Halloween Parties at School = Great Lesson for My Daughter

We do not celebrate halloween. My family does not feel like it is an appropriate holiday for us to celebrate as Christians. That doesn't mean that we think other people should not celebrate it. This is our first year with children in school. We have one child in preschool and another in kindergarten - and one more who is Mama's helper all day!
The preschool did a survey, of sorts, upon enrollment and one of the questions asked was if the child celebrates holidays. We put on there that we do not celebrate halloween, or santa at Christmas. The teacher was very kind, letting me know that she didn't know yet what their plans are for halloween but that at Christmas time they do have a visit from Santa. Again, just because it is not what we believe doesn't mean that other people should have the same feelings or beliefs - and that is what I told the teacher.
Kindergarten, apparently, has quite the halloween celebration, complete with a parade of {kids in} costumes. Emily, who is 5, has a great understanding of why we don't celebrate halloween, but was a little sad when she found out that her whole school will be celebrating it. She wanted to just stay home from school that day.
After a few talks, we decided that it is not always easy to stand for what you believe - that sometimes you might be the only one. Then we talked a little about Jesus, and how it was not always easy for Him, and how people actually hated Him for what He taught and stood for. It was one of those ah-ha moments in my daughter's life where she realized that being a Christian will sometimes set us apart from the world. I am glad that she learned this now over a pretty simple matter than later over something much bigger. I am proud of her.
What about you, how do you feel about halloween in general, and about halloween parties at school?

A Trick or Treating Question

In Nevada, the kids are trick-or-treating tonight because October 31 is Nevada Day and it has it's own set of festivities... Anyways I am thinking about going to the grocery store and getting a bunch of fruit. Here is the question I need you to answer: Do you think my house will get egged if I hand out fruit and Halloween tracts as oppossed to candy? Seriously, kids like fruit - it is sweet and healthy, and the tract is part of my Halloween giving every year. So what do you think - fruit or candy?

Disney Store's Dressed Rehersal

Yesterday, the Disney Store had a "dressed rehearsal" (costume party) for all the little princesses, buzz lightyears, nemos, and more. It was fun! We are not going to go trick-or-treating on Halloween, so this was my girls' time to play in their costumes.

Emily is Princess Belle from Beauty and The Beast. Isn't she adorable? The whole time we were in the mall she picked her dress up in front of her and held it out "like the princesses do."

Natalie was dressed up as a mermaid, no it was not Ariel from The Little Mermaid, but she was adorable. Her mermaid costume actually came from Bambini Bliss.

We had a great time, and Emily loved going to "her princess party!"

What are your Halloween plans? Who's dressing up as who?