Halloween Family Party October 2010

We had a blast at our Halloween Party! This was the 17th year of our annual haunt. The best thing about the party is our family really gets into it and everyone goes all out for their costume. My favorite time of the party is when everyone arrives. I love to get surprised and giggle as I see each costume. (The truth is that I usually squeal with delight like a little girl getting a pony!) We take photos of each person and in family groups. It's so amazing to look back on the 17 years and see how much the kids have grown. Wow do I love these people! How blessed am I that I get to share my life with them. (fangs, wigs, tights and all!)

The party really goes all month and starts with the decorations...

My favorite Halloween book is "Frank is a Monster who wanted to Dance". It is really great if you read it with your best Frankenstein voice. After Frank gets some ants in his pants he is ready for the theater...

After one of my little boys friends saw the above he came and asked me "Do you like eyeballs and spiders?"  I just smiled and said "I guess so." He said "Cool!"

This book has a lot of memories...when my girls were little they would love to watch Hocus Pocus and pretend to be witches and call out "BOOoooK!" just like on the movie. Hours of fun with their cousin.

Candy jars are filled and each child who visits our home during October, leaves with a wee sweetie.

Three little ghosts haunt us from inside jars on the table. Any ghosts we find and catch are quickly used for decoration.

This was one of the best crafts we made a few years ago. Way fun and easy.

Lanterns Glow

 This is Slim he plays on our player piano. For an extra spooky feeling we turn on Phanton of the Opera and you can hear his boney fingers scrape the piano keys! Just thinking about the sound makes a chill go up my spine!

 Pumpkin Head greets all who dare come close to our home.

Haunted Home Sweet Haunted Home.

 I love this little sign because it reminds of being a little on Halloween night. It was so fun to dress up as someone new and walk around the neighborhood, greeting neighbors and filling a plastic pumpkin with goodies. I also remember my princess mask getting really steamy, moist and cold.

 HeebieJeebies is my favorite word this time of the year!

My sweet sister (in-law) and I have a ball making carmel apples each October in time for the party. It feels like we are playing as we try different sprinkles and candy. It also gives us time to chat. We come up with so many combinations and then we package them in celophane bags with ribbon on top. I store them outside on a table to keep them perfectly cool until they are devoured.

Carmel Apples

2 cubes butter

2 lbs. Brown Sugar

2 cups corn syrup

2 cans sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter on low heat, then add sugar and syrup. Raise heat to medium, stirring constantly until it boils. Add sweetened milk and bring to boil again. Boil to just past soft ball stage, stir constantly until 230 degrees on candy thermometer. Then, enjoy dipping your luscious apples and place them on a greased cookie sheet or greased waxed paper. When cooled dip in chocolate and all kinds of fun candies. Lastly, drizzle chocolate over the top for a beautiful finished look! (Covers about 25 apples)

Fun topping ideas:

Gummy worms

Raw sugar & cinnamon

Nuts (pecans, almonds, pistachios)

Mint mini chips

Candy canes

Toffee

Mini M&M’s

Chopped candy bar

Rocky Road

Coconut

Candy corn

Candy eyeballs

Gumdrops

Oreos

Skittles

Wrap in cellophane bags with ribbon tied on

top and share with your favorite someone!

 We have trophies as the awards for the best costumes. There's a voting area in the den. Everyone at the party votes for their favorites. I add a new trophie each year.

 This is the new category this year "Most Out There"

 And the winner is...