Images of Halloween

My sister was musing on her blog about her sometimes scrooge-like feelings toward all things Halloween. I totally sympathize, and in brief moments of costume frustration, I know where she's coming from. But most often I just love it.

As I reflected on past holidays, I too went looking for childhood pictures in my own old photo albums, and funnily enough, the only one I could find was the same Halloween that my sister posted a picture of. However, my picture is of the two of us, in grainy 1970 colour, grinning under lots of black make-up...

What fun days those were...I still remember the keen excitement of running from house to house in the dark, surrounded by crowds of other children (there seemed to be so many more in those days). And then arriving home, sometimes cold but just delighted to rummage and sort through all our sweet loot.

So, though the mom work of preparing for Halloween can drive me to distraction, and though my children's choices of costume sometimes leave me baffled, I can't help thinking back to the feelings of absolute joy as Halloween night approached.

Here are the images of the dynamic duo enjoying Halloween 2009...to be honest I wish I could run from house to house right along with them, instead of doing the responsible mom thing and trail with the other parents along the sidewalk.

I was somewhat surprised that Cassidy chose to be a princess for school celebrations yesterday. Loved it though!

Proud of her pumpkin design!

Bryanna was determined to be a fat pirate this year. A fat pirate??? Even though we put together this cool outfit (I even sewed the eye patch!), she wanted to stuff her shirt with a cushion for the school monster mash. I didn't get it, but went along. Turns out that what she had in her head was Smee from Peter Pan...and as it turned out that the cushion didn't really transform the outfit into the red and striped round pirate image in her head, I was just as happy that she went back to the cool, swashbuckling style tonight.

Silver braid and all...

Costume two for Miz C...the happy cowgirl...

Fueling up for the big event...

A check of make-up and off we go...

After 15 minutes, the winter coats were on...

And zipped...


Keeping warm...

The big girls stop at home to warm up and pet Charlie Brown, then they headed back out with another mom.

At the end of the evening, Bryanna headed to a sleep-over and Cassidy sorted her piles of candy. Wow...another Halloween has passed in the blink of an eye. *sigh*

Hope you all had a happy Halloween too!