Halloween is in the air

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year - especially here in Washington. The leaves turn bright oranges, reds and yellows, the rain comes and cleans the air and our family traditions begin.

When Robbie was younger, we used to make a scarecrow with his outgrown clothes from the previous year. It was a lot of fun, it was a family endeavor - and it was fun to see the scarecrows next to each other. We still have them all... but when we added Lyssie to the equation, it became more than we could do with two kids.

So that tradition went out the door - although last year we did at least take them to the Country Village so that they could make a scarecrow - this year, it doesn't look like any scarecrows are in our near future. But we still kept the Jack-o-lantern tradition that I remember from my childhood. My parent's rule used to be that if we could carry it out of the pumpkin patch, we could get it. Of course, I think pumpkins were much less then. Thankfully the kids like small manageable ones... for now.

This weekend the kids and their dad carved their two pumpkins. They drew the face - and this year they both helped carve it! Lyssie was excited to do a little cutting on her own. Those pumpkin cutters have to be one of the best inventions in a long time! I love those things... of course, they would be better with a larger handle as Kasey's hand was feeling the pain by the end of the carve-fest and he was only cutting two small pumpkins.

I have yet to get our classic picture of them next to their pumpkin... I really need to do that. I've been so busy sewing their costumes that most of the Halloween preparation has been done by my husband. Decorating with webs outside on the porch, making paper spiders, and carving the pumpkins has been about all we've been able to handle this year. I think I'll make some special Halloween cupcakes with them and call it a holiday!

Trick-or-treating this year will be limited to Robbie's Halloween party at school (they are also holding a book fair at the same time which I think is brilliant!) and then trick-or-treating around the neighborhood - or if it's wet and soggy, we'll go to Everett Mall. I did plan ahead a bit this time. Robbie has a super warm costume lined with fleece and I lined Lyssie's dress with fleece where it made sense. So hopefully, we can keep them warm this year without having to cover their costumes with a big ol' jacket.

A few finishing touches on the costumes left and I'll get some pictures posted. I can't do a sneak peak of Robbie's yet - but I'll try to get one in the next day or two.

(yes, I know Robbie's picture is askew - again, Blogger has it's own ideas of what direction pictures should face. This one looks a bit silly - and I like it).