Costumes and Candy--Oh My!

I am a stick in the mud!  No fun, no imagination, no crazy hair....nothin!  I am just not into Halloween and I have no problem admitting it.  But, for the sake of my children, I go through the obligatory steps of carving pumpkins, selecting dress-up outfits and going door to door asking for candy. 

Of all Halloween hoopla, carving pumpkins is my favorite.  This year, the kids completely took control of the event.  They requested certain shapes for their pumpkins (the local grocer was out of any sizable pumpkins so I had to make a quick trip to Great Falls for them.)  They designed the faces, cut, gutted and lit. 

 

 

 

Before they are lit, the kids "try on" their pumpkin faces.  Taylor as quite happy that hers had long hair in this shot!

 

I love how their pumpkins are unique, just like them.  Daniel went for a scary, angular "Dracula" look (left) while Taylor's was a bit softer with comical lines.

 

 

By some miraculous force of nature, the kids seem to know exactly what they want to be each year.  There is very little conflict between different characters or creatures.  This year was even easier.  We went to the local thrift store in late August in search of some school mascot gear and happened upon 2 costumes that were so perfect for each that they immediately whipped out their money ($1 each, whoo-hoo) and purchased them on the spot.  And have you ever seen a cuter Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Or a more convincing Dracula?  (On second look, I should have use dthe iron!)

Daniel LOVES this next shot, but Taylor is still a bit hesitant:

We are so lucky to live in a small community where kids can run around after dark with little to no threat from strangers.  This year Daniel got to walk with some friends while Taylor and her best friend, Bellamy, came with us.  What a bunch of cute kiddos!

Of course, after we return home, the kids have to dump, count and sort their loot.  Definitely no signs of recession here!

As bedtime approached and the sugar high quickly went south, the kids fell into bed...one in tears of exhaustion and the other just plum tuckered out.  Happy Halloween!