Bad Apples

I love Halloween. I love choosing a costume, helping the kids, decorating, carving pumpkins. This year, I thought it would be funny if T dressed a bit outside of his comfort zone. He drew the line at black nail polish.

Once I knew he was in, I couldn't resist joining in on the fun.

We are trying to look hard core. Hard to do with the kids laughing at us in the other part of the room. Did it work?

We walked the neighborhood with the kids. Sadly, a few neighbors didn't quite notice that we were in costume. I blame it on our cute chaperones!

Carnival Fun

B's school had a Halloween Carnival at the end of October. One of the games with the longest line was the "Cash Machine" only they weren't giving out cash, but "Free Dress Coupons". Since they wear uniforms to his school, it is a very big deal to earn these coupons.

We even got a video of G taking a turn. I am not sure if the princess helped or hurt her endeavor, but it was entertaining either way.

Halloween Sweetness!

Halloween Outfit Take 2 or 3

Our original Halloween outfit idea was fantastic. Cute little cupcake and a pastry chef! However, we weren't the only ones with the idea. In fact, the cute little cupcake costume was so cute, that several weeks before Halloween, the costume was not only sold out, but up for bid on E-Bay for three or four times the original price!!! I don't think so.

Outfit Idea #2 - Kilts direct from Scotland. Great idea. Photo already posted here. But what does a mama do when the 4 year old says, "Mom, I don't think my friends at school will like my kilt costume..." I started to think that sending him to school in a "skirt" was probably not a great idea, even if I told him the great tale of how men in Scotland wear them to play rugby, etc. There are a few choice class members who already make my blood boil, but more on that another day.

So, we came up with the costume idea #3, golfer and ballerina, and let them decide which costume to wear to the three separate dressing up occasions: 1. play group party at our house, 2. school party, 3. trick-or-treating.

I was happy to see that the kilts made an appearance at the first option, play group party at our house. However, if you ask G, she was a ballerina each day (since she was wearing a "skirt" and could twirl).

Scottish Ballerina

Super-Manly Scottish Rugby Player

Party #2 - School Party

Posing with B's classmates (and a few siblings, too)
Funny side note, when we walked into his classroom, one teacher asked if B wasn't wearing a costume that day. (I suspect the regular rotation of polo shirts, sweater vests and khakis made it appear he forgot to dress up.) When we pointed out the glove, it made all the difference. ;)

Treats please!

G was a first-timer this year, so B had to show her the ropes...

A hug of support

Ring the bell and wait

Do we hear footsteps?

"Trick or Treat" or as G was saying, "Treat Please!"

The ballerina and golfer head home, ready to sample the goods!!

Would you take a drink out of this?

I love our new fountain. It is beautiful. Unique. But covered in rust. It never occurred to me that someone (TWO different pre-teen trick-or-treaters) decided it was a drinking fountain.

Here's a closer look in case there was any doubt.

YIKES!

Happy Halloween

We had our 4th annual play group Halloween party today. I love Halloween - the silly decorations, the costumes, etc. All of our kids are still young enough to look cute and happy instead of scary or gory. Soon enough we will be working with fake blood & guts. So for now I will be happy to see cuddly animals, fairy princesses and sweet literary characters. 

I found some photos from 2006 that I thought were hilarious by comparison. 

B (18 mo old) as Donald posing with a mini Donald

Thing 1 & Thing 2 posing with the Cat in the Hat

Thing 1 & Donald posing

Now fast forward 3 years. We have another Disney themed costume in our house. Thing 1 & Thing 2 have jumped from the literary world of Dr. Suess to Broadway. Here we find Mickey with his best buddy, Anne & her dog, Sandy. (Notice it's the same fire place).

G is a member of the younger siblings group - our subset of play group. They range in age from 19 to 11 months. Notice she is the only girl amongst this gathering of cuties. Today they were sweet enough to pose for photos, as their older siblings have done for the past several years. The older kids got to work on crafts and we didn't even attempt to get them all to pose. Maybe next year the 4 year olds can get the toddlers to hang out long enough to get a group shot, but I doubt it.