halloween dicision?

[Brandi]

Every year we do a giant haunted house here at our home for the kids. It has been a huge hit for gosh maybe almost 10 years now. Well this year the other couple we do it with has had a few bad things happen. 1 he got the flu the other night and 2 her mom is going through some rough chemo right now. So they are sad but can't help this year. And they are the one's with all the sound affects and lights (they have a a band). And because thier stuff is very high end stuff we don't want to borrow it and possibly ruin the stuff. Sooooo it would only be half of what we normally do. So I have suggested we just leave the house and leave a note saying "Due to illness in our halloween play group we can not do it this year, sorry! Hopefully we will be back next year!
Or should I just put out a few decorations and still pass out candy?
People are so used to a high production I am afraid they will be very disappointed if we even try with what we have.
I don't know what to do?
I am going to go carve my pumpkin though with a heavy heart and a sigh....

[Bruno28]

I'm a grump. I aways put the lights out and hide at the back of the house till it's over.

I realise that's no help whatsoever to you who are obviously a much nicer person.

[Zen]

pass out candy anyway. There's always next year.
I'll never forget the time I dressed as the creature from the black lagoon. I sat very still on a chair on the front porch. When the kids came up they thought I was stuffed and I scared the crap out of them.

I made one little girl cry though, felt kinda bad about that

[bmccasland]

For the kids that remember from previous year's extravaganzas, and comment on it, this is one of the times for "life's lessons" - with a very short answer. You just couldn't do it this year, sorry. Want a piece of candy?

And do any kids do "tricks?" any more? it is TRICK or treat afterall. Although I really don't want soap on the windows or TP on my shrubs...

[mimitabby]

I'm a grump. I aways put the lights out and hide at the back of the house till it's over.

I realise that's no help whatsoever to you who are obviously a much nicer person.

Bruno, me too unless Raleighdon is home. Maybe you are my long lost real sister!

[Bruno28]

mimi - I'm sure you have Scottish ancestry in there somewhere. I knew we were related!

[Blueberry]

I'm being a grump this year too. I have too much work to do (sadly, it doesn't stay at work - it follows me home and takes up about 14 hours a day), and our neighborhood has 1,000+ kids per house (nope that's not a typo). I really don't feel like handing out candy all night so.....I'm hiding and working my a very small light (which I hope won't cue them in to the fact that someone is home...)

CA

[crazycanuck]

actually bruno & mimi i must be just as grumpy...i really annoyed some canuck chick by telling her :it's only halloween" and the response was

i don't understand why the southern hemisphere has to adopt "halloween"....

rant over..

brandi-why not just put a sign up? kids will get over it.

c

[LBTC]

Brandi, without thinking of whether you are impressing or disappointing anyone, what do you want to do? I know I would still hand out candy if I couldn't do the whole shmow we do now....but that's just me. If you'd rather hide away, you have every right to do that, too.

Our yard is ready, the sound effects CD is cued up, I'm in my witch clothes, I think I'll have a nap while we wait. Sure is easier to do with the whole day off!

H&B
~T~

[Trekhawk]

i don't understand why the southern hemisphere has to adopt "halloween"....

rant over..

brandi-why not just put a sign up? kids will get over it.

c

LOL - they dont!!
I have told my kids to enjoy tonight because its the last time we will be doing the trick or treat thing. They understand that Halloween is not an Australian tradition and so will not be something we do when we return to Aust.
Im a grump to me its just commercial rot and I will be pleased to leave it behind.
Hand out lollies (candy) if it makes you feel better but dont feel guilty because you cant do the big shbang this year. CC is right they will get over it.

[HillSlugger]

Bruno, me too unless Raleighdon is home. Maybe you are my long lost real sister!

We usually leave the lights out and go to dinner and a movie.

[Zen]

You guys are no fun at all

[emily_in_nc]

We now live in a very rural neighborhood of 10+ acre wooded lots, down a long dirt road, with no street lights and no children at all, so no trick-or-treaters. I can't say I miss it. All the doorbell ringing used to drive our poor dogs batty -- they'd bark like crazy until it was all over. Of course, now they're both gone , so I wouldn't mind it so much. But I don't even have an excuse to buy any candy now. I am sure there will be plenty of leftovers folks will bring into work tomorrow, so I'm glad I have my last weekday mtb ride of the season tomorrow after work to burn off the excess calories I am sure to ingest!

Emily

[blueskies]

I like Halloween because you can do as much as or as little as you like.

I just went through our giant bag of candy & sorted it by deliciousness, so I can start out by giving away the ones that I don't like.

First to go: Butterfingers, Baby Ruths, & Hersheys Milk Chocolate

And very, very last, which hopefully means never: Snickers

[Possegal]

i like giving the candy out, Halloween was my mother's favorite holiday and it always makes me think of her. but this year, i have way too much left over candy - and i'm that house that gives out the regular sized candy bars! and i can't afford to keep the candy around - since the next thread i should be posting in is the one about waking up one day and being 45 lbs over weight. so, anyone want some candy?