oh yvonne
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Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 1, 2017 13:54:09 GMT
I just want to give a shout out to all those of you who bought candy, and got up and down all night from your tv watching (the game!) to help make our kid's Halloween so awesome. The decorations, the lights that you strung, holding down your yapping dog, truly a neighborly act of kindness you did. Thank you for sitting out with your blanket and your cups of coffee with your next door neighbors, bonding with your community. Praising our kid's costumes and wishing them a Happy Halloween. Thanks to the family at that one house every year for having the Dodger game on in the garage and offering us parents a nice shot of Fireball if we wanted one. Just a great night. I most appreciate the older folks, whose kids have long grown out of the TOT years, but still obviously get great enjoyment from handing out the candy still. Gives my heart a tug. Thank you. Thank you.
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imsirius
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Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
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Post by imsirius on Nov 1, 2017 14:02:28 GMT
I agree! There were so many houses in our neighbourhood this year that were dark. Dd and I were pretty much the only ones walking at 7:30. Many people were just pouring their stuff in her bag because they hadn't seen many kids. I was shocked because our neighbourhood is full of younger families.
Last year we had over 100 kids, this year DS said he maybe had 45. We have sooo much candy left over plus what dd was given.
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QueenoftheSloths
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Jun 26, 2014 0:29:24 GMT
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Nov 1, 2017 14:02:31 GMT
Along the same lines, I want to thank everyone who bundled their kids up and took them around in temps hovering around freezing to continue the tradition of door to door trick or treating. DH and I have never been on the receiving end of trick or treating, but we go to a lot of trouble to decorate the house, debate at length over what treats to give out and give to anyone who comes to the door. Our neighborhood doesn't get a lot of trick or treaters, last night it was only 19, down from almost 50 last year, so we were excited over every single one. And having a great costume, or commenting on our decorations or our treats really made our night.
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gloryjoy
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Jun 26, 2014 12:35:32 GMT
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Post by gloryjoy on Nov 1, 2017 14:03:19 GMT
That is so sweet of you! And you are most welcome!
My kids are 29 and 32 and I feel like I have certainly paid back for the years my kids went trick or treating. But I like being part of the neighbourhood/community, that house that gives out the full size candy bars. Love seeing the kids in the neighbourhood, talking to them. Just a fun night overall!
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oh yvonne
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 1, 2017 14:04:57 GMT
Along the same lines, I want to thank everyone who bundled their kids up and took them around in temps hovering around freezing to continue the tradition of door to door trick or treating. DH and I have never been on the receiving end of trick or treating, but we go to a lot of trouble to decorate the house, debate at length over what treats to give out and give to anyone who comes to the door. Our neighborhood doesn't get a lot of trick or treaters, last night it was only 19, down from almost 50 last year, so we were excited over every single one. And having a great costume, or commenting on our decorations or our treats really made our night. Awe, I feel the same way. I make sure our kids thank everyone, and we always comment on the decorations. Some houses really go all out and it makes it SO fun. Its just such a positive night, makes one feel good about the world and humanity. Its all about fun and nothing else.
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desertgirl
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Jun 26, 2014 15:58:05 GMT
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Post by desertgirl on Nov 1, 2017 14:07:35 GMT
Yeah. The bond it creates with my neighbors, many of whom I rarely talk to at length, and many of whom are quite different than I am, is priceless. We live back in the woods, way off the main road, and kids still come back, darkness all around except for the carved pumpkin and one yellow porch light, to get candy. The teens are the most fun and the little tiny ones are the cutest.
Thanks for reminding us that community matters.
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oh yvonne
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 1, 2017 14:08:09 GMT
Edited to add...DD breaks out in song.. "Hallelujah!" every time they get passed a full sized candy bar, and it always cracks up the people handing them out. She truly belts it out at the top of her lungs with glee! She earns that candy,
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janeinbama
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Post by janeinbama on Nov 1, 2017 14:09:13 GMT
I love to hand out candy and see the TOTers of all ages. Halloween parties are great, but nothing beats knocking on a stranger's door for candy. I go to my Mother's house to hand out candy so she can see the TOTers. When we lived in a neighborhood, my DH would give cold beer to our friends TOTing with their kids.
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Post by librarylady on Nov 1, 2017 14:12:14 GMT
You are welcome.
It was drizzling here, so we had a small fraction of children who came 'round. In "good years" we sit on the porch because it is so upsetting to the animals to have the doorbell ringing--not to mention the hopping up/down.
We are 2 retirees who enjoy seeing the costumes etc. Last week we participated in our local historical park event and handed out candy to over 500 kids over at the log cabin (we were in period costumes).
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 1, 2017 14:22:11 GMT
Every year every part of me says, "I'm done this year," but then I think - it's only 2 hours. I live where people park behind my house from other places so I got inundated with people. But I gave to every stroller baby, every dressed up parent and I watched my 150 candy bars go down to about 12 after just over an hour, so when there was a break in the crowd and no one headed my way I unplugged my light up pumpkin and made a bee line for the house.
It would suck to have another rush of kids and have to turn someone away. when my kids grew up there most houses were decorated. I saw almost no jackolanterns. Mine is an old plug in light up one that I drag out every Halloween at 5 pm. On my street I think maybe every 3rd or 4th house gave out candy.
I think next year I will just bite the bullet and buy the huge bag of candy bars so I can make it the entire 2 hours. I love that so many kids still go out and trick or treat - very nostalgic. I never bothered with trunk or treat or mall shop trick or treating. I hope when I have grandkids someday they will still be able to trick or treat door to door.
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Post by kels99 on Nov 1, 2017 14:25:54 GMT
We had fabulous weather last night (the first time in 10 years with no rain and the temp was pretty mild), so we had more than usual, but they were all so polite! Lots of "Thank you!" and "Happy Halloween!" A few, "Aw, I love your cat." and one "Ooohhh, your house smells SO good!"
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 1, 2017 14:26:43 GMT
Last week we participated in our local historical park event and handed out candy to over 500 kids over at the log cabin (we were in period costumes Post a picture of this!! I love the idea of doing this at one of our local historic places!
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oh yvonne
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Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 1, 2017 14:28:38 GMT
Every year every part of me says, "I'm done this year," but then I think - it's only 2 hours. I live where people park behind my house from other places so I got inundated with people. But I gave to every stroller baby, every dressed up parent and I watched my 150 candy bars go down to about 12 after just over an hour, so when there was a break in the crowd and no one headed my way I unplugged my light up pumpkin and made a bee line for the house. It would suck to have another rush of kids and have to turn someone away. when my kids grew up there most houses were decorated. I saw almost no jackolanterns. Mine is an old plug in light up one that I drag out every Halloween at 5 pm. On my street I think maybe every 3rd or 4th house gave out candy. I think next year I will just bite the bullet and buy the huge bag of candy bars so I can make it the entire 2 hours. I love that so many kids still go out and trick or treat - very nostalgic. I never bothered with trunk or treat or mall shop trick or treating. I hope when I have grandkids someday they will still be able to trick or treat door to door. Awe, love this. You are lovely <3
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Post by mom26 on Nov 1, 2017 14:30:13 GMT
Aww, thank you for the Thank You! I love Halloween. Absolutely love it. All my kids are adults now but we still get into TOT big time. I love decorating inside and out - a funny the other day was when I asked DH for more batteries for the latest Halloween decor-thing I'd brought home. He looked around and asked just how many battery-operated Halloween doodads did I have?So I counted...83. And that was just in the great room. Outside, we set up a big cemetery in the front yard - complete with a life-size Grim Reaper, skeletons, a boneyard spider, flashing lights, fog machine, spooky sounds....pretty much everyone that comes by takes pictures of their little TOTers in front of it. So fun. We set up a fully decorated table in the driveway with the candy in a big 'cauldron' and just have a blast with all the kids - young AND older - that come by. It's the best night of the year.
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Post by monklady123 on Nov 1, 2017 14:34:12 GMT
We had a good time in my neighborhood, as usual. Lots of kids, lots of houses decorated, and this in the park (along with cider and donuts for everyone):
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 1, 2017 14:41:38 GMT
along with cider and donuts for everyone): when I was little my dad took all 4 of us out and my mom gave out candy. It was cold as a witches bootay and we had winter coats under our costumes. I totally recall with your post that there was a house one street over from ours that had their garage open and had hot cider, coffee and old fashioned cake dunking doughnuts. We always stopped there for a quick visit. I had not thought about this for decades until you just mentioned it!
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Anita
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Jun 27, 2014 2:38:58 GMT
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Post by Anita on Nov 1, 2017 14:42:02 GMT
We had a good time. We never decorate for Halloween until Halloween, mostly because our main decoration is a 7' inflatable dragon with glowing eyes and belly and wings that flap. I didn't think much of it when we bought it, but that thing is a rock star and kid magnet. I am pretty sure it draws people to our block that are just driving through neighborhoods. Every time I looked out, groups of kids and even adults were taking selfies and group pictures with it. Lots of comments, and if he draws in more trick-or-treaters, we might have to get him a buddy to share the love next year. Even thought it was cold (it snowed just north of us last night), we had a good turnout. I think somewhere between 50 to 75 kids. I way overbought candy and I knew it, so I was really generous with the distribution. Next year we might just buy full size candy bars. It was a fun night, and mine don't even TOT anymore!
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iluvpink
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Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
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Post by iluvpink on Nov 1, 2017 14:43:49 GMT
We just moved last weekend to a neighborhood where we actually get trick or treaters. I loved it! Our old house was on a main road in town and we would only get a half dozen or so tops. Last night we had about sixty. It was so fun to see all the kids dressed up, meet the neighbors etc.
I hope your daughter had a good time!
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Post by Linda on Nov 1, 2017 14:45:17 GMT
there was one house last night that had a table sent up at the end of a cul-de-sac with FIVE bowls of candy - DD11 was so excited "they had FIVE bowls and we got to take from ALL of them!" I appreciate the neighbourhoods that welcome 'outside' children - we're very rural and my children would never get to experience TorT otherwise - our whole Girl Scout troop went around in a group last night (plus 2 teens and 2 toddlers) in one of the girl's neighbourhoods and it was so fun!
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May 3, 2024 18:44:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2017 14:45:51 GMT
I came a torrential downpour right in the middle of TOT'ing that sent many kids running for home base. One family got stuck on my porch so I drove the mom to her car about 1/2 mile away so she could follow me back and get her family home. Any other kids/families I saw walking I offered rides to - most declined because they were laughing and having a good time in the rain. For the kids who braved the rain I left the bowl of candy in a chair on the front porch with a sign that said TAKE TWO or THREE and told them "Happy Halloween" through the microphone in my RING doorbell. The kids got a kick out of that, especially the older ones when I used a spooky voice.
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oh yvonne
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Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 1, 2017 14:46:41 GMT
You are welcome. It was drizzling here, so we had a small fraction of children who came 'round. In "good years" we sit on the porch because it is so upsetting to the animals to have the doorbell ringing--not to mention the hopping up/down. We are 2 retirees who enjoy seeing the costumes etc. Last week we participated in our local historical park event and handed out candy to over 500 kids over at the log cabin (we were in period costumes). OMG, wow that is so cool! I'd love to see a pic too, if you've got one you want to share. I want to do something like that too someday.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Nov 1, 2017 14:48:32 GMT
We had 9 kids which is 5 more than usual! It was a hopping night at my house! The costumes were so cute and the little boys next door get cuter every year! We had such fun!
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 1, 2017 14:59:42 GMT
Edited to add...DD breaks out in song.. "Hallelujah!" every time they get passed a full sized candy bar, and it always cracks up the people handing them out. She truly belts it out at the top of her lungs with glee! She earns that candy, I love it. It's funny how excited the kids get over the full size bars I pass out. I really enjoyed all the kids last night. We had 56. Everyone was polite and adorable.
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Post by Katie on Nov 1, 2017 15:00:03 GMT
Edited to add...DD breaks out in song.. "Hallelujah!" every time they get passed a full sized candy bar, and it always cracks up the people handing them out. She truly belts it out at the top of her lungs with glee! She earns that candy, I hand out full size candy bars, and I loooove the reactions from kids over that. Some don’t even notice, some just look at it with confusion, while others say ‘awesome’ or ‘those are huge’!
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Post by padresfan619 on Nov 1, 2017 15:07:01 GMT
I have 5 boxes of full size candy bars to return to Costco. It was our slowest Halloween since living in our house. I was still happy to go all out for the kids who did show up.
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Post by scrapmaven on Nov 1, 2017 15:15:45 GMT
We had the most polite trick-or-treaters last night. I've never heard so many thank you's in one Halloween. Granted, we had very few kids on the street. I think parents were bribing their kids to stay home and watch the game. Still, it was refreshing to see happy children w/manners. I have a bowl full of candy here that I would have gladly given out had more kids come by.
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Post by Linda on Nov 1, 2017 15:17:38 GMT
I have 5 boxes of full size candy bars to return to Costco. please consider donating them instead - food items that are bought and then returned can not be resold and are destroyed as damaged items
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gloryjoy
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Post by gloryjoy on Nov 1, 2017 15:17:47 GMT
I have 5 boxes of full size candy bars to return to Costco. It was our slowest Halloween since living in our house. I was still happy to go all out for the kids who did show up. I have 2 full boxes to return today. I've never returned before but really, dh and I do not need these in the house and returning them will pay for a Christmas gift for one of our grandson's, a holiday decoration, or whatever I find!
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gloryjoy
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Post by gloryjoy on Nov 1, 2017 15:18:45 GMT
I have 5 boxes of full size candy bars to return to Costco. please consider donating them instead - food items that are bought and then returned can not be resold and are destroyed as damaged items Why are they destroyed if they are sealed up and unopened?
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Post by Monica* on Nov 1, 2017 15:24:41 GMT
What a nice post, Yvonne. My kids are grown and off to college, but I still try to make an effort. I even tag teamed with my husband and we took turns going to a neighbor's annual chili get together so one of us would be home to man the door at all times. I didn't have it in me to carve a pumpkin, but I bought a reusable clay jack-o-lantern and put a candle in it for the front porch. I leashed up the dog inside the house so she wouldn't rush the door every 5 minutes. It was all worth it to see those cute little faces, and to be tickled by the funny teenagers. It was a fun night.
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