If you've been blessed with children, you know how trying the days leading up to Halloween can be. The little monsters are constantly tramping around in their costumes because they just can't wait — and as a result, the costume gets dirty, torn and most likely destroyed before you can get good pictures for next year's calendar. Just give in. Tell the beasties in your house to don their ceremonial garb and bring 'em to Halloween Scarefest at the Missouri History Museum (Lindell Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue; 314-746-4599 or www.mohistory.org) tonight at 5 p.m. The kids can enjoy seasonally appropriate games, spooky stories and practice saying "thank you" when they're given candy, and you can fake those photos a full five days early. But don't think you're getting out of taking 'em trick-or-treating on Sunday — that's still gonna happen.