On Friday, my kids will celebrate Halloween first with their friends at school and then with their cousins in the evening. We are making a whole family weekend of it and going out to do some pre-Christmas window shopping with the kids on Saturday - to work off all that sugar, ya know!

I never, ever went trick or treating when I was a kid. My parents did not allow it. I also never dressed up for Halloween. My Mom has always been opposed to Halloween and I can't say that I don't see her point. I too don't like all the emphasis on evil and gorey things. While I do allow my kids to participate in Halloween, I am very careful to monitor what they choose as a cosutme and try my very best to shelter them for anything that is really scary and creepy.

My daughter, Maya is particularly sensitive to scary things. She has not experienced enough of it to be numbed to it and becomes very upset at things that are scary. So, when I heard that the kids would be dressing up a school to celebrate Halloween, I knew that Maya was going to need me to be at school with her. So, I explained the situation to the teacher, who was thrilled to have a volunteer to help her get her 12 students into their costumes.

My son is going to participate with his preschool class as well. He doesn't seem to be as freaked out as my daughter and so I have had to make a choice as to which one needs me most. I feel bad about leaving Owen to go with his class, but I am afraid Maya needs me more. It is terrible that Mom's can't be in two places at once!

Tonight I will get Maya's costume together. She is going to be an Indian and Owen is going to be a vampire - or at least that is the plan at the moment. It is going to be a very busy day so I will wish you all a Happy Halloween now and share the pictures next week! Have a safe and fun filled holiday!