Halloween

Powell, Laura and Win came over on Thursday night for a little carving party. While not all jack-o-lanterns are featured above, it's a nice representation of our collective work. Jake and Powell powered (literally in Po-Jo's case) through most of them, while Laura the kids and I tinkered around with the art.  Ashton says the cat is her favorite.

 (I swear I am not as big as I look here! I have a big turtle neck sweater on under my carving smock, but it looks like I weigh 200 lbs! Jeeze.)

 Here Izzi is eyeing the pumpkin and contemplating a ghost design.

 Laura grew a special variety of warty pumpkins this year and found the one that ripened too hard to carve. When she turned it over to Powell the drill came out.

The kids get to dress up for Markie and Karol's, so I got Izzi this little 1950s sock hop number. As soon as I put it on she danced around the house. 

 Here I'm trying to capture the classic, old school poodle barette I found. Izzi just wouldn't stand still long enough for me to really flaunt the find.

This one perhaps shows the poodle on her jacket and in her hair a little better.

For our Halloween party Ashton was Tinkerbell. She was so excited to put her dress on and dance the night away. She twirled all night long. I wish I would have filmed her, but hind sight is 20/20, right? It was really fun to see Sawyer join the "big kids". He ran around throwing balls and squealing with joy. About half way through the evening Sydney ran up to me, pulled my skirt and said, "Ashie is having an awesome party!"  It was hard for the night to end. Izzi didn't want to take off her "Tinkerbell". In fact, the next morning as soon as she got up she was back in it for the day, begging to have her friends over for a dance party again. Lucky for her, the Rapelje's surprised us with a clean-up crew work force, which turned into a mini playdate for Mason and Ashton.

 Here are the Sullivans. Ashton kept calling Jack a skunk. She liked the coon hat.

 The Kleinberg's had great costumes. I think Sarah looks fabulous, and well, Chuck pulled off the MJ thing. Sawyer is cute in everything.

The Rapelje's came as the Backyardagains. Fun family theme.

We were so busy socializing that we didn't even get a family photo of ourselves. OOps. As our theme was a Bayou Halloween with goulish gumbo and swamp juice Jake went as a "fishing accident" and I was a voodo witch doctor. (You can kind of see my getup below).

 All said and done, it was a nice party.
While not all the kiddo's are captured below, it is a good representation. From left to right you'll see Sawyer, Win, Mason & Finley, Ashton, Sydney and Jack. Missing in action: Sage, Breanna, Ainsley & Ian.

On Halloween proper, as Tinkerbell of course, we went trick-or-treating at the Corcoran's. Steve, Randi and Sydney gave Izzi a little Tinkerbell book instead of candy, which I really appreciated. I don't know if I'm ready for the door to door chaos yet. I'll let that one stay behind hidden doors until all her friends are begging her to participate.