Thread: Building Memories

Tweet

Hey everyone,
I thought I would share this because this forum can really appreciate it.

Last year I had a family Halloween gathering part way through the month of October. We had family members come to our house to celebrate Halloween from three different states. Some families drove over 300 miles to get to our house I thought it went well but I still had Halloween night looming in the very near future.

Last week I got calls from some of the families asking if we were doing it again because all the kids had so much fun.

That makes me feel so good that the kids had asked if they were going get to see the haunt again this year! These are the kinds of memories I hope, in the future, will get these kids to make their own haunt when they grow up and share it with others.

What about the rest of you? Do you also have stories like this?

We are the only house in our development that goes beyond the pumpkins/cornstalks & those blasted blow up things. I always answer the door in costume while the hubby is in the yard in costume spooking the parents.

A couple of months after TOT I was visiting with my neighbor. She pulls out her sons diary from school. His entry for 10/31 was completely about the hubby & I and our house. It gave me such warm fuzzies! Here's a couple things he said:

My sister and I went trick or treating & this one house was really creepy. Jackie was scary in a long robe and John was a skeleton guy. It was really weird because they are grown ups.

It's been a couple years & he still talks about our house.

Another story:

A minivan pulls up to our curb - it's pretty late by now for TOT, about 8:30. John is standing stone still in the driveway.

The van door opens and a girl around 7 jumps out. "Come on Mom! Don't be scared, remember last year? They don't hurt you!" she says. Mom is now standing beside the van looking back & forth between our front door & driveway. "I can't do it!! This place freaks me out!!" she says between laughs. They finally make it to our door but as they are heading back to the van Mom can't see John, he's moved. She then spots him standing stone still in another spot. She shrieks, laughs & runs for the van. They pull away from our house laughing.

They had done all their TOT, but got in the van & drove over to our place for their final stop. (it was very cold that night) That was so awsome for me!

I started back in 99 building props at my dad's house, by 2002 we had over 300 coming to see this. Nov 2002 i bought my house, and in talking to my neighbors found out that year they have 6 TOTers. Needless to say i was crushed. I vowed to change that. 2003 we had 85 in my first haunt, 2004 we had 120, 2005 there were 185, 2006- 197. I told my neighbors 2007 was my last year for this, That's when they said " You can't see what you've created there was NO halloween around here until you started" THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT ALL WORTH WHILE!!!!

Isn't it the best feeling! The thank-yous, the laughs, the big eyes It's all so worth it. I hope our kids carry on the tradition. Our 11 yr old doesn't want to trick or treat, he wants to scare. The 7 yr old wants to help build and paint! I think the tradition is going to be carried on.l

We've gone from 20 kids about 4 yrs ago to 120 last year.


http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...7update005.jpg

Those are some great stories, guys.
Every year I think to myself, how much longer will I be doing this? I have one son who is 14. I found that he is becoming more interested in it as he gets older, versus when he was a young pup. [Maybe he was just too darned scared to get near the stuff in his younger days!]
I hope he will continue to help me out and stay interested in the prop set-ups, etc. because one day, he will be inhereting a lot of Halloween mechandise for his home!
I agree with you guys-the look on people's faces during Halloween night is totally worth every man hour spent!

Jackielantern,
I love to hear stories like yours. It shows me that it really does make it all worth while. Thanks for sharing. We do make memories for the TOTs!

Stratusfear02,
What did they say in that movie - "If you build it they will come!" Sure it wasn't about Halloween but it sure works in your case! Way to go!

Suzeelili,

I see gold coins in your future! I love seeing people working on their haunt! It sure sounds like your kids are being brought up the right way - liking Halloween!

Huffman Haunts,

I am so glad it is in your 14-year-old's blood! Must have come from good stock!