Halloween '08

We do some strange things in October.

Like gut pumpkins. And encourage our children to run around the neighborhood and annoyingly ring the neighbors doorbells and ask them for candy.

Or dress in outfits we wouldn't be caught dead in any other time of the year.

Every year we do these things.

Every year I end up sewing costumes for my children. Never have I made six costumes in one year, but every year I end up in a sewing frenzy and searching stores for the accessories they "need" and I have to ask myself, "Why?"

Why, when I have a box of dress ups that I can't even get the lid on, and when the costumes I spent a lot of time constructing last year still fit, do I keep doing this every year?

Mostly, because my kids are only kids once. The magic of Halloween changes as you grow up. I can't help but want them to have fun memories in the costumes their mom made for them when they were kids. But also it's partly because (lucky for them) I like to sew and just seem to be in the mood for some creativity when the weather starts to change. This year I made three costumes, two children wore the same ones as last year (a miracle) and one child chose something from the dress up box.

They all looked fabulous and, except perhaps for an overload of candy, they had a magical Halloween. Didn't I warn them what all that candy would do to their teeth?

It is about time I updated on what has been going on this month! I have been very busy working on Halloween costumes. Three of the kids requested new ones this year, the other three are using costumes we already have. I have been in a sewing frenzy, trying to get the costumes done in time for the kids to wear to the ward party last Friday. Here are the results:

Charity as the Disney Fairy Rani
Gracie as a pioneer girl.
Tim as Peter Pan, without the green pants, I'm still working on those.

I'll post pictures of all the kids in their costumes after Halloween.
The ward party was our annual chili, salsa, and cookie cook-off, as well as carnival for the kids. Here Dad is helping Tab and Tim decorate cookies.
Speaking of decorating cookies, we also did our traditional Halloween cookie decorating at home.
Tim loves to help make the frosting.
Charity can't resist the treats!
Jeremy prefers his cookies frosting free.
The aftermath:
We ate a bunch of cookies, but also delivered plates to friends in the neighborhood.
Tonight Dad and Charity are off to the Daddy Daughter Halloween party for Activity Days. Of course they had to dress up.
George borrowed some threads from a Harley riding friend of ours, and a, um, bike from another friend to complete the look.
Last but not least on my list of things to do in October is to pull out the winter gear. It is a little cool in the mornings when the kids leave for school.
Tim loves his new out fittings.