AWB BLOGtober Fest, Day 2: Halloween Memories

Welcome to day 2 of the Arkansas Women Bloggers BLOGtober Fest  Challenge.  Today we're talking about Halloween memories.  Fun stuff.

My mom always made a big deal about holidays. I mean, decorations on the doors, on the windows, and throughout the house. I always loved the Halloween decorations she used in our home when I was little. I wish she still had them, I'd totally steal them to use at my house. (she does still have some cute stuff, it's just not the stuff from my childhood)  She had a jointed chipboard scarecrow for the front door, other cardboard decorations for the picture window -- a black cat, a witch's hat, a full moon. I remember she always made a lot of our costumes. We chose a mask (remember those masks with the elastic cord that held them onto your head...the kind they can't sell anymore because they are a safety hazard? yeah, that kind)...anyway, we chose a mask and mom made a costume to go with it. My favorite costume was from 1971. My sister and I were both witches. I chose this fabulous mask that had "real" (fake) hair. We had that mask in our toy box for years - and fought over it, because my sister and I both loved it. I know, you're shocked that I fought with my sister! Last year, I found and scanned a photo Mom took of Sammie and me in those costumes. Tell me, am I wrong about the fabulousness? I think not:  

By the way, I made this my Facebook profile picture. Hahaha!

Now, my Halloween memories are all wrapped up in my kids. Ladybugs and Disney Princesses reigned for years...and then along came Squirt. As in Squirt-the-baby-sea-turtle-from-Finding Nemo.  And now, this photo is one of my favorites ever:

Elizabeth, age 5, as Hannah Montana; Harrison, 8 months, as Squirt; Annie, age 2, as Tinkerbell; Nin, age 4, as Fancy Nancy.  Oh, how I loved that particular Halloween!  I look at this picture and my heart aches. It was only four years ago; but, my kids are so big now...I miss this. Yet, I love the stage we're in now, too. {wipes eyes...I'll be okay, let's move on, shall we}

Last year, I made some really fun Halloween treats for preschool teachers, our speech pathologist, and Girl Scout troop leaders - they were really fun and very easy to make.  I love making Halloween treats for special people. Making some more for this year, which I'll share next week when I get them finished. 

Instructions, including what NOT to do, can be found here.  You could easily do them for other holidays or change them to "harvest" in case you don't do Halloween.  And for those who wonder "How do you justify doing Halloween when you call yourself a reformed Christian?"  Well, my friends, it is a matter of conscience. Trick-or-Treating doesn't bother my conscience (free candy!) so we do it.  And I've had to learn that feeling judged by others is MY problem.  (you can read more about that here, should you so choose...and by the way, the link to the Grace to You article in that particular blog post is outdated -- the article now resides here)