome the goblins and fairies if they're willing to whistle past our graveyard.

I was a candy saver, too. I would sort by type and feast until Christmas. Back in those days a nickle candy bar was full size.

I'm helping out at the grandkids' school this afternoon--1st grade. They're not allowed to wear costumes, more's the pity, but they get to have a "harvest" party. I'm in charge of the treat station. They'll be spreading frosting on a big sugar cookie and decorating with gummy worms, marshmallow ghosts, candy corn and more. I'm of the more is more persuasion. Okay, okay, I'll remind them to brush their teeth when they get home.

LizbethSelvig said...

I love Halloween. We live in the country so we've never had many kids come to our door, and that's sad to me--no point in going to elaborate work to decorate. But, I used to make my kids' costumes and there were some great ones. My best story about embarrassing my children is Halloween related: I dressed up in an ugly hump back, a beard and orange pumpkin boxers and went to help at my son's 3rd grade party--then I drove over to my daughter's six-grade class, peered in the ground-floor windows and went in and danced with her male teacher who was dressed as a cheerleader. Jen was mortified. I thought it one of my finest moments.

krisgils33 said...

One hundred percent high fructose corn syrup is the only thing that passes through my door for the trick or treaters! My daughter is free to collect as much candy as she pleases, but we have a "buy back" program...the more she gives up, the more cash or presents she gets in return. I send all the leftover candy to my adopted soldiers in Afghanistan or to one of the programs who does the same thing.

Leanne said...

Margay, that's PERFECT for Halloween! Will you eat any treats?

Leanne said...

Helen, thanks for the pic of your son. I like seeing the little ones too. They're so cute!<3

Leanne said...

Michele, I wondered what you would be doing since you've done such a great job banishing the sugar monster. I don't have a basement and my dog barks at anything that approaches the front door, so it's hard for me to hide!

Leanne said...

Kathleen, I really hate it when my electricity goes out. Surefire way to get me cranky! Love how you enjoy your grands and their activities. Eat some candy corn for me!<3

Leanne said...

LizBeth, omigosh! A hunchback dancing with the teacher?lol You taught your kids the fun of dressing up!:)

Leanne said...

Kris, I LOVE YOUR BUYBACK PROGRAM! You are such a smart one! And thanks for the reminder. If I don't give away all my candy, I can send it to the soldiers... a much better place for it to go than MY HIPS! xo

Margay Leah Justice said...

Oh, yes, we already have it all planned. Pop corn, fritos, chips, chocolate pudding and of course - a favorite collection of Halloween candy! The live show is on for six hours, after all - we'll need our sustenance!!
Margay

Michele Hauf said...

Leanne, even when I was eating sugar, I was a 'prize' kind of treat-hander-outer. Rubber bouncy balls, and fake spiders, or bracelets for the girls. I saw a big bag of carrot sticks packaged up for halloween treats in the store the other day, and almost....but no. Even if we did pass out treats, carrot sticks would be cause for an egged house. :-)

Leanne said...

Margay, FRITOS!!!!! I NEVER buy them anymore and miss them so much, so please, please savor every salty bite!<3

Leanne said...

Michele, I like ALL those ideas (except for the carrot sticks). I will have to remember them for next year.xo

Playground Monitor said...

I always used to put out decorations on the porch and in the shrubbery and gave away good candy. I learned if I wasn't willing to eat it myself, why should I expect a kid to like it. That also means if you have leftovers, it'll be good chocolate candy bars. LOL! But alas, no one trick or treats at my apartments, so I'll be spending Halloween night in a final pre-writing marathon before NaNoWriMo starts the next day.

Marilyn

Debra Dixon said...

You know...this sort of inspires me.

I think I might throw an impromptu Halloween party!

I do miss the fun of decorating for Halloween. I understand why the kids don't trick or treat anymore but darn it! I need a little fun and a zany Halloween would be fun.

I have to go peel some grapes for eyeballs. I have 6 year old nephew who will freak out when I have him touch eyeballs. :)

Debra Dixon said...

You know...this sort of inspires me.

I think I might throw an impromptu Halloween party!

I do miss the fun of decorating for Halloween. I understand why the kids don't trick or treat anymore but darn it! I need a little fun and a zany Halloween would be fun.

I have to go peel some grapes for eyeballs. I have 6 year old nephew who will freak out when I have him touch eyeballs. :)

catslady said...

We have a pumpkin carving party every year which is loads of fun. My kids are grown but once in a while I still dress up to hand out the candy. My daughter dresses up her dog and puts scarves on her two cats lol. I'll get even more into it when those grandkids arrive lol.

Leanne said...

Marilyn, I'm liking your pre-writing nanowrimo marathon a LOT! GO! xo

Leanne said...

Deb, Peeled grapes for eyeballs? Oh, no. I didn't mean to inspire you THAT way!lol Take pics if you do anything scary. I want to see!:)

Leanne said...

catslady, I have a granddog and get very excited about her since I have no grandchildren!:)

Christie Ridgway said...

We're throwing a big Halloween party tomorrow night. Surfer Guy & I met on Halloween, so it's a sentimental fave holiday.

But I'm afraid of haunted houses like you, Leanne! I never go through them if I can help it. Had to go with Son2 a few years ago and I was (rightfully) terrified.

KylieBrant said...

I'm a huge Halloween fan. I made all my kids' costumes from scratch, which was huge for me since i'm not usually a seamstress! I decorate the house inside and out and then am usually doing a mad dash to put away the Halloween stuff right before Thanksgiving, LOL.

Leanne said...

Christie, love it that Surfer Guy and you met on Halloween. He was so lucky.:) Glad to know I'm not the only one afraid of haunted houses! Thanks for your pics!<3

Leanne said...

Kylie, you were such a good mom. Making those costumes from scratch. I'm so horrible with a sewing machine that my kids would have BEGGED for store-bought!lol And hey about the Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations, they can kinda sorta blend. Right?:)

Jill James said...

I hadn't dressed up since I was pregnant with my now Army private son. But the husband had an office party so I went as a Goth bride, black dress, veil, biker boots, and Goth makeup. Very not me, let me tell you.

Leanne said...

Jill, a goth bride. Bet your husband loved it! It's fun to step out of our own character sometimes, isn't it?:) xo