Halloween!

 Like so many things in this crazy year, Halloween was a little different than typical years. Many years we have many, little parties - parties at school, parties at church, parties at home.. This year, however, there were fewer options. Still, there was fun to be had. 

There were some traditions that didn't change. We still dressed up our front door. This year, I went with a fierce decor. Moon was adamant that there be teeth on both the bottom as well as the top for the Monster Door, as he dubbed it.

And, of course, there are the yummy, macabre treats. Doorbell ditching friends and leaving them with a  plates of treats is definitely compatible with social distancing:

There actually was a little party that we attended. Over the summer, my boys went to a little summer camp and we connected with the folks who ran it. They invited us to come to their little Halloween and Day of the Dead celebration. Initially, it was going to a couple of hours with activities indoors and out in the yard. However, a week or so before the party the local COVID numbers were on the rise so, to be safe, they abbreviated the festivities and had a few activities outside: pumpkin hunt and pictures in front of their spooky dressed up porch:

The kids were a little disappointed that we weren't able to stay longer, but we had a good time. And I enjoyed reconnecting with the ladies who run the place. 

Our town did hold trick or treating, but our family opted out. There weren't any school or church parties this year, but Halloween was on a Saturday, and it seemed a waste to let the day pass without any revelries... so we decided to have a day of games at home. 

The boys were actually really excited about planning out the day. A few days before the 31st, we sat down as a family and wrote down all the things they wanted to do.. then we had to talk about how the day has a finite amount of time. So, we narrowed it down to the most fun activities and, in order to make sure we could fit it all in, we made an outline and we had a plan for the day. 

Townshend actually took on a couple of the activities, himself.. set them up and lead Moon through them. They did some Halloween bowling while Hubby and I made breakfast. Then, during clean up, Townshend drew a cow on our kitchen chalkboard and they played "Pin the Bat on the Cow" (a game of his own creation) with a bat decoration we had around. (Sadly, I forgot to take pictures) but I was really impressed at his determination to fit it all in.

We had some crafts, and made mummies (Townshend was less into that):

The boys have been asking to play Rock Band for forever.. I don't think we've played that game in years, though we've kept all the instruments and things just in case. So, we finally brought that game out of retirement. Hubby and I really enjoyed it.. the boys were less impressed. Moon was upset that the guitar didn't actually make any sound, so I let him use my real one while the rest of us rocked out with our virtual instruments:

In the afternoon, after Saturday baths, lunch and quiet time (so the parents could have a break), we jumped back in with an in-house trick or treating followed by a Halloween egg hunt:

Then, to cap it all off (and burn off some of that sugar energy) we finished off the day at the park. So funny that last year we had a blizzard that dropped several inches of snow on Halloween, and this year we wore sweatshirts to the park. That's a Midwest autumn for you!

It was a full day! Honestly, we probably partied harder this year, making our own fun, that we would have in a more normal year. It's all good though.. it was a blast. It's definitely one for the books!