Spooky Somethings

Our little house became "the Spooky House of Seath" last night for what Beatrice insisted on called her "Hallowe'en Day Birthday Party"


Pumpkins were on special offer, so we had an abundance of them (well, four).  One Bea and I decorated with her witch's had and a sharpie, two others were carved by husband into...

...obviously Maleficent and the dragon she becomes in Sleeping Beauty (for those of you who do not recognise these characters - not having to watch the film weekly).  The final pumpkin became the pumpkin that time forgot....He was going to become a vomiting pumpkin, but a man can only whittle away at a vegetable for a limited amount of time (Recent research suggests that 2 hours is the limit)*

Having discovered "Disney's Family Fun" website, Bea and I printed out and assembled decorations...painted Jar 'o Lanterns, and printed out spooky games and labels.  The excitement was building and Bea was beside herself with anticipation of her friends arriving.  Arrive they did, bedecked in the most terrifying Hallowe'en outfits  (princess dresses)

We had hot dogs for tea - trying to keep with a theme, I decided "bangers" were seasonal and an array of very spooky additions.  We had "Witch's fingers", "Creepy caterpillar buns" a bowl of "bugs 'n slugs" and one of "Witch's toes".  Indeed there was very little left of the witch to consume.  The drinks consisted of "spider snot" and "bat's blood"  Evie was unconvinced by these and reluctant to have a beverage, but when thirst overwhelmed her, she sampled some "Bat's blood" and declared it to be "quite tasty"....it was quite difficult to keep Josie off the "Spider snot".

Entertaining little girls is apparently quite simply.  You just send them up the stairs and one of them develops a mystery illness, hops into bed and is tended to by the others having mysteriously gained their medical diplomas on the ascent of the stairs.  (Perhaps their graduation took place on the landing...there was certainly a tell tale pile of glass slippers there to suggest some great function had taken place)

But, if you like you can play other games with them.  One involves tying an apple to a piece of string and then encouraging them to head butt it to see how can claim the most feminine bruise.  Age does not stop the apple bumping ritual as you can see.

Yes Phoebe...you may be too small for a princess dress, but not for the games!  

Since Zachary's partner in crime was really ill (and sadly missed, especially by his two furry sidekicks) he was given control of the x box, but he managed to tear himself away long enough to show the girls how the apple bobbing game was really done...

The next "game" involves filling a bucket with water and encouraging the kids to stick their heads into it in a desperate (and often drowningly dangerous bit) to catch apples.

Beth's Mummy had obviously anticipated this game and created a ducking proof hair style.

The next game..."turning your Daddy into a Mummy" made Bea and Josie slightly uneasy, as they didn't want their Daddy to become a Mummy.  I think they envisioned a rather awkward sex change and the loss of a mummy, rather than wrapping your dad up in toilet roll in an Ancient Egyptian style.  Beth had no such qualms and emerged victorious (obviously a pattern that will continue in the future...as her mummy says...she's not competitive...she just WINS!) and Evie's daddy came a close second.  Obviously, despite having better bandaging, the judges took into account the age of the mummifier and didn't let Jonathan win.

(Andrew could remove the head piece and use this long white beard at Christmas)

Then the kids fought over took part in an "unlucky dip"  The bouncy eyeballs were much more popular than the plastic rats and whistles.

Then it was time to ignore all of the "Fireworks Code" and take under fives outside to play with sparklers.  (At this stage the Environmental Health Officer we had employed choose to close her eyes and remain in the house, probably emailing her report to Social Services)  In our defence we did remove the highly flammable princess dresses.

Not in my defence, the other parents then put coats on their children.  Bea was outside with her wellys, tights and t-shirt....but it was ok...the sparkler kept her warm.

When the last sparkler made a plink fizz as it was dunked into the bucket of water we returned to the house to eat apple tart.

Happy Hallowe'en.

* Here is a useful "morning after" tip....if you don't want your vestibule smelling of sour vegetable...put the pumpkins outside.  I know it seems obvious NOW but...