Halloween Traditions . . .

I know it's late but I commented on another blog, which was very cute Pikes Pickles about our annual Spooky Tales party and thought maybe others might like to know about it as well. This all started when we went to a local "Spooky Tales" at Thanksgiving Point for family night. They gave us donuts and hot chocolate--all you can eat yum! And we could look over the children's garden before. Then they had 3 storytellers 2 amateur and one professional. They weren't too spooky but more fun. One of the storytellers was a child and he was amazing! We loved it so the next year we were going to go with our friends the Durtschis but the weather was so cold we kept putting it off. We finally decided to do our own. We have done it every year and I am not sure about this year with my back but we have invited other families, had a potluck soup dinner and we potluck the refreshments as well. We have soup at one house and then the stories and jokes at the other house. Each family brings at least one story to tell. Then kids usually get up and tell silly Halloween jokes. We give the storyteller a flashlight and dim the lights. It's very fun and the kids love getting up we have to limit it to a couple of jokes a kid. We started ending with Jerry Seinfeld's Halloween Book which is a riot and we have the CD of him telling the story. FUN! Another tradition we have is making caramel apples and taking pumpkin bread to widows. I have heard of pumpkin caroling but we haven't done that yet. We try to visit a pumpkin patch and get our pumpkins if we didn't grow any. These are getting pricey so we may not go anymore. We also decorate our house for October on a family night but alas we haven't done so this year because of my back. Owell. Post any of your fun traditions! I am putting together a binder of Halloween Ideas, recipes etc. If you want some fun ideas Family Fun always has great holiday ideas. (These photos are from last year's Spooky Tales).