Another Halloween has come and gone.

This year was the year of the Power Rangers.

Our first Halloween in the neighborhood left much to be desired. It’s a small neighborhood – maybe 55 houses total. Over 1/2 the families in the neighborhood didn’t participate in the trick-or-treat festivities that first year.

The next year wasn’t any better and it was VERY cold. For a matter-of-fact, it began snowing a little while we were out. I drove the kids around the neighborhood so they could get out of the wind and cold to warm up in between houses.

After two years of so little participation, and kid’s being disappointed, we decided to take a friend up on their offer and headed to their neighborhood for the evening. It was much larger with lots of houses lit up. This neighborhood was serious about Halloween and it showed. There were so many houses that we couldn’t hit them all. When we got back home, hubby told me that we had more trick-or-treaters than we had the previous two years. For a matter-of-fact, there was very little candy left. Success!!!

This year my 17-yr-old headed to hang-out with friends for the evening while I took my youngest two out in our neighborhood again. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew they didn’t need to spend two hours knocking on doors for treats. I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Well over half the neighborhood was lit up and ready for the kids. This year, some new homes were built, and I had not yet met the new neighbors. Halloween gave me the opportunity to meet them. I also discovered that our neighborhood is changing a bit. The houses in our neighborhood aren’t small, and I’ve been surprised at how many older couples live here. Some of the homes that sold over the past year are now occupied by younger couples and families. One couple, who explained how they were huge Power Ranger fans in their younger days, were so excited about my kid’s costumes that they were giddy. And my kids love hearing people gush over their costumes almost as much as they enjoyed getting the candy.

Hopefully this year is a sign of good Halloween things to come.