A Party of Scary Proportions

We held our fifth annual Halloween party this past Saturday.  We started such a venture when The Redhead was in first grade after years of consideration.  We finally took the plunge and never looked back.  Until this year.  After Saturday night's events, we are reconsidering.

So....instead of buying tons of Hershey's candy for the pinata, I noticed I had a tote full of novelty favors I bought on clearance last year.  I must have scored some awesome deals...and many...so I did what any normal person would do.  I tossed them all in the pinata.

All of them.

Even fingers.  And I did buy a few bags of candy, some novelty kinds I found at the 99 cent store.  I did learn that the kids actually want the candy, so we will go back to that next year, if there is a next year.

The dog had her costume for the year.  She likes dressing up, surprisingly.

We had the backyard dressed up too.

All thanks to The Redhead's hard work.

And the Perpetual Toddler's supervision.

I also went on a massive baking spree.

A special thanks went to The Redhead for her mad cookie decorating skills.

Did I mention my massive baking spree?!

I was a busy baker.

And out of everything I made, sticking a paper straw up a Peep Ghost's rear was their favorite treat.  Also, I'm still rather proud I saved those Styrofoam blocks.  They really make awesome holders.

Yeah, out of everything, those were their favorites.  How is that even possible?!  Stupid Peeps.

Thanks to The Redhead, these made it to the table.  I had forgotten all about them.

We had this brilliant idea to watch a movie outdoors this year.  So we rented a projector package online.  It was really fantastic.  Except one little small snafu.  Three kids watched the movie.  The rest ran around outside and inside, terrorized the pets, managed to break things in The Redhead's room, and started arguing with one another.  I should have known when the moment they all arrived, they were running inside and outside and out the front door, into the street, and only stopped when they knocked something off The Redhead's wall.  And even then, they didn't necessarily stop.  I am proud to say, my child listened.  My child watched most of the movie.  And my child didn't even know about the dramatic arguments.  And she certainly knew to close the back door behind her, something few kids were remembering to do.  No matter how many times I asked.

And I'd really like to know what that is on my wall and how it managed to get there.

It was still wet two days later...but it wiped right off, luckily.

I already have some ideas for how to handle future parties, rather than canceling them altogether, but trust me, it's something I've considered.  At the very least, a reduction in numbers.  Certain children not invited.  And me being even more stern with the rules.  I shouldn't be afraid to get after other people's children.  It's my house.  My back door.  And The Redhead's room.  I can protect it.  I should protect it.

But at least I had fun making all of the food.  And I'm proud to say that every last bit of it went home with parents.  That was the cost of sending hyper children my way.  Perhaps next time, they'll know better....heh.