Throwback Friday: Our Halloween Tradition

I’ve always enjoyed Halloween because it isn’t a religious or political holiday – it’s just a WEIRD HOLIDAY and you get to dress up, do gross things, and have lots of fun. 

Back in 1990, I took a month off from work to plan the biggest Halloween party for my girls. We turned our 3-car garage into a 75-foot walk-through maze. 

I made signs for the driveway with my router, stuffed monsters for the maze, and made “feely cans” with disgusting body parts (grapes, manicotti, hard boiled eggs).  The girls made ghosts and fluorescent bats.  Ben Jammin’ made the most intricate spiderweb that spanned 8 feet and placed giant 2-foot spiders on it. 

Jaclyn (18 months old at the time) couldn’t understand why her “baby” (doll) was up on the spiderweb.  Nicole and her friends unwrapped hundreds of caramel squares for our caramel apples.  Great memories!  Two years later, the Santa Cruz Sentinel called us “Soquel’s Answer to the Addam’s Family!” on a cover story. 

And that was just the beginning…