This is Halloween, Everybody Make a Scene...

For years, I've planned to take the kids to the cemetery to do a photo shoot in their costumes. Never happens. By the time they get home from school, debrief me on the class Halloween parties, run around to all their friends' houses making plans for trick-or-treating, and shrug back into their make-up and costume, it's time for me to shove some semblance of dinner down their cute little throats and head out for the candy begging.
This year, things changed...
Probably because we had sweet weather, probably because I loved the costumes, probably because I REALLY, REALLY wanted to make it happen...we went to the tombstones...

Oh my monster, Frankenstein!

Every year when the kids pick out their Halloween costumes, I remind them that if it has a hood or mask, they won't be allowed to wear it in the school costume parade. I must have heard ten times, 'It's okay, I don't care if I can wear it to school or not! I REALLY want to be a phantom with glowing red eyes!!' BUT...when Halloween day came, dear Danie-boy was crestfallen that he couldn't wear his costume. Mom to the rescue! In eight minutes (or thereabouts!) we had assembled a mad scientist get-up for him to wear for the parade. Who would've guessed he had the perfect coif for such a costume?!

What's New Pussy Cat?

Fynn wanted to pose with her pumpkin where you could really see the detail on the face (you'll notice she attempted to draw on the face by herself first!). She was so in love with the finished carving, she just couldn't resist giving it a little kiss!

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost!

The most notable moment of this year's pumpkin carving was Fynnley being so eager to scoop out her pumpkin's guts all by herself! That meant Mom was off the hook in this family activity (except to snap photos), and Dad still had to carve out three pumpkin faces! Tash designed her own Thor pattern (so cool), Dane was dying for the haunted house, Connor went with the skeleton head (of course) and Fynn loved her cat face with little gems outlining the carvings. As always, they were pretty stoked with the outcome and couldn't wait to get those candles lit.

Everybody's Coming, Leave Your Body At The Door...

Our family Halloween celebration just wouldn't be complete without making our favorite sugar cookies! (After tasting tons of other recipes, we STILL maintain our generations-old recipe is THE BEST!)
Natasha always painstakingly decorates her cookies to look delightful and true to shape, Connor just wants everything on it that he can fit, Dane is getting better at careful placement of decoration, and Fynn just wants to eat the can of frosting and 'who cares about the cookie??'
Love these ghoulish kiddos..and the dreamy cookies!

She's a Little Bit Country, I'm a Little Bit Rock-N-Roll!

It's been a while since I was really excited about Donny and Marie. Don't get me wrong...they were my first celebrity crush; I adored Donny's purple socks and Marie's "Dorothy Hamill" haircut. Even as "train-wreck-ish" as I thought their talk show was (that's right...even when I was horrified watching it, I still watched it), deep in my heart, I'm still a true fan! Plus, I'm pretty sure Marie is my brunette twin...just sayin'.
BUT, when I heard they were putting a show together in Vegas, I knew someday I'd be sitting in the audience as swept up and giddy as any teenager back in the 70s. That someday turned out to be October 14, 2011...
Dad, Mom, Kathy, Melinda, Johnny and I swooped into the Flamingo Hotel dressed to the nines and ready to rock. I wasn't disappointed. From the opener, to the solos, to the duets, to the corny (but heartfelt) jokes, to the amazing stiletto/studded boots (Marie's, not Donny's!), I was HOOKED! I lapped up every note and grinned from ear to ear the entire performance. When it was over, I was ready to sit through it all over again. No matter how old, or how out of date those two might get, I have loved them ever since I can remember...and I'm pretty big on loyalty. So...

I know if I'm feelin' right

No matter where I go

With a little bit of country

And a little bit of rock 'n roll

Donny's costume when he won "Dancing With The Stars."

Five Little Pumpkins Sitting On A Fence...

We always love checking out the kiddos' pumpkin creations at the annual Legacy Elementary Pumpkin Walk! It was a beautiful evening and the kids were stoked to show us their designs. Doesn't get much cuter than this!

Connor's "Cowboys" pumpkin

Dane's "Cloud" pumpkin

Dane loved the "planet" pumpkins.

And the TRON pumpkins!