Mustachian Halloween?

[sheepgetlambs]

Our neighborhood kids "boo" us each year, meaning they ring our doorbell and run away, leaving a plastic pumpkin filled with store-bought treats and various plastic-crap toys for our kids. The deal is, they do it anonymously and then we "boo" two house, which each "boo" two houses, etc. Once you're "booed" you put a sign up in your door so people know not to "boo" us again.

My dilema: I'd prefer not to do this at all. Totally unnecessary. My kids don't need more sugary junk. We have all the plastic pumpkins anyone could ever want. I feel weird consumerist pressure to participate. (I've actually considered being the first one, so I can just "boo" one house and do it on my terms. - I'm never early enough, though.)

Should I just make some cookies tomorrow (not really on my planned schedule for the day but I could squeeze it in) and leave it at that? Should I knit up a few little ghosties in place of the plastic crap toys? Does anyone PLEASE have any other ideas? I like my neighbors and want to do something nice but want to be Mustachian about it. Also, not interested in a huge time commitment. (This is one of those times when I know I will be glad when my kids are grown.)

[merula]

Could you regift anything from the bag you just received, or things you've gotten in the past? The anonymous part works for you here, no one has to know it's you regifting.

That might depend on your children's ages, though. Are they young enough where you could take the stuff without them really noticing? If not, are they old enough to help make something or "build" the boo bags themselves from their own toy collections?

Final idea: kids like stupid stuff. If I got "booed" and had to respond using things in house right now, I'd do the following: loose Band-Aids (why do kids love Band-Aids so much?), stickers, candy from the bag I bought to give out, a few pieces of small plastic crap from last Christmas that will never be missed (I'm looking at you, jungle animals), and a plastic baggie of marshmallows labeled "ghost poop".

[Jules13]

Honestly, I LOVE all my neighbors and if this started I would be annoyed, but would also participate.  If if were me, I would bake some pumpkin bread or cookies, wrap it up in aluminum foil, stick it in one of the millions of plastic pumpkins you have and call it a day.  Everyone would much prefer to get something homemade over more candy/toy junk anyway. 

But, yes, I can see where it would get old.  Like people with small kids don't have a million other things to do.  I am glad my neighbors don't do this.

[sheepgetlambs]

Thanks! I love the marshmallow "ghost poop" suggestion. I'll see if we have some on hand. I think my mom brought a bag for hot chocolate when she visited a few weeks ago.

Also, will consider baking something tomorrow. I have the ingredients all ready for our favorite fall pumpkin cake, but it's got some pricey (for us) ingredients and we only make it once per year. Don't want to share!

I'll definitely get the kids involved tomorrow after school. I still think I can whip up something with my knitting needles and my stash of leftover yarn. I'm thinking ghost or Frankenstein finger puppets. - fast and cute. Must go do a google search for patterns.

Sigh. This wasn't on my list of things to do this week. WAS planning some DIY projects in the house and knitting some Christmas gifts for the kids' teachers. Have been busy with that for awhile. -Always trying to make things rather than buy!

[momoneymama]

I second the homemade pumpkin bread. I make this recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/downeast-maine-pumpkin-bread/

Except I swap 1 of the cups of sugar with a cup of brown sugar. It makes 3 - one for each house and one for your family. Maybe it will inspire a more homemade, less consumerism approach with others in the neigborhood as well.

[Cookie]

Could you just regift the pumpkin someone gave you to the next person, and only do that one house instead of two? That is what I would personally do.

[SecretMinimalist]

Could you just regift the pumpkin someone gave you to the next person, and only do that one house instead of two? That is what I would personally do.

Or could you just put the sign up to say you've been booed, before anyone gets the chance to boo you?  Or is your community too small to be able to get away with that?

[sheepgetlambs]

So I knitted up two little black witch's hats. That took about an hour. Then I a made rice krispie treats in the shape and colors of candy corn (found the recipe online). I also used the marshmallows-in-a-bag labeled "ghost poop" idea. My kids loved that idea and made and decorated the little labels. That was it. I know we got a pumpkin bursting with stuff but we just don't do things like that. We passed the fun forward without buying a bunch of crap.

Honestly, I hope this is the last year. But, my kids really enjoy it so I guess I should enjoy it, too, while they're young. It's just the consumerist pressure and tons of crap that get to me. I feel like the Halloween Grinch.

Oh well. Trick or treating was fun, as usual, and I know my kids are growing fast and these years won't last long.

Thanks to all for the ideas.