This past Thursday was Trick or Treat night in our neighborhood. I know, it's super early. Most other townships are doing it sometime next week. Pennsylvania is a weird place where Trick or Treat isn't always on Halloween. In fact, it's usually before Halloween and not every township does it on the same night!
Of course I had my candy ready to go several weeks ahead of time. Always trying to be accommodating, I made sure to have junk, "healthy" snacks, and non food items.
Stickers, tattoos, fruit snacks
Fruit snacks and junk
Pretzels and fruit snacks
I was a little late for Trick or Treat this year because I had to get my haircut from hell fixed. Luckily, Karen down at Jenny's salon was so nice and I left there feeling like a million bucks! Paul got Trick or Treat started without me. He said he had fun while I wasn't there because he could be all folksy and chummy with everyone without me rolling my eyes!
We always sit outside in our lawn chairs while passing out candy. We play creepy music via Paul's blue tooth speaker and let the kitties watch from the storm door. Jelly wanted OUT! We got a lot of compliments on the cats that night!
Our neighbors were handing out full size candy bars! He works for Hershey, so I think he gets a discount. Paul snagged me one and I ate most of this bad boy before I ate my dinner.
Everyone that visited was the "normal" Trick or Treat age. I would say the oldest we had was maybe some 15 year olds? But everyone had on a costume. The older the kids, the more likely there were to say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you". Most of the kids did not, unless their parents told them to. I understand, it's a lot! But at least the older kids followed protocol.
There was only one ungrateful girl. We told kids to "pick one" and a girl that looked about 10 years old yelled as she walked, "One STINKIN' piece!" and her parents laughed! I'm sure it was an awkward laugh but that totally could have been a teachable moment! They could have told her to go put that "one stinkin' piece" back, and that she would only continue Trick or Treating if she said "thank you" to the remaining houses she visited. Seriously. She wasn't cute, funny, or charming. She was a BRAT!
At around 7:30, things died down, so we came inside and took turns answering the door for the remaining 30 minutes. We only had about two more groups. One was a pair of boys, probably in 4th grade. They rang the doorbell close to 8pm. "You're out past your bedtime!" I told them, trying to be funny and chummy. "No we're not," one boy grumbled. Oops, I guess he didn't get my joke!
It's a good thing we insisted on one piece, because of all the goodies we had, this is what was left! I'm keeping the Starburst for myself but taking the stickers to school.
It was another successful Trick or Treat night on Cumberland Road!
Do you participate in Trick or Treat?
What do you hand out?
Parents: How would you have responded to the brat if it was your child!?
What do you hand out?
Parents: How would you have responded to the brat if it was your child!?
Fun! Looks like an awesome assortment of goodies. Why don't you guys have kids come out on Halloween? In Colorado, trick or treating is always on Oct 31st no matter what night of the week it falls on. I haven't bought my candy yet, but we get a mix of things -- we TRY not to get our favorites or else we end up eating most of it!
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely no idea why it is weird in PA. I could see them making it on a non school night if they weren't going to have it on Halloween, BUT that's not the case. It's always during the week, just rarely on Halloween!
DeleteI know you mentioned before about the weird days trick or treat night is on and yes, I could understand if they made it a weekend but just another random week night hardly makes sense. As far as I know, our area has always had trick or treat on the actual Halloween night. We dont get truck or treaters but my parents do so it's always fun to go to their neighborhood and watch. They play the spooky music too!
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading about the bratty girl I thought of the girl from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, was her name Bianca or something like that?
Omg yes she was totally the girl from Willy Wonka, and she had red hair, just like the Willy Wonka girl! Veruca Salt was her name. Full of salt.
DeleteI think I would have just reminded her that everyone gets one piece. I do see a lot of that where the kids will take more than one piece if I don't hand it to them. It seems like just a little piece, but it's not like we are the only house they are visiting, or they are the only kid who is visiting us. Rules, kids, rules! We have a neighbor who is a plastic surgeon and they always have this huge spread of full size candy bars to choose from. Alan and I both went up there when we were walking around with the kids a few years ago. LOL!!! Hey, I'm a kid at heart (and hooked on chocolate). It's nice that you have so much variety in your selections!
ReplyDeleteYes! Exactly! Rules, be grateful, and there are a million houses in our hood, I'm sure she is getting lots of candy! Also, as you can see, we barely had any left, so it was good we only gave out one piece. Last year we ran out because we let kids pick two. I spent about $30 on Halloween Candy and I think that is quite enough. That is really nice when houses do the full size!! I hope every kid gets a full size somewhere in their hood!
DeleteOur trick or treat is Wednesday night (always on Halloween here), but we aren't doing it. We're actually going out to dinner and enjoying a rare date NIGHT! Last year we were on a cruise over Halloween which was super fun, but our neighborhood gets crazy with hundreds of kids and has started using HOA funds to hire off-duty officers. We have given out candy in the past but always ran out super quickly. It looks like you and Paul were very prepared and I'm glad you had a few Starburst left over because they are so good! Love that you offered a variety as well.
ReplyDeleteI remember you guys are not huge fans of all the children on Halloween and like to get out of the area. I can totally relate. This is only our 3rd year doing it because I felt the similar. Mainly that I'm with kids all day and my time at home is sacred!
DeleteOur trick or treat is Wednesday, and my mom is down from my parents' place to see the kids. My parents live in a neighborhood without kids so they don't get trick-or-treaters. We have our lights ready to go, and I've got my pumpkin ready for carving tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so festive. Have fun! I know you love Halloween.
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