Halloween Traditions At The House Of Fawn

This will be Gretchen's third Halloween, and our second attempt at trick or treating. I say second "attempt" because, as you may recall, last year's adventure was cut short by a bad reaction to the cold. Our October 31st was particularly frosty in 2010, and Gretchen's cheeks were unhappy at best. The poor dear only made it a few blocks before white welts covered her face and we had to turn back. This time around, I'm crossing my fingers for a slightly less chilly evening. Now that's she's just months away from turning three (oh my word), she understands the basics of Halloween -- we dress up, we say trick or treat, we get candy. I'm still coming to terms with her eating the candy, but I don't mind a little here and there.

When it comes to starting holiday traditions with my daughter, I like to look back at favourite traditions from my own childhood. My mom and I would always carve our pumpkins together, we'd decorate the house with spiderwebs and cute little ghosts. We'd always save the seeds for roasting in the oven, and after I came home from trick-or-treating, I'd sort all of my goodies into four basic food groups: chips, chocolate, candy, soda. Yum!

This year, Gretchen and I will carve our two big pumpkins together! I think we'll go for some happy faces, and they'll sit on our front steps, waiting for the big night to come. We also brought home a little pie pumpkin from the patch -- I think she'll paint/colour it, or decorate it in some other way. I haven't finished making her costume, but I hope to keep that tradition alive as well. I'm still quite proud of last year's Yoda getup! Still haven't figured out my costume, or if I'll dress up -- but I suppose it might be more fun for Gretchen if I do!

 Gilmore Gourds?

After we trick-or-treat a bit, Gretchen and I will be handing out candy to other kiddos at home. Deciding on a treat to give out can be tricky, as you know. Allergies are a worry, so I like to go for something peanut free, at least. Allan Candy has peanut-free treats, all made in Canada -- Intense Jubes & Jellies, Chewy Rascalz and Fruit Buddies are all in our lineup this year. (Though I'll be honest... I may have already been snacking on the Fruit Buddies... grape is my favourite!)

What will you be handing out this year? How do you help your kiddos snack responsibly? Do you worry about allergens?

Disclosure: I am participating in the Allan Candy Company program by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation for my participation in this campaign. As always, the opinions on this blog are my own.