Happy Halloween!

Last year, I shared with you how much Halloween is a source of conflict for me. (You can read about here.)   In a world where childhood obesity is on the rise, where we're learning more and more how sugar negatively affects our bodies, I find it difficult to be a supplier of candy to children.  I don't have conflicts about it being Satan's day or whatever (no disrespect to those of you who do)...no, all my conflicts come from the mass amounts of candy that are piled on top of already candy-holic children.  I just can't do it.  Honestly, I have warm memories of Halloween, both my own childhood recollections and remember my children adorably decked out as Power Rangers, princesses, mermaids, and Star Wars characters.  My house is still decorated for Halloween and I even had a Candy Corn-scented candle burning for this month (which I've completely used up...sigh...it was super cool!)  I'm not a Great Pumpkin Grinch, I swear! 

Buttercup was a LadyBug this year.

Still, I admit to a great sense of relief that Buttercup has reached the ripe old age of 12 and really doesn't want to trick-or-treat anymore.  The issue is made so much easier when you don't have your own child chomping at the bit to go door-to-door in search of the next sugar hit.   Each year, she seems to be invited to at least one Halloween party, so she can pretend to be something/someone else for a few hours and my mother's guilt is assuaged...she still has a "fun" childhood.  (Phew!)

Pretty cute, isn't she?

As for giving out candy,  this is the third year we won't be doing it.  Instead, this is the 3rd Annual Celebration of Dress-Up for Halloween.  Yes, once again this year, we will be putting on our finery and heading out to a real restaurant and enjoying a meal together.  In fact, this year our little tradition has grown and will include some friends of ours who decided it was a pretty good idea.




What a difference a year makes!!!

So, stay safe and have fun and enjoy whatever you all are doing.  It's all good, you know?   Oh, and if you do get some candy, I'd really like a Snickers Bar.