Boo-Humbug!

Over the years, I have slowly descended into the role of a Halloween Hater. During my single and early married years, I don't recall Halloween being a big deal. I don't even remember dressing up, although I'm sure I did once or twice (and I mean in college. I do love to dress up and always enjoyed having a reason to when I was a kid). I always attributed my lack of desire to celebrate to the fact that Halloween is really a kids holiday. When Seth came along, I imagined my inner fun mom party self would emerge.

She hasn't. In fact, she is the unfortunate opposite. I couldn't even muster up the enthusiasm to carve pumpkins this year. I know I should do it for the sake of my kids, but I kept putting it off and off and off until...there was no point. I talked the boys into saving their pumpkins for Thanksgiving decorations instead:)

I can see the lure of the day. Free candy. Costumes. Um.....free candy. But the creepy decorations? Headstones and skulls and spider webs and masks with fake blood on them? No. Not at all. Completely unappealing to me.

Now that Halloween has been stretched into being the entire point of the month of October, I find myself resenting it even more. October has to be the most beautiful month of the year. The leaves change, it's still moderately warm, gardens are pumping out vegetables and fruit before the first freeze. All of those glorious, glorious things to enjoy and what do I have to look at? Rows and rows of dancing skeletons and ugly witches on a stick. Every time I go into a store. Every time I drive through a neighborhood. Yuck. It's gross.

Of course, I'm far too normal and rational to be that mom who bans the holiday on principle at the sacrifice of her kids. My children have costumes and happily enjoy their candy...all of it in fact (I don't even sneak off with it a few days later). I embrace the day...sort of. But I won't dedicate a month of effort for a meaningless holiday. Now Thanksgiving, on the other hand...there's a holiday that deserves a month. Heck, even Valentine's Day, 4th of July....Arbor Day for that matter, have more merit.

Last night, Jay took the boys trick-or-treating through the neighborhood while I made dinner. Listening to the incessant doorbell ringing was almost the last straw. I think it rang at least once every two minutes - too long for me to just sit on the stairs and wait for the next time but not long enough in between to actually get anything done. And I was a slave to it! Each time, I had to trot down the stairs, plop some candy into an anonymous child's bag and be glad to do it! How did this happen? Why am I such a scrooge? Am I the only anti-Halloween mom out there?

I did manage to take pictures of my kids. They do look cute in their get-ups.

The school had a parade and Sammy took Henry along his promenade.

My flash didn't go off when Seth was right in front of me so I had to get the model-profile pose.

Darth Vader, a cow, and Anakin Skywalker

Close-ups

This is as scary as it gets.

A pre-darth.

The best costume of the night - a hubba, hubba daddy with a great sense of humor.

While I've typed this, I bet Henry has gone through about ten pieces of candy. If his bucket-full lasts the day, I'll be surprised. But, there's more where that came from. Tonight, we have a very anti-climatic Trunk-or Treat at the church.

I better not get started on how ridiculous I think that is.