I Love Halloween

I love Halloween. I tend to be partial to the holidays that revolve around a chocolate thematic (e.g., Easter). I love fall, I love October, I love pumpkins, I love costumed children, it's just all-around fun to me. Not sure why I'm like this. My parents were not the "go all out" type. They were the turn out the lights so no one knocks type. Me, I mapped out the neighborhood and planned the trick or treat strategy to hit as many houses as possible before
8 p.m. My fondest memories were of coming home, dumping out the swag and eating the best ones first (the Snickers, the M&Ms, the Reeses, etc.) Good times.

So now that I'm a mom, I plan the costume for the kid a month out, schedule a portrait session, decorate the inside and outside of the house, and more. I also purposely buy candy that doesn't appeal to me at all so that I'm not tempted to dip in (sorry, not a Skittles person --yuk). And as for decor I am of the cutesy variety, not the decapitated head sort. I like a cute ghost (above left).

Now, on the other hand, my neighbors the Talley's, go all out and every year have a different theme. They are of the ghoulish variety. Thousands flock our neighborhood to see their display. One time I saw Mr. Talley in his yard and chatted with him about Halloween...he plans for it all year, and each year, makes a completely different display. Check out his website at www.terroratthetalleyhouse.com

A freshly dug grave to the left, and a skeleton lounging to the right. Cool.