Halloween... It's coming!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  Is it because of the smell of the crisp leaves that have fallen off trees, or the swish, swish, as you walk through leaf piles that have gathered at the edges of sidewalks?  Or is it because our children get so excited to dress up and talk of nothing else for the weeks leading up to Halloween?  Or is it the fun "scary" stories we read, or the fun decorations we get to put up?

Nope... I'll be honest.  I love candy. :-)  Somehow my son also has a huge sweet tooth.  I love going trick-or-treating with my children.  Last year was the first year that I brought them home because it was getting later, rather than bringing them home because they got tired.   

A few years back, we started a post-trick-or-treat tradition.  We sit at the kitchen table and sort out the candy, discarding the candy that the kids don't like or can't eat (due to allergies and the newly added dental braces).  Then.... we gorge.  We eat whatever candy we want. I usually eat until I'm stuffed. Mom usually cuts off the kids when she thinks it's too much. We keep a tiny portion of the candy for the next day or so, and then Mom throws the rest away, while I sadly watch it go.   I'm usually too stuffed to object when that occurs.  But at least this way, we don't have candy in our house for very long after Hallween.  And there will be plenty of other treats coming as Thanksgiving and other holidays are just around the corner.

At The Little Gym, we have a tradition too.  We have our annual Members-only Halloween Party.  This year it's on Sunday October 31st -- on Halloween.  We're having it a little earlier in the day this year, so the kids can come to The Little Gym and still be able to go home for dinner before going out trick-or-treating.

We've always had a pretty big turnout, so we now have 2 parties -- one at 1pm, and another at 2:35pm (5 minutes after the first party has ended).  We transform the gym into a Halloween extravaganza with a Halloween-themed obstacle course, giant cheese-slide, halloween activities and performances, fun games & prizes, and cookies and juice.  Children (and parents) are encouraged to come in costume.  All of their favorite teachers will be!

We have sign-up sheets at the gym and we're asking parents to RSVP by Saturday the 23rd.  Below is our staff photo from just before last year's party.  We hope to see you there!