Growing Up Halloween Pt. 7

Ms. Nightingale The Medic

"Keith..", "Keith.." Francis was kneeling over his friend. The sickness he felt inside his head had subsided for now, and his nose was tinged with the sulphur and smoke that hung even lower than the fog. After a moment, Keith moved his hand toward his head and attempted to sit up even though his friend was on top of him. "Get up Francis, get off!" "Where were you two anyways?" "I remember falling down, but that's it." At that moment, the ground exploded just a few feet away. Then the sound. It was the weirdest thing at that moment, but once again, everything was turned upside down. KABOOOOM! BaBOOB! BaBaBOOM! One ofter another the sound of faraway shots were announced first by the shake of the ground, and the crater of earth that was showered all around. "What is GOING ON!?" Keith seemed like he hadn't heard any of the original fighting. Maybe he had been out longer than any of them thought. Now that their small troupe wasmtogether once again, there wasn't enought time to ask those questions. Now was the perfect time to get the heck out of Dodge, and the next thing that happened was Francis pulling Keith to his feet, grabbing Eric's jacket sleeve, and bolting toward where he thought was the way out. Out of this fight, out of this walk, out of this Autumn morning fog that had strapped them all into what seemed to be an endless collection of fear and panic that any boy should bear.
"Leave us ALONE!" We didn't do Anything!, stop shooting at US!. The shouting he was doing was about all he could do not to just sit right down and give up. The three of them were a short human chain. The last link Eric, half ran, half faltered the entire run from where there were to where they were. Inside the same fog, in the same grass, and land that they were before they started. Like the forst step on a slippery pond frozen over by the cold, this grass was frosted and stiff and steaming back into the sky. What could have happened to cause these things to happen could not be imagined, all that could be considered was escape. As the three boys humched over in rapid breathes from running like they did, a sound came from aways. "FFFFFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNCIS!""FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNCIS!" As familiar as your own skin, that sound signified home and safety. For that sound was not from the field. Not from the cannons and guns. Not from anywhere but from home. The sound of his ma calling from the back step of his house which seemed so close now that she was here.

The Ultimate Halloween Party

by Bethany Sanders Oct 15th 2008 8:00AM

As my daughter reminded me this morning, there are only 15 days left until Halloween. Halloween falls on a Friday this year, perfect for trick-or-treating that runs past bedtime, but also a great opportunity to throw a Halloween party.Before you start thinking, A Halloween party? Now I have to entertain in addition to making costumes, baking cupcakes, and buying candy?, consider this. A Halloween party is a great way to enjoy time as a family, spend time with busy friends, or avoid going door-to-door, if trick-or-treating just isn't your thing.A Family PartyA party need not include guests. Instead, send invitations to your kids inviting them to a family Halloween bash, right in your kitchen. Here are some ideas for making this night of family fun more memorable:

Come in costume ... the young and the young at heart. Your kids will appreciate your enthusiasm.

Start with dinner, appropriately gruesome for the holiday -- try spaghetti and eyeballs, bat wings, and a cauldron full of witches brew.

Now it's time to have fun! Carve a pumpkin and have a seed spitting contest; load the wagon with hay and go on a "hayride"; or have a candy scavenger hunt in your backyard.

End the night with an easy craft (try one of these), then curl up in bed with some popcorn to watch a Halloween movie together, like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, or It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!. Or finish of the night with a not-too-scary book for little ones like Go Away Big Green Monster!.A Bigger BashFeeling up to a bigger party that includes family, friends and/or neighbors?

Try some of these ideas:

Consider a theme: Think pumpkin carving, monster mash, haunted house, or even fall/harvest.
Hold a Best Costume contest, with plenty of categories so that everyone can receive a prize.
Keep everyone busy with a game or two. Try Zombie Tag or Spider Relays, get them giggling with Mummy Wrap, or set up a pumpkin bowling alley.

Don't forget the creepy cuisine! Kaboose has an excellent list of simple spooky recipes, while those with a little more experience in the kitchen (and time on their hands) might want to try some of Family Fun's more involved recipes. Remember -- the little touches mean a lot. Freeze water inside plastic gloves, then peel and float these "hands" in your punch bowl. You can also freeze gummy worms in ice cubes for a slimy surprise!

Time to wrap it up? Settle everyone down with a craft. Buy mini-pumpkin gourds and supply paints, glitter, and craft supplies for decorating. Older kids might like making a candle-"eye"-bra. Or send everyone home with their own yummy-mummy treat cups. The most important part of your Halloween party should be your child's participation in the process. They can make invitations, plan and put up decorations, gather materials for crafts and games, and help out in the kitchen, all the while building excitement for this spooky night of memory making.

Halloween Online Shopping Guide 2008

Welcome to the Holiday Netter's Halloween Shopping Guide for the weeks leading up to October 31st. Halloween falls on a Friday this year, and now that the time to shop for your spooky goodies is here, you can find what the goody dealer's are saying about online shopping and the Halloween Season right hear at 4Seasons Holiday Reports.

For costume dealers, the next two weeks is "Christmas". Ask what they want now that the time is here to shop, the Halloween industry is rolling out the best deals right now because they want you to get what you need for less.

Spirit Halloween Offers a BOGO 1/2 OFF sale now!

We all know that the economy sucks. Hopefully you've been able to say that in time everything will be better. The holidays give us something to celebrate when we can't find much to celebrate over. People will always enjoy a great time even when times are tough, so this year's holdiays may just be the pick-up we all need right now.

What we list here is the lastest deals from one of our partners in holiday spirit. Use these coupons and discounts right now to make the most of your holiday budget by using the recommended links pages. The Holiday Netter

As sales continue to ramp upwards...remember the following Tips and Dates. Tips: - 10% off plus FREE SHIPPING We are Guaranteeing Halloween Delivery! Recommended shipping options: Standard, Express and Premium - Stay tuned to shipping



EXTENDED Free Shipping on orders over $65 - thru October 20, 2008 *Merchandise total of $65 must be after any coupons have been applied and does not include shipping, handling, taxes or duty charges. No coupon code needed. Offer is good through October 20, 2008 11:59pm CST.

If you buy a costume online in 2008...

Many Americans are looking forwards to a little celebrating this Halloween. With all the turmoil we face in these times of new presidential candidates, and financial downturn, this Halloween is going to be one of the best ways to shake off the bad JuJu we are facing in the "real world".

If you are looking at buying a Halloween Costume Online you should know when you have run out of time for getting that perfect Halloween Costume shipped to your home from the online retailers and shops.

As of October 7th, 2008 9:12AM, this was reported from Spirit Halloween

Halloween is fast approaching! For guaranteed delivery by Halloween (10/31) orders need to be placed by 12PM (noon) EST on these dates:

10/20 via Ground Shipping
10/27 via 3 Day shipping
10/29 via Overnight Shipping

Halloween is less than a month away so now's the time to get the best Halloween Costume to enjoy the festive spirit of the season!

AND.... Remember that Halloween falls on a Friday this year. The chance to get some fun in before returning to the "real world" is fast approaching. Don't let another minute go by without knowing you are getting a great costume to share the best part of Halloween. Fun and Fright can be had all around the Country, but it comes and goes fast. Get in on the fun and get a costume to enhance your fun this Halloween.

Growing Up Halloween Pt.4

A Short-Cut

As soon as Keith and Francis reached the edge of the field, the morning mist took control of the day. It took only a few steps in between friends to make one disappear from view. "Keith...", "Eric?".."Hey, where did you guys go?.." It seemed as if this mist had carried Francis far away from where he once stood. Without moving a muscle, the sound of someone yelling far off in the distance was heard. "FRrrr rrrrrrrrrr rrrrraaa aaaaaaa ncis!" "Frrrr rrrrrr ranc" "Here I am!!" "I'm over here!" Francis let out a sharp report before the second call had finished the call. "Where are you guys?" The mist was still blocking out all but the muted sunlight that fights its way against a fog. The sun was all that gave the scene a grip on reality as what appear to happen cannot have happened. How it came to be that now his friends were no longer right by his side, but almost too far away to be heard when yelling out a call.





The Separation

Once again the sound of footsteps were close by. "Francis..where did you go?"... That was Eric, Francis was glad that one of the brothers was close by because for as fast as it all happened, this trip in the field was causing alot of delay in their walk to school. "I'm right here Eric, where's Keith?" Eric was close enough now to be seen. "He was right in front of me." "I don't know, he must have missed you and went right on by..KEITH!" The air was still cold enough so that any breathing added to the thickness of the mist. When you shouted, a lrge growing plume of condensed breath could be seen to push and blend with the surrounding fog. While both Francis and Eric had reconnected in the mist, in the field that was supposed to be a morning short-cut, they still had to gather up Keith, and get along with their walk. What was supposed to be a short mornig excursion, had turned out to be a pain in the neck. Without figuring out exactly what had happened in the mist so far, Francis and Eric looked to call out to Keith until the three of them were together again.

Pumpkin news this Halloween 2008

4Seasons Halloween Costume Shop

Where are all the Jack-o-Lanterns in 2008?

What could have been a great year for pumpkin farmers in the Midwest, has turned into a drip-dry growing season that started with drought conditions, and ended with flooding conditions which destroyed much of the U.S. inventory that would have found its way to street vendors and churches with local pumkpin patches.

"We don't have the numbers and they are definitely smaller," says Camie Goetsch, owner of Green Acres Farm Market at the corner of U.S. 31 and Lake Michigan Drive in Grand Haven. "We are known for big, quality pumpkins. Everyone comes from miles away for our pumpkins. Our pumpkins this year are big, but not what we normally have," said Goetsch, who expects to sell 20,000 to 30,000 pumpkins supplied by two local farms.

Goetsch plans to absorb the loss herself. "Thank-you!"

"I have a hard time charging more to the public because I depend on repeat business," she said. The market usually sells out a week before Halloween, but this year she expects her pumpkins to disappear even earlier. The presence of so many pumpkins so early at area farmer's markets leave some wondering whether the jack-o-lanterns will hold out for Halloween.

As these sentiments are expressed across the great pumpkin patches where you live, don't fear. There has always been more than we need, and in these times of quality over quantity, this year would be a great time to start a tradidtion of pumpkins usage that takes from the Earth, and gives back to the world a great experience in holiday fun.

4Seasons Costume Shoppe

Just because you may not find that "holy-cow" pumpkin in your local church pumkin patch, take your time to consider that the whole gourd is usable for Halloween. Pick a nice one for Jack-o-lanterns. Carve it so that a great light is glowing from within, and then bake the pumkins seeds and eat them after. This is how to use a Pumpkin for Halloween.

Choice Halloween Costumes "Spider Man"

Adult Super Deluxe Cleopatra Costume - Egyptian Costumes

Egyptian Costumes for Women - Adult Halloween Costumes - This Super Deluxe Cleopatra costume features a heavily adorned headpiece, embelished collar with attached cape, wristbands and armbands, empire waist gown with finely pleated skirt and gold metallic braiding, and the embellished belt. This is a truly fantastic, finely made Cleopatra Costume. Great as a couples costume with your man dressed as King Tut, Ramses, Pharaoh, Marc Antony or Julius Caesar!


Super Deluxe Black Spider-Man Costume - Spiderman Costumes

Superhero Halloween Costumes - Be a hero with this Super Deluxe Black Spider-Man costume! Includes the Suit, Hood, Gloves and Boot covers. The zipper is hidden to give the illusion that there is no opening in the body suit. Hand made of high quality 4-way stretch fabric material.

Linkedinwords for Halloween Costumes

Category "Costumes", "Halloween" - Powerfitz offers the world a better way to get a great Halloween costume through the use of the 4Seasons Halloween Costume Shop Online Mall.

4Seasons Halloween Shoppe

Get a great scary costume, spooky costume, Hollywood costume, favorite costume and much more from:

http://www.powerfitz.com/fall.htm

Over and Out Halloween Costume Directory

That NEW Halloween LOOK!

Visit our the new 4Seasons Halloween shop HERE

It had to be done. Thanks to the new programs we have become involved with, and the cutting off of the fat, our new 4Seasons Halloween Costume Shop is now linking our visitors to a great Halloween Mega Mall.

No more slow loads from us no more, no more slow loads from us.

Now you can visit the best Halloween boutiques from one place, the 4Seasons Halloween Costume Shop. Browse over 30,000 costumes, 15,000 props and decorations, Party ideas, recipes, and more from one location that offers the biggest selection of Halloween costumes.

Check this blog for news on update featured costumes, and deals.

Shindigz is offering a free shipping deal on orders over $30. Check an earlier blog for the code.

Halloween Netter

What we love about Halloween 2008

Visit Powerfitz.com to find our Halloween costume shop HERE

If what's next on the calendar for you is the best holiday of the year, your a Halloween lover like many of us. Halloween comes at the time of year when activity is at it's highest point of the year. In Houston, the weather goes from balmy to better in October, what's happening in the house gets us thinking what a night on the town would mean for the family. Getting the family involved with a wonderfully fantastic night of trick-or-treating brings us back to a time when the nights were alive with people in the neighborhood.The fear of urban living continues to drive many good families into the shelter of their homes. More time is spent together but alone in the neighbor. What Halloween suggests is that the neighbor hood is still strong. Getting people out to meet the neighbors should happen more than the choice moments of childrens holiday dreams.What Halloween is what goes bump in the night. Nothing more than the truth be told about the fears of children. Taking on the roles of ghosts and goblins allow our kids to take on the roles that they might fear. Having fun with what scares you allows the realization that what goes bumb in the night might not be frighful at all.

2008 Adult Premium Star Wars Chewbacca costume

Our list of quality costumes are a great way to enjoy Halloween in a new new way this year. Celebrate Halloween by joining friends at one of the great Halloween events and parties in your area. Shop for the best costumes online from a quality Halloween Merchant service company.

Adult Super Premium Chewbacca Costume

This adult super premium Star Wars Chewbacca costume includes: a super premium over the head mask and bodysuit which are completely covered with hand-layered multicolored long fur, which give the costume an authentic "blended" look. Costume also includes supreme latex character gloves and latex bandolier with attached latex pouch. It does not get much better than this officially licensed Star Wars costume. Available sizes: Standard (fits up to a size 44 jacket) and Extra Large (fits up to a size 46 jacket).

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Help save Halloween!

4Seasons Holiday store is open for Halloween costume shopping now. The store can be found HERE

Halloween is in trouble. Each year editorials in magazines and newspapers and on television warn of dangers to children. And each year more communities "ban" Halloween.
So what? Who needs it? What is Halloween anyway? It's just an excuse for big kids to make trouble, little kids to eat too much candy, and candy companies to peddle their wares. Bah, goblin-bug!
Or so I thought until, despite all the warnings, I took my wife and son Sean out last Halloween. Sean was happy to see all the ghosts and gobblins around the neighborhood. He could hardly contain himself when after a proper approach and "Trick-or-Treat", how happy he was at the smiles and words of praise and handfuls of candy that greeted him. He wouldn't let me take him home either, watching all the doings intently.
The same as previous years, many of the people we visited were folks we only see at Halloween even though they live just a few doors away. Most of them, the elderly especially, had bought supplies of candy and were waiting. Most gave out two or three times as much per kid as they had originally intended, because there were so few kids out. And they were as delighted to see the kids as the kids were to see them.
When I got home, I couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong with Halloween. And it occurred to me that it wasn't just a handful of crazy people who were endangering this tradition and the joy it can bring to little children and adults as well. It's apathy on the part of everyone else, the failure to recognize that Halloween plays an important function in our society, the unwillingness to speak out in defense of Halloween when the media were so unanimously against it.
So what's so important about Halloween?
Maybe at one time Halloween helped exorcise fears of death and ghosts and goblins by making fun of them. Maybe, too, in a time of rigidly prescribed social behavior, Halloween was the occasion for socially condoned mischief -- a time for misrule and letting loose. Although such elements still remain, the emphasis has shifted and the importance of the day and its rituals has actually grown.
Nowadays people often don't know their near neighbors, much less the neighbors a few blocks away. For little children these strange houses and strange people are a source of fear and anxiety. Children have been taught not to trust or talk to strangers, to beware of them. But on Halloween that prohibition is lifted; and, with fear, but impelled by curiosity and greed for candy and other loot, little ones ring doorbells at houses of strangers to find time and again that these strangers are really friendly people like the people they know well. In the course of the evening they gain confidence in themselves and in their neighborhood and come away not only with bags full of candy to be enjoyed for weeks after, but also a warm feeling about their neighborhood and people in general.
As for adults, especially the elderly and those who never had children or who haven't had young children at home for some time, children in the neighborhood are normally a source of anxiety and distrust. What mischief and vandalism might this strange new generation growing up with television violence be capable of? On Halloween night their fears too are exorcised, as wildly and imaginatively costumed kids parade to the door, a reminder of what they themselves did as children -- a common link of experience.
Looked at another way, Halloween is a time that reconfirms the social bond of a neighborhood (particularly the bond between strangers of different generations) by a ritual act of trade. Children go to lengths to dress up and overcome their fear of strangers in exchange for candy. And adults buy the candy and overcome their distrust of strange children in exchange for the pleasure of seeing their wild outfits and vicariously reliving their own adventures as children.
In other words, the true value and importance of Halloween comes not from parading in costumes in front of close friends and family, but from this interchange with strangers, exorcising our fears of strangers, reaffirming our social bond with the people of the neighborhood who we rarely, if ever, see the rest of the year.
So when you hear all those warnings about pins and poison, use caution and common sense. But don't just abandon a tradition that you yourself loved as a child, that your own children look forward to months in advance, and that helps preserve our sense of fellowship and community with our neighbors in the midst of all this madness.

Listings for Halloween 2007 Costumes.

We will be placing the lists of costumes available in the upcoming days. Please review all the great costumes that you can buy for this 2007 Halloween Night. Costumes, get-ups, decorations, and party favors will be listed here at Holiday Reports from the Netter Blog.

Halloween 2007 is almost here! Have got the best costume this year?

With Halloween 2007 just around the corner, 4 Seasons Holiday Netter Reports will discuss the best way to enjoy the holidays. Our insightful collection of holiday information will help you to find the most creative and unique ways to celebrate all the different holidays each year.

Today we begin with the Halloween activities of 2007 that are soon to arrive. Continue to follow along throughout the year to see what's hot, and what every family needs during the upcoming holidays. Enjoy yourself, and have fun during Halloween with creative costumes, and unique creations that all your friends will envy.