Happy Halloween Memories

When our boys were growing up Halloween may have been our favorite holiday.  Planning costumes months ahead.   Putting up the tattered cardboard ghosts, the Halloween wreath and other decorations that have long ago worn out.  Carving the pumpkins a few days before Halloween. hoping they wouldn't  wither too bad before Halloween.

Chad's first costume.  Money was tight.

 Back in those days our schools still had Halloween parties and a costume parade. It was a BIG deal to take your costume to school and show it off in the costume parade.

The clown costume must have been "hot-off- the -sewing-machine."  The hat isn't even finished.

 We tried to plan costumes that they could wear sweatshirts under.

  Most Halloweens evenings would get pretty chilly.

Kyle wore his army uniform out.   It was a favorite to play in.

As our stash of Halloween costumes grew they would reappear on different kids for years to come.  I still have a few of my favorites saved for possible grandkid use. 

Kyle's an Army man again.  This time I just made sweats so he could just wear them as pajamas.

Clark's favorite for years...Dracula!

Often the costumes required paper mache  to be done weeks ahead so it would be dried enough to paint.

Before political correctness was an issue.

We did have to the rule that once they turned twelve they were too old to Trick or Treat.  But they were old enough to take the littler kids around the neighborhood.  They were suppose to stand back and they could only take candy if it was offered to them.   (or stay in the car if they were driving).

As they got older,  we lived in a somewhat rural location where the masses of  trick or treaters didn't go,  The  boys planned their route very carefully to to hit the most houses in their time allotment  but also their  favorite houses that were really generous...cans of soda,  full size candy bars. 

 When the boys would come home then they got down to the  real business of Halloween.  They would spread their candy stash out on  the floor and barter and trade for favorites... paying off their shepherd/drivers and donating their decidedly gross candy to their dad and apples to me.
   Then their stashes would disappear to secret locations for weeks of sweet indulging.    Candy in those days and in our house was a well rationed treat.   So having their own private stash hoarded away was a true treasure and they took pride in how long they could make it last.   The boys  also used it for bribery or leverage in circumstances that called for such measures.

My parents loved to be at our house  on Halloween and made the 8+ hour drive numerous years. Gramma Palmer always brought her witch costume.  And Grampa Palmer loved to tease the boys with missing candy.  They knew their collection well and if something was missing they knew who had it in a pocket or behind his back. 

 Now it's fun to see the Halloween fun continue in each of the boys'  little families.
Here and Here and Here are a few of our favorites.

 And here is a good Halloween article about developing your own fun Halloween traditions.