When I was little

I loved coming home from school to find that our house had been decorated to reflect the seasons and holidays. There would be little displays set up on end tables, and fuzzy cardboard jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows on the walls. I think there was a witch one, too. Anyone else remember those? The ones with the little bit of black fuzz accenting them? Then there were the school Halloween parties. Packing up your costume to take to school. Worrying that you wouldn't know how to put it all together and hoping that you would win the costume contest. I'll have to dig up the pictures from the year I won as a skunk. And home-made costumes. I swore until a few years ago that my children would always have homemade costumes like I had. Working at the Halloween store the last few years ruined that idea! Back to the school parties. It was always so exciting to come in from recess and gather around the bathroom area helping each other with costumes. Or coming in from an activity and seeing the desks transformed into our own little treasure spots. Cupcakes, candy, red punch and sometimes, for those lucky enough to be in class with the Blair kids, special decorations like the ones below. Bonnie made ceramics and would make one for every kid in her son and daughters classes. Amazing! A few years ago my mom passed them on to us to use in our homes.

The black cat is one of my favorites!

This guy came with lollipops in the tops of his hands.

The house has a light that goes with it.

This year I split up the little trio of ghosty jack-o-lanterns. The crazy thing is that each of us kids have some that are different. Bonnie must have made hundreds of these over the years. I really should send her a thank you note letting her know that her crafts live on.
I was talking to my mom last night and realized that the month of October is crazy for our family. We see a lot of each other but it's almost always at the store. She had no idea that I had decorated my house and that I forced myself to do it this year (I had convinced myself I was too tired and hated halloween already) all because I remember how exciting it is when your a kid. I love hearing Spencer tell people how "spooky" he thinks our house is! So here's a few pics of our spooky place.