In honor of The Cute Kid’s Halloween photo contest extension to 11/19/09 (get with it — you can win $500), here’s one more fun, albeit a little sad Halloween post…

If you were like most Americans, you watched the news reports with shock and disbelief. Could a homemade balloon really have taken off with a six-year-old on board? And then, of course, came the real news story. The hoax!

As the horrific saga began unraveling, one can’t help but look toward the parents with a huge sense of shame. “Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Are you really that desperate to get on TV? Why would you want a reality TV show to dish about the bizarre details and unethical ways you raise your sons? That’s right, boys, let’s lie to the authorities. Oh, and while you’re at it, curse a little as well and we’ll post that video on YouTube. Sheesh!

Words cannot express my outrage toward the irresponsible Heene’s. But… as you can imagine, at least there’s a sense of humor to it all. That’s right… I’m talkin’ about what proved to be a popular costume this past Halloween season. In addition to Bernie Madoff costume for adults, the buzz here in Manhattan was a Balloon Boy Halloween get-up for kids! Some kids went dressed in a little box (as in, let’s pretend to hide in the attic the entire time concerned public officials are trying to track me down and ensure I’m alive). Others walked around with a basket around their waist.

All we know is this: the more creative they were, the better. Which brings me to a reminder to enter the CuteKid Halloween Contest no matter what your kid’s costume. Check it: It’s free and the grand prize is $500: http://www.thecutekid.com/halloween2009/

Since Halloween is my all-time fave holiday ever (behind my birthday, of course), I simply must ask: What did your kids dress up as?

Huge fans here at Paparazzi Parenting! If you grew up watching Kelly, Donna, Dylan, and Brandon, join the par-tay! So any time we hear about one of the crew in the news, our ears perk up and we simply soak it all in. (And by we I mean I. Yes, I’m such a 90210 junkie!)

Tori Spelling and her mom, Candy, are apparently in the no-talking zone. Still. As in do not pass go, do not collect $200. Okay, that so did not fit. But you know what I’m sayin’. We can’t speculate, we truly can’t, as to why they’re not speaking or who is at fault, but come on now.

We only get one chance at this lifetime, it is not a round-trip but rather a one-way destination. (OK, how grim does that sound!) Candy has reportedly never met her newest grandchild Stella and though she previously saw Liam, Tori’s first child, she hasn’t seen him in a while.

Candy’s new book, Stories from Candyland, is in stores right now telling her side of the story. Her husband, Aaron Spelling, who died in 2007, was a mastermind of all the shows we grew up watching like 90210, Melrose Place, and, ah yes, The Love Boat! (”Exciting and new, come aboard, we’re expecting you!”) In fact, Candy is selling the $150 million mansion where she’s lived since 1991.

The 63-year-old is downsizing to a condo and has stated she hasn’t given up hope yet and has a playroom in case Liam and Stella ever visit her.

While we don’t know the whole story as to why they’re estranged, we do know this: life is short.

Do you think Tori and Candy should let bygones be bygones and kiss and make-up? Seriously. Everyone loses out in this situation. Their kids don’t know their grandmother. They certainly will never know their grandfather. Kinda heartbreaking, yes?