Anyone else here thinking of having a Halloween party?

I'd mentioned about having a birthday party for the girls but since we LOOOVE Halloween in our family, I'm thinking of doing that instead.

Any thoughts? We were thinking pumpkin carving (with parents' help... it'd be relatives and neighbors mostly) and maybe a spooky walk through our yard/garden. I'd love to hear what other people are doing.

Also, just wanted to let others know there's a ton of fun stuff on OrientalTrading.com if you like plastic stuff from China And do they ever have some cool stuff.

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

Hi
We are having our 2nd Halloween party. Last year's went so well, I think we'll do it every year.
Last year we had crafts, decorated cookies, played games like pumpkin, pumpkin, spider (duck duck goose) and hot skelton toss (hot potato), and we had a parade of costumes. All the parents had cameras and the kiddos paraded in front of us and we took mass pictures! It was great. I passed out prizes during the games and goodie bags to everyone so everyone was happy as they were all winners. Target has some great stuff for goodie bags. They esp liked the spider rings and sticky skeltons which landed on my celings! Very fun!!

This year we are doing much the same, but I think I am going to also add a bouncer. I do it around 1ish (after lunch) so I can mainly put out finger foods and yummy things to eat rather than a big lunch spread.

I love Halloween and my kids love the party. Gives them a great chance to socialize with other kiddos too. The parents that come also stay because they are friends of ours who have kids so we adults get to hang out too.

I spend a little more but I love doing all of the little extras that make it very Halloweenish. This year I am asking parents to join in the fun and dress too.

Have fun at your party!

Agapi

Proud Mommy of
Kaden, Rowen, Kai
BGB 03-22-05

Thanks! I keep going back and forth on who to invite... if there was ever a time for the girls' class photos to hurry and get here, now would be it! I know some of the kids from volunteering, but can't remember all of them.

I like the idea of a mid-afternoon gig, too, but I think we're going to do a "scary" garden walk at dusk instead. I wonder if that's TOO scary for little kids, LOL

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

We had a big Halloween party last year. One of my favorite things was a bean bag toss. We just cut out a giant pumpkin out of plywood and painted it up. I sewed candy corn looking bean bags (filled with beans or rice, I am not sure) and that is what they tossed in the pumpkins mouth and eyes. We also stapled back felt to the back to catch the bags, so no one would have to do bean bag duty all night. If I was to do it again, I would use a spandex like material so the bags wouldn't bounce right out if thrown too hard.

I also got TONS of do it yourself decorating ideas from Martha Stewart.com. Bat cave and bats on the walls, gothic window curtains, bats in the lampshades, mice on the walls, cute skeleton invites, etc. And awesome witch and cat cut outs! They are a hit again this year as well.

I blogged the party, but there are not really any detail shots, but you can see the overall idea.

http://ourbighappy.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html

Laura & Don
BBB 5/05
www.ourbighappy.blogspot.com

"

Hmmm... I might have to steal the bean bag toss idea! That seems like something the kids would love. You're so flippin' creative, Laura

I only have 1-1/2 weeks, but I work best under pressure!

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

Last year one of the trio's friends birthday is on Halloween so his party was pretty fun. The part that the kids seemed to like best was a tunnel/maze thing. My friend had went to the Nebraska Furniture Mart and they gave her a bunch of cardboard boxes from fridges and stoves. She fit them together and the kids crawled thru them. She had a cd player inside playing Halloween sounds and bats, spiders hanging from the inside of the boxes. It was just the right amount of scary for them. She had flashlight set up along the inside for a little bit of light.

She also did a pin the nose on the pumpkin and a pillowcase race. She took cheap white pillowcases, painted jack-o-lantern faces and the kids did like a potato sack race in them. That was pretty fun to watch. If I remember anything else, I will let you know. Have fun!!

Shiloh--Proud Mom to:
BGG born 2/04
B born 7/06

In college, of of the frats would do a similar party! Refridge boxes with caves and tunnels ending up in crazy places!! Crazy things happened in those boxes! Very funny! What a great idea to do something for kids that fits the Halloween theme!

Agapi

Proud Mommy of
Kaden, Rowen, Kai
BGB 03-22-05