I’ve really been enjoying the discussion regarding daycare and babysitting.  However, since today is Oct. 31st, better known as Halloween, I will take a break from that ongoing discussion to explore tonight’s family fun.

I haven’t actually been trick-or-treating since I was 6, and that was my one and only time.  After that, my family always went to a “Harvest Festival” at church on Oct. 31st.  It was sort of a way to enjoy dressing up without actually celebrating Halloween.  The church always had some great games and activities, biblical-themed costume contests, and goodie bags.  Good times.

Well, that was a long time ago.  I haven’t been to church on Oct. 31st in a looong time (not that I’m THAT old, but you know what I mean).  It wasn’t an issue either.  I was in college…then grad school…then law school…so I spent most of those Halloween nights at downtown parties.  The last one of those I went to was in 2005.  My husband (then boyfriend) and I had a blast:

We were dressed as ancient (or mythological ones) Greeks.  I made the costumes out of sheets–very inexpensive.

Now that we have a daughter, the whole thing about what do we do on Oct. 31st has resurfaced.  We’ve decided that going door-to-door asking for candy is not for us.   We still enjoy dressing up and spending time together as a family so I searched for alternatives.

I came across:

  McDonald’s Halloween Mansion at the Children’s Museum of Houston, tonight from 5-8 (http://www.cmhouston.org).   Parents and children are encouraged to don freaky costumes and dance to the hauntingly hip tunes of DJ Beetlejuice as the ghoul times roll. The museum has been transformed into a place for ghastly good times in trick-or-treating, experimenting with Martin goo, and hand-making monster mosaics.

If you’re in Houston, TX, this is a good suggestion for you, otherwise, you may want to contact your local Children’s Musuem to see if they are doing the same thing.  At any rate, I hope that everyone has a FUN and SAFE evening.

Anyone have another great alternative you’d like to share?