Happy Halloween!!

Halloween is an interesting holiday. I have always had fun with Halloween, but lately it hasn't been as momentous of an event as it has in the past. When I was younger, maybe around 5, I got really excited to go trick or treating with my brother and sister. When we got home, we dumped all our candy on the floor and compared and traded. It was fun, but my brother, Zac, kept on stealing mine and my sister, Ashley's candy. We whined and complained to mom, and what did mom do? She grounded us from trick or treating. So from the time that I was about 7 until 12, I did not go trick or treating. Instead, my mom bought us the same amount of candy, and we stayed at home and watched a "family friendly" Halloween movie. It was fun, but sad that I missed out on the fun of trick or treating.
When I turned 12, my mom finally lifted that ban on trick or treating as long as she didn't have to take me, so I went with my friends, and continued to do so all through middle school. I guess I was just making up for those years that I didn't go.
College time came around, and Halloween was a big time because of the annual Halloween Concert that we had each year. This Halloween Concert at BYU-Idaho has been a tradition for many, many years, and I feel so honored to have been part of that tradition. There is a theme associated with each concert. For example, my freshman year we had an Aladdin theme, and played Sheherezade. Sophomore year there was a magic theme and played the Firebird Suite and Harry Potter music. We were divided into "houses," the Scratch and Claw (violins/violas), the Huff and Puff (brass), the Sticks and Winds (pretty self expanitory) and the Grip the Floor (cello/bass). This year was my favorite Halloween concert during my time at BYU-Idaho. The next year we had a space theme, and played the Planets by Holst, and Star Wars music. My final year, we had a pirate theme and played something about the sea by Benjamin Britton and Pirates of the Caribbean. Those years were good memories of Halloween that will always stay with me.
After college, Halloween was a time to get together with friends, have a party, and stay up all night. However, last year, I went to a friends house. There were 3 people at that party and we just watched a movie and handed out candy to trick or treaters. The same thing happened this year with Halloween. I bailed out of the very large party (Tri-stake dance at the institute is not my kind of thing. Too many people, and I hate dances) and instead had 2 awesome girls over to watch the Disney Ichabod Crane.
Now that I am older, my ideal way to spend Halloween is with a small group of friends or family, handing out candy to the adorable trick or treaters (this is my favorite part) and even put on a fun, family friendly Halloween movie. Even though I was mad at my mom when I was youger when she grounded us from trick or treating, the way she had us spend Halloween is the way that I want to continue to spend Halloween. Although, I think I will let my kids trick or treat. :)