Halloween 2012 ...

Preparing for the pumpkin carving and trick or treaters

It was Halloween on Wednesday evening which is a huge deal here in Canada.  For me, it was another great opportunity to experience a North American tradition.  One of my favourite Halloween things to do is to meander (either at a walk or a jog) around the local streets and see people's decorations.  We didn't decorate our place this year thanks to a super busy work and social schedule in the week or two leading up to Halloween.  But that didn't mean we weren't going to enjoy the festivities.  Last year, we began a tradition of having  our friends, J and W, over for drinks and pumpkin carving.  We continued the new tradition this year, adding a casual dinner (elk and spinach pasta) to the menu as well as the obligatory adult candy (Purdy's salted caramel chocolates) and free-flowing wine.

Mmmm ... candy!  Coffee crisps and smarties are my favourite!

My pumpkin is done

Being a chilly night, many trick or treaters arrived early, eager to get back into their homes to escape the cold, cold night no doubt.  In just under 2 hours, we had 90 children knock on our door, be terrorised by C grilling them on their costume and escape with a small chocolate bar.  We then ran out of chocolate, suggesting that next year we should go for the 120 package of chocolates as opposed to the 90 package.  Once the candy was gone, we snuffed out our Jack O'Lanterns, shut the curtains (to signal that we were no longer open for 'business') and continued to enjoy our adult treats of wine and chocolate.

Jack O'Lantern tells the trick or treaters that we are home

Our second Jack O'Lantern

This year was Abbey's first Halloween which proved to be an interesting experience.  At first, she barked like crazy when people traipsed up our front path and was very reluctant to greet people at the door.  Luckily, she quickly got over that and was soon eager to be patted by the small witches, goblins and superman characters who arrived at our door.  Some were more interested in Abbey than the candy on offer!

Our third and final Jack O'Lantern for the night

 

 

C hands out candy to trick or treaters while Abbey looks on inquisitively (and nervously to begin with!)

Being my first year working in a Canadian school, the hype of Halloween steadily grew on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, culminating in a very grumpy Thursday as the girls came to school maxed out on sugar and tired thanks to a late night of trick or treating.  A day working on our art project was the perfect way for the girls to get over their sugar high and settle back into life post-Halloween.

Blurry photo of the best decorated home in our neighbourhood ... nearly 100 Jack O'Lanterns I think I saw!