My Favorite Halloween

I was never one to really get into Halloween. Oh, sure, I liked getting candy. What normal kid doesn't?

But when I was a kid, my father cut us off from trick or treating at age 10, so my brother and I got just a few years of hauling in the sweets.

I wore the same cheap-o costume every year. I was a gypsy. Each year I got out the flimsy box and pulled on the skirt and plastic mask. At the end of the evening, I folded up the skirt, and put it and the mask back in the box until the next year.

So when I had children, I wasn't too excited about trick or treating. But I didn't want them to miss out on the fun, so I played along.

We ventured out in the neighborhood in makeshift costumes. Some years it was really cold. You never know what kind of weather to expect in Iowa. Late October is either Indian Summer or Arctic Preview.

The year the frigid north rolled in, I decided to try out the treats being offered by a local shopping mall and a large grocery store.

What a bummer that was!

It was like the employees had been given another task to complete in their already dreary jobs. Chasing down a clerk and begging for a piece of candy just wasn't any fun.

I struck Halloween gold the year I decided to have a treasure hunt at home.

It was a Saturday and I had to work my shift at the hospital. I was all alone, transcribing dictation. Believe me, I was not looking forward to traipsing around in the cold, three little tots in tow with their plastic bags held out to my neighbors.

I just wanted to stay home, but what could I do to make it fun? Just buy some candy and give it the kids? It works, but not a lot of fun.

Well, I could hide it and they could look for it. Bingo! The treasure hunt was born.

I came up with hiding places and clues for the hiding places.

Each child got a set of clues so each one could find the same amount of candy. Clues for the oldest were harder than the clues for the youngest.

The last clue was for the movie Aladdin which had just been released in the stores a day or two earlier.

On my way home, I picked up some bags of candy. When I walked in the door, I announced the plan. Three pairs of little eyes twinkled with excitement!

Banished to the upstairs while the stage was set, they nearly flew to their bedrooms in anticipation of the thrilling event that was soon to unfold.

My husband and I hid candy throughout the house according to the clues I had printed out. Then I cut the clues into pieces so there was one clue per strip of paper and put each child's clues into a plastic grocery sack.

"You can come down now," I called and the hunt was on. Shrieks of delight accompanied the hunters as each sweet stash was uncovered.

Finally, the big one. Aladdin!

We popped it into the VCR and started the movie. A big bowl of popcorn completed the very successful Halloween festivities. We were warm and cozy, my kids weren't freezing in my lame attempt at costumes, and we had a ton of fun. Perfect!

It was one of the most fun Halloweens we ever hard. No, I take that back. It was THE most fun we ever had with our kids for Halloween.