A New Halloween Hope

It’s easy, when you spend a substantial amount of time and money on a Halloween party, to feel a little crazy. Oh wait, that’s not where I was going with this. Rewind… it’s easy to feel a little disappointed when guests hurry off after such a shindig without helping pick up any of the 150 cups they left in your kitchen or when you hear a kid complaining about the lack of a food truck at the affair. Yes, it’s easy to feel a bit underwhelmed by thanklessness after you’ve organized an overwhelming event but that’s not what I would like to write about here. Instead, I’d like to publicly acknowledge the elixirs to our insanity.

I love our spooky lady.
I love our spooky lady.
Jason wanted to wear his Han Solo outfit for Halloween so I became a blonde Bespin Leia. If you don't recognize my garb, you aren't a true Star Wars fan.
Jason wanted to wear his Han Solo outfit for Halloween so I became a blonde Bespin Leia. If you don’t recognize my garb, you aren’t a true Star Wars fan.
We have about seven full skeletons in our Halloween arsenal, along with more spare bones than a can of salmon.
We have about seven full skeletons in our Halloween arsenal, along with more spare bones than a can of salmon.

We had more assistance with our party this time than ever before. Jacob, Lee, Sue, and Keith all came over one night for a party-decorating party. We got a whole room done that evening; it was miraculous. The creative juices were so abundant we were all a little sticky in the end. My brother-in-law also joined us, along with some of our nieces and nephews, on a few separate occasions and we had a great time putting up spider webs and lights. During the event, Jenny supervised the carnival games. For take down, Fran, Cam, Rowley, Lee, Sue, and Keith all offered their assistance one evening. With their help, we had Halloween packed away by Thanksgiving, or shortly thereafter. Thank you all! Not only was your help very valuable, it was a much-appreciated gesture of gratitude.

A lot of this hair was mine and a lot of it was not.
A lot of this hair was mine and a lot of it was not.
In honor of the new film, we fashioned a Potter area.
In honor of the new film, we fashioned a Potter area.

As for the party itself, here are a few of this year’s random stats:

1. We had nearly 90 attendees, a new record I believe. But, for the record, we were not trying to break any records. Hopefully that upward trend stabilizes, otherwise we are going to have to institute an admittance process.

Decorating for our party is both creatively stimulating and depleting.
Decorating for our party is both creatively stimulating and depleting.

2. We went through 30 liters of soda, in addition to an incalculable amount of water.

3. Traditionally, about 30% of our attendees are kids. This year, children accounted for half of the partyers.

These bags took longer to assemble than I care to admit.
These bags took longer to assemble than I care to admit.

4. We assembled six dozen party favors and gave out every single one of them. That was a first.

5. We had a photographer taking old-time hand-developed pictures on black aluminum using a wet-plate collodion method, a process invented in 1851. The procedure was as interesting as the results.

The Victorian photographs were eerie and interesting.
The Victorian photographs were eerie and interesting.

6. We had 18 flavors of gourmet cotton candy spun in our backyard. (No bratty kid, not a food truck this time.)

7. A girl got hit in the face while the piñata was being hammered down. I knew that was going to happen sooner or later. For some reason, kids become animals over a few Twizzlers when a piñata is involved.

I'm not sure why an orb filled with candy makes kids simultaneously both uncontrollably excited and destructive.
I’m not sure why an orb filled with candy makes kids simultaneously both uncontrollably excited and destructive.

8. After the gathering, Jason and I were up until 4:30 in the morning cleaning crumbs and food globs off our floors. Thanks Cam for coming back to help with the first rounds of sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and furniture replacement at 12:30 AM!

This pirates' cove was Jason's idea. He even made a swashbuckling soundtrack to accompany it.
This pirates’ cove was Jason’s idea. He even made a swashbuckling soundtrack to accompany it.
Who doesn't like a nice spooning?
Who doesn’t like a nice spooning?

And that is how we survived our Halloween party this year, with a lot of gratitude, and a little frustration, in our hearts. To all our helpers, thank you for being enablers of our madness! We can’t tell you how much your aid meant. You are awesome!

3 comments

  1. It was amazing! My kids had a blast! I’m sorry that there was frustration.

    We were blown away by all your preparations! The mango/spicy pepper was the best cotton candy flavor!

  2. I’m so glad you were able to join us and had a good time! And I’m very sorry your daughter got hit by the pinata stick; that always seems like the nuttiest part of the party. Poor girl.
    And don’t worry about the frustrations. A party that colossal will always be a mixed bag. Most of the guests are fantastic and we love being able to create great memories for them.
    I hope you’ll be able to join us again.

  3. Thanks for all the prep you guys put into the parties. I still think there should be a cover charge. 90 guests is outrageous (loved the stats). That spoon guy looks crazy. Probably shouldn’t let him come next year…

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