Reliving a Halloween nightmare

Let's make one thing clear, Jeff hates Halloween. Seriously, he hates it. Aside from the candy, Halloween is nothing but a reminder of a horrible childhood memory - the year he was a star. And not just any star, a cardboard star covered in tin foil. He was old enough to know that a star was not a cool costume to wear but set aside potential teasing for the chance of a pillowcase full of candy. And so the night began, knocking on doors and filling up on loads of sugary treats. For anyone familiar with the "island" in Logan and nearby Wilson Elementary School, you'll know that the school is surround by some pretty big trees. As Jeff and his older brother (who absolutely loved tormenting him) were walking past the school, his brother ripped the star right off him and flung it high into the trees. It scarred him for life...he hates Halloween.

So what do we do to our beautiful and innocent daughter? We dress her up as a star. And a really crooked one at that (not on purpose, I'm just a horrible at drawing stars), complete with tinfoil and everything. I had these fabulous intentions of making a ladybug costume, which after cutting out stars and covering them in tinfoil realized it would have been easier, but after Jeff giving me a hard time about not having it finished yet gave up. And so the Halloween nightmare has been passed on to the next generation. Luckily for Pearl, we all joined in the trauma and went to the annual Kohler/Jewkes Halloween Party as "Super Stars" - pronounced "supa stars" for added effect and coolness. Next year, we're thinking of being "rock" stars.Some of you may remember a few posts back that I was complaining about having no family traditions. I should have clarified - I have family traditions with my extended families but nothing that is just Jeff, me and Pearl. OK with that cleared up we can move on to the Halloween Party fun. My Aunt Denise throws one spooktacular party and I must say every year I am just as excited to see how she's decorated her house as I am to carve pumpkins and eat the traditional meal of clam chowder and other ghoulish treats. This year's decorations followed a mad scientist theme, evident from her costume choice. Jeff and I have typically been party poopers because we've never dressed up (everyone else does) so this year my aunt was thrilled to open the doors and see a "Supa Star" family! Yes, I somehow convinced Jeff that dressing up with Pearl would keep Pearl from suffering the same childhood fate. The stars didn't reuin Halloween for Pearl but my little cousins' freaky vampire, mummy, and grim reaper costumes. She was absolutely terrified of them and cried every time they got near. It took her a good hour at least to warm up to the idea that we were staying with these freaks. Even Carver the dragon scared her. There was Frodo Baggins and an elf princess, a mummy's Mommy, and the "Invisible Man" (aka Uncle Dan who was working in New Orleans). Even "bad" Santa Claus stopped by on his way to Bermuda.After a yummy dinner we broke out the carving tools and began the task of carving dozens of pumpkins. Jeff and Pearl grew ours this year and we had a gigantic one. It would have been even bigger had the vine not broken off a month or so ago. We tried to get Pearl to sit in it but she was still freaked out with every one's makeup.
Pearl had a great time carving her pumpkin (the triangle covered one). She made me slightly nervous with her excited stabbing. When she got frustrated with me taking away her knife, she decided to eat the pumpkin instead.After a night of yummy and gruesome treats, pumpkin guts and a giant pumpkin head, it was time to bring this party to a close. Hopefully after a few more years of these fun Halloween memories, Jeff will learn to like or at least tolerate the trick or treaters.