halloween 2011

nico admiring our giant squid and turtle

i realized this year that my own picture of an idyllic family halloween comes from the movie E.T. .   

weird, since it's a movie about an alien, i think the kids go trick or treating without any adults, and i don't like that movie at all.  but there is one scene where the kids leave the house, all dressed in costumes, and join a flood of costumed neighbor children on the street in front of their home.  everyone is bustling and spirited - it seems so fun!  since i was little, i think this scene is what i've been striving for.  and each year i feel a little disappointed when there are not many kids out or half the houses in the neighborhood are dark.  

this year was pretty close, though. 

my kids got their hearts set on off the wall costume ideas.  things i could not easily buy at the store.  though i had no "free time" to learn how to design and make a giant squid costume, i felt challenged to keep my promise to Do It Myself.  even as i was burning my fingers with hot glue the day before halloween,  i was sure the costumes were going to look ridiculous.  but they didn't.  they looked great.  homemade  great.  and in the end, my kids thought i was awesome.

they have more confidence in me than i do in myself.  as i was sewing his costume-

     greyson:  wow!  that's awesome!

     me:  it is awesome.  who knew i am a costume sewing wiz??

     greyson:  i did.

    

on halloween day we carved pumpkins.  i made my mom's squash soup.   we left the house with giddy boys in homemade costumes.  there were lots of families on our street.  and i was quietly thrilled each time asher knelt down on the concrete to show a neighbor that he could too tuck all the way inside his turtle shell.

it was one step toward an old fashioned halloween, and i loved it. (now if only we could all agree to dump the candy full of hfcs made by companies i despise and go back to giving home made treats, it might be perfect....)

turtle asher in his shell - it's a laundry basket, and the entire reason he wanted to be a turtle

squash soup on the stove

waiting for trick or treaters at 4:30pm

so anxious to trick or treat, they wouldn't stand still! these are the best photos i got!

tiny froggy Quinn in his non-homemade costume. grey and ash each wore this on their first halloween.