Twas the night before Halloween...

Great Pumpkin So tomorrow's Halloween and we are so not ready. We've got all the materials to make our costumes but have yet to actually put them together, let alone try them on. I think it'll be a bit of a late night tonight, and then lots of last-minute adjustments tomorrow. But as long as the kids have a good time (which they're almost guaranteed to have), it's all good.

We've got bags and bags of candy ready, mostly mini bags of Kissables. Our oldest son's allergic to nuts (peanuts and tree nuts) so we definitely want to make sure our candy is safe for him to eat. Plus, we usually bring a bunch of extra bags with us when we go trick or treatin' and slowly swap them for whatever candy he gets from the neighborhood when he's not looking. I'll be sure to take lots of pics, so no worries. And in honor of the big holiday, here's a quick list of tips for you parents of young kids to help make this Halloween a safe and fun one:

Don't be a cheapskate. Forget getting rid of your old pennies. Not only are they a choking hazard for the wee ones, but, well, that's really super lame.
Make your house inviting. You don't need to spend $5,000 on the latest inflatable Simpsons pumpkin for your yard or paint your house orange. But try to put up some basic decorations on your door, even if it's a homemade sign you priinted out on your computer. Or a few pumpkins placed by the door. Just something to let families know that you're participating in the ancient art of Trick or Treating. Oh, and be sure to turn all your outside lights on if you're home.
Lock up the Pets. Don't you love when your 3-year-old Diego or Dora is standing by a door holding out a pumpkin while being scared out of his or her mind, only to have the door open and a mammoth canine complete with a 90-decibal bark and saliva-dripping teeth comes barreling to the front door right between the owner's legs and smack into your little toddler?
Bring a Wagon. If you've got real little kids and you're going to be going around your neighborhood, bring along a wagon. We did this last year with the big Radio Flyer plastic wagon we have and our 2 kids and their friend actually fit in the wagon together, all in costume. Free candy PLUS a free ride equals double the excitement. Plus you can toss extra props, candy, whatever in there if you need to.
Wear layers. Chances are you'll bring coats with you when you go out trick or treating. And it'll be hot. Or you'll leave the coats at home and it'll be freezing. You just can't bet on Mother Nature for Halloween. So try wearing layers if possible, which certainly ain't easy with costumes. Big bulky coats are great to put on and take off right when you get to a front door. And if you get too hot, just toss them in the wagon (see tip #4).
Be Prepared. Something most likely will go wrong with your kids' costumes, whether they're store bought or homemade. So bring along extra tape, safety pins and/or velcro for any on-the-go adjustments.
Bring a flashlight. Even if you go early enough, you just never know how long you'll be out for and that dark night thing comes up faster then you'd think.
Wear comfortable shoes. I know, it could clash with a costume. But no one really looks at your feet anyways and after walking around your neighborhood for 30 minutes carrying extra coats, candy, props, your screaming 2 year old, etc., the last thing you want is sore feet.
Be That Cool House. You don't have to give out candy just because it's Halloween. You can always give out comic books, small packets of Play-Doh or anything different and fun that won't rot your teeth.
Have fun. It's easy to get caught up in the details and the costume contests and whatnot but throughout it all, remember to have a good time!