Halloween Treats 2026

My parents joined me again this year for Halloween at my house. We each carved a pumpkin (in the photo above, from left to right: Dad, Mom, Kathy).

I put the trick-or-treat items in individual bags because it delights my trick-or-treaters and then I don’t have to deal with the rare kid that tries to take more than one of my full sized candy. A majority of the kids and parents are very polite! Keeping with tradition, I also bought a Halloween book for my 5-year-old next-door neighbor. We wrapped it in tissue paper. I also gave her the treat bag I give to the rest of my trick-or-treaters.

The first kids arrived at 6:14 p.m. The next arrived at 6:50 pm. We closed the light at 8 pm. We had 36 kids this year. When we started it was 51 degrees.

Usually we have 30 treat bags prepared. This year we had 50 because it was a Saturday and last year I had an issue with running out in the middle of a group. Next year, if I hand out treats, I will prepare 30 again.

Last years problem: I always had a few dollar bills as a plan if I ran out in the middle of a group. A father last year would not allow his 2 young daughters to take my money! They left with nothing. In reality I had more than a dollars worth of items inside my treat bags. I wonder if the incident will be a lifelong memory for those girls. Will they will remember I gave them nothing or that their father would not allow them to take my dollar bills?

Friday, October 30: Mom, Dad, Carol, Me

Vegetables and Blue Cheese Dressing
Dad’s Pizza
Wegmans Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream with Fresh Whipped Cream and Pumpkin Candy

Pumpkin Carving: Mom, Dad, Me

My pumpkin ended up very similar to my design from the last few years even though I wanted different. Originally I was going to use the cookie cutter technique but a friend talked me out of it since she said it is not as easy as it seems. I was busy with other things and decided not to try. My Mom had also planned to do that technique and was successful! She thought she used a ghost for the nose but it was actually an upside down skull. It turned out very cute!