Halloween fun!

I can take or leave halloween. It is a fun holiday but not one I've ever gotten into. I grew up with the pumpkin carving and trick or treating. But my costumes were either a store bought Cinderella (the only store bought costume I ever had) or something I'd put together. Nothing elaborate like they are now. I'm not sure I did a great job with my kids but I tried to make it fun and memorable for my kids. From little pumpkins to crayons to football players I think they had fun. We'd carve pumpkins and go trick or treating and hand out candy. It was our little family tradition.

I remember as a little kid my other brother going out trick or treating with friends and coming home with a paper grocery bag full of candy-that was a lot of candy. Considering the sweet tooth he had it was quite the haul! I don't remember having that much luck when I went out, but I remember having fun trick or treating.

This day holds other memories other than halloween and trick or treating. My dad's birthday is Nov. 1 and the story that was told is if the doctor had been able to get to the house in time he would have been a halloween baby. It was tradition back in those days to tip over or move the out houses and corn shucks. The halloween shenanigans found these items on the roads making it difficult to navigate the roadway so the doctor took longer to get to the house and my dad was born after midnight in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 instead of on Oct. 31. We always celebrated birthdays and often dad's birthday would be celebrated on Oct. 31 with my aunts and uncles in attendance. My dad would have celebrated his 97th birthday tomorrow. Dad only celebrated 81 birthdays on this earth. I still celebrate with him in some form every year. I'm told I am a lot like him, a compliment to me.

It was 25 years ago today that a massive ice and snowstorm hit this area. I had two very disappointed trick or treaters who didn't understand when Halloween was cancelled that year. Being left without power and the inability to get out because of road conditions was not fun. It was a challenging time. We finally got out and took refuge in Des Moines with a sister and brother in-law with my two small ones. It was an adventure and memorable in both good and bad ways!

I have not given out candy for the past couple of years, but I did decorate the house a little this year. I think it helps with the holiday spirit.

So this year I will spend my evening selling books at work. Not exactly how I want to spend it but it is what it is. Here's to hoping all your trick are kind and your treats are sweet!