Have I missed the Halloween window? Ok, then I’ll be quick! Growing up, I always remember Halloween seeming like a HUGE deal! My mom made us elaborate costumes long before the days of Pinterest. One year I threw a fit (at age 9 or something—past fit throwing years) about not liking my costume, so as punishment I was responsible for creating my own costume the following year (with her guidance). We always went all out!
^^^ Even at 11 years old I had a sweet tooth! Dressed up as a Hershey Kiss in a costume that my mom made from an ironing board cover I think! With my siblings (missing one sister who had not yet been born), circa 1990.
So far we haven’t really made a big deal about Halloween in our little family (I never know how to refer to my childhood family, and the new one I have created with my little guys…hmmmm). David has dressed up a few times, but we haven’t trick or treated.
^^^ 2011, 8 months old, Tiger. 2012, 1 1/2, Train conductor. 2 1/2, not a banana—this was just for fun at Target, but I don’t have a single picture of him when he dressed up as a Seahawk last year. I’ll blame it on being pregnant. Can’t believe I missed a year!
In some ways, trick or treating is just a strange concept. If you know your neighbors I think it could be fun, but we don’t know our neighbors (I know, trick or treating could change that!), and it is mostly rainy, cold and dark in Seattle this time of year. So I’m not overly anxious to start taking the boys out.
^^^ Jonathan—the cutest little pumpkin!
Right now David is very confused about Halloween, thinking that it is somehow related to Thanksgiving. He has this idea that all of his aunts and uncles will fly in and have a big dinner of pumpkin macaroni at my parents’ house. Which I suppose would be fun, but it’s not what Halloween is about.
^^^ 2014—semi matching Dinosaur outfits! My mom made the one David is wearing for my brother back in the 80’s—so awesome that she still has it! And Jonathan’s is the fleece we got when we took baby David camping 3 years ago!
We’ve decided that for the time being, before the peer pressure of elementary school teaches the boys about trick or treating and all of that sugary goodness, we are going to make our own tradition. This year we are going to let the boys dress up, take them out to dinner, and give each of them a treat bag. I know—Jonathan really has no idea what’s going on, and certainly doesn’t care about a treat bag, so that is for David’s benefit—he looooves his baby brother! I have no idea if we will do this for years to come, or if this will be a one time deal—stay tuned to hear our plans next year!
I’m on a seemingly constant mission to stop getting junk for the kids, and also don’t want to give a ton of junk food to David (part of the reason to forgo trick or treating in the first place). The bags are simple. Some candy treats, stickers, and a pair of dollar bin spider glasses for David, a fun chew toy for Jonathan, and squeezie pouches for each of them. Less than $10 for both bags combined!
^^^ Surf Sweets Fruity Bears, Earth’s Best Organic squeeze up pouch, and Annie’s Halloween Bunny Cookies (that do contain honey, so not for very strict vegans).
I think I will also throw in a glow stick and a couple of YumEarth Organic Lollipops in David’s bag, but I forgot to include them in my pictures!
^^^ Jonathan’s favorite on the go treat—Plum Organics Pumpkin and Banana squeeze pouch.
What are your plans for your kiddos?
^^^ David’s pumpkin from the farm, complete with raccoon mask!
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