What's So Scary About This Holiday, Anyway?

OK, so we have survived another Halloween!

It was interesting, as all holidays are when celebrating with six children.

Monica had a "progressive dinner party" with friends from school, and asked to go at the last minute. They had appetizers at one friends' house, salad at another, etc. I think they had a good time but because she left earlier than the rest of us were ready, we had to postpone the family picture until after she got home. Which was nearly ten o'clock so you can guess how great the kids looked by then. Oh well, at least we got one! Oh, and she didn't really wear a costume tonight; for some reason the theme to the party was Sports and everyone had to wear something with their favorite team name on it. So Monica wore jeans and her Maroon Out (A&M) tshirt.

Maci was Miss America but was determined to carve the two scraped out pumpkins that had been sitting on our dining room table, waiting for faces, for two days. So at the last possible minute when everyone else was ready to go, she ran upstairs and put her dress on. She couldn't find her shoes (I think Monica had borrowed them) and didn't have time (or forgot) to put her banner on. So she was in a dress with a crown!

Molli was an angel but her costume was too big so it was held on by an entire package of safety pins. She went around telling everyone that her wings were made of "real angel feathers." (She meant real feathers.) Matt said those must be some pretty valuable wings. I was afraid he would question me spending $12.99 for them at the Halloween Bootique but now I was justified. I said that's pretty a cruel industry that supports the mass massacre of angels just for Halloween costumes, but he said that no, people went around finding the feathers that fell off of the angels as they flew around. I want that job!!

Marshall probably had the best costume this year. He was Harry Potter. We actually dyed (er, spray-painted) his hair black and ordered some round, black, Harry Potter-esque frames and put his prescription in there. He looked great! He borrowed Monica's Hermione, oops, I mean Harry Potter Hogwarts Dress Robes and Gryffindor tie, and we drew on a scar. Too cute!! We saw about a dozen Harrys (Harries?) walking around Woodcreek and he was the best. He walked around shouting, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!!"

Miranda was the purple Care Bear (that's Harmony Bear, for those of you new to Care-a-Lot). I was least excited about her costume (it was so, well, storebought). But my goodness she looked cute tearing across the lawns with her orange pumpkin swinging. And I have to say that the little red heart on her back hindquarter was adorable!

Myla was a black kitty. The Black Kitty, I should say. She wore the costume that my poor brother had to wear when he was 1, I was 4, and he was my pet black cat. Monica, Maci, Molli, and Miranda have worn it before her. She was so cute! She couldn't say "Trick or Treat" very well but did manage to say "mow mow mow" in a high squeaky voice. (she was trying to meow.) Sooooo CUTE!!

Some friends came over and we walked the neighborhood, stopping for visits as we saw people in the streets. It is nice to get out and walk and be with you kids and family and just go up and talk to neighbors that you haven't talked to since last Halloween.

(Side note: Isn't that sad? How do we live feet from our neighbors and NEVER visit? Is it that we feel inappropriate going and knocking on their doors? Is it the cultural norm to all live similar, parallel lives, that continue down paths that never cross?)

OK, so we get home and wait for Matt and Monica (he had gone to go get her). No one was in the mood to take pictures, but since I am, after all, the Photo Nazi, I was determined to get the shot. Myla and Miranda were up way way past their bedtimes but I forced them into the pictures anyway. Am I a mean mom? Noooo, I just like to have a picture of ALL of my children in their costumes!

Have a wonderful evening, friends! I am beat!!!

Thanks for reading!!

Mindi