Our family has pretty much stopped trick or treating. We live in a rural area, so most streets have no street lights and homes are on large lots and tend to be spread out quite a bit. While, I am not against it altogether, my husband and I have decided over the last few years to find alternate activities, and nowadays, it is quite easy.

One of the alternate activities we participate in is our local elementary school fall festival. The kids are allowed to dress up (there is even a costume contest), plus their are booths set up where children can exchange their tickets to play a fun game. Everyone always wins -- candy and other goodies! Another yearly activity in our family is decorating our home for the Autumn season and for Halloween. We have decided to forgo the "scary" decor for more seasonal decorations: scarecrows, pumpkins, fall leaf garland, and other delightful signs of fall. Our family also has great fun cooking up fun Halloween or Autumn themed meals, snacks, and sweets during this time of the year.

If you are looking for a fun Halloween tradition to start with your family, our family does something that is very easy for all to do. Your children will love doing this, as I am sure you will too!

**The Pumpkin Phantom**

When you go out pumpkin picking, pick out an extra pumpkin to surprise someone with! You can surprise a senior citizen, a teacher, a single person, or just about anyone! Next you must get a note or card ready to give with the pumpkin. Since you will do this in secret, make sure you choose a method, such as your computer or cutting out letters from magazines or newspapers, so that the receiver won't be able to recognize your writing. Your message could say something like this:

Dear _____________________

Happy Halloween from the Pumpkin Phantom!!!

Then that night put your kids in the car and drive to the home of the person you are giving it too. Have one or more of your children sneak up to the home and place the pumpkin on the steps and ring the doorbell (or knock) and run like crazy back to the car! It is a lot of fun and a great way to do something fun for someone else! This idea is from a past issue of "Friend", a children's magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

**The Fun & Sneaky Family**

Here is another variation of the above idea, but this is done with candy and a poem. Decorate a paper bag (or use a basket if you wish), and put in the bag a paper pumpkin, a pattern to make that same paper pumpkin, a bunch of candy or other goodies, and a note that says:

Happy Halloween!

A fun & sneaky family has come to town to leave you some goodies that we see you have found If you do not wish to disappoint all Continue this greeting, this "sneaky family call" Buy or make some treats, 2 paper pumpkins, and two notes like this Deliver them to 2 neighbors who may have been missed. Don't let them see you, be sneaky, no doubt And make sure they put their paper pumpkin out. Next, you have only one day to act, so be quick Leave it at doors where a sneaky family hasn't hit Deliver at dark, where there is no light. Ring the doorbell and run, and stay out of sight. Last but not least, come join in the season. Don't worry, be happy -- you need no good reason. Be cool, have fun, and remember don't be seen. Share the spirit of Halloween! (Don't forget to hang your paper pumpkin on a door or window so other sneaky families will know you've already been visited.)