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Halloween

Halloween 2017

November 1, 2017

Since this was our first Halloween in our new house, I wasn’t sure what trick-or-treating would be like. Or if we would even be able to go trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood. I grew up in this neighborhood and there were no other kids when I was little. Things have started to change though. One of our neighbors hosted a pizza party for the whole neighborhood before the kids went out to knock on doors. It was one of the best Halloweens yet!

Apparently, Cullen is getting too old to let me make them theme costumes. He went back and forth between being Spider-Man and Coyote Peterson. He ended up going with Coyote Peterson (from his favorite YouTube channel Brave Wilderness). I gave Colette a few options and no one was surprised that she went with a flamingo, her favorite animal!

Colette’s dress, tights, and bonnet are from June and January. I used felt to make her feet and nose, and felt balls for her eyes.

Cullen already had everything except his hat. He wears this vest every time he goes outside to look for bugs. We added a hat and a toy lizard to complete his costume.

Once they were dressed and we had eaten pizza and chatted with our new neighbors, the kids set out to get as much candy as they could. Cullen has always loved Halloween, but even Colette really seemed to get into this year. At nearly every house, she would announce “Another door!”

These two really do make every holiday so much more fun!

Halloween

Halloween 2016

November 1, 2016

I think this has been our best Halloween yet. And it might just be Cullen’s favorite holiday.

This kids had a stomach bug this past week, and as soon as they were feeling better we celebrated good health and an unusually warm October by heading outside to paint pumpkins. Colette was done in about 2.5 seconds. Cullen carefully picked out each color he used before smearing them on his pumpkin. These masterpieces are proudly displayed in the dining room, where they will stay until Christmas decor comes out.

I think it was back in June when Cullen first said he wanted to be a spider for Halloween, and unlike most three-year-olds, stuck with the spider idea. So naturally, Colette had to be Little Miss Muffet. I will cling to themed costumes as long as I can.

I fully believe in homemade costumes, partly because it means we end up with real clothes they can wear again with a few pieces to add to the dress up box and partly because I love anything I can make instead of buy. Especially if I get to add fun details like special spider eyes and bunny buttons.

Cullen’s costume is made from sweatpants and a sweatshirt they he can wear again. I made spider legs from pipe insulation tubes covered in matching fabric and safety pinned to his sweats. His eyes are painted wooden disks attached with safety pins. He absolutely loved helping me make his spider costume and loved wearing it even more. At every house, he raised his arms to show is extra legs and announced “I’m a spider!” He was so proud!

I made Colette’s dress using Made by Rae’s Geranium Dress pattern, her socks are from Happy Tights, and her bonnet is from Briar Handmade. I made a simple apron and bloomers, added a pink dress and shoes from Old Navy, and bowl and spoon from Target (with “Curds and Whey” painted on). Her tuffet is the footstool from her room. I am excited for her to wear everything again, except maybe the apron which will go to the dress up box, because she was so cute!

As soon as we finished taking pictures of their costumes, Cullen proclaimed “Let’s Halloween!” And so we did. All the grandparents came to hand out candy while we took the kids Trick-or-Treating. We went down a few streets and when Cullen said he was tired and had a bag full of candy, headed back home to take over. Instead of saying “Trick-or-Treat” Cullen told everyone “Happy Trick-or-Treating!” I so enjoyed watching how much fun he had!

As much as the kids like going door-to-door for candy, I think they loved passing out candy even more. Cullen commented on every costume, asked kids what their names are, and carefully picked out specific pieces of candy for each one. He was the first to jump up when the doorbell rang.

We all had so much fun this Halloween and are already looking forward to next year!

DIY Halloween Holidays

All the better to see you with, My Dear…

November 3, 2015

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! This was our best yet!

I started thinking about Halloween costumes back in June. I wanted to do a group theme because who knows how long the kids will actually let me have a say in what they dress up as. After going back and forth between several ideas, we decided on Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolf, her grandmother, and the woodsman. (The main reason we went with this story: Corey didn’t really have to dress up.)

I made Cullen’s mask and tail and sewed “fur” onto a shirt and sweatpants. The plan was to take the fur off after the holiday and he’d have some comfy sweats. He informed me that the fur has to stay, so I guess he gets to be a comfy wolf! I made Colette’s dress using this pattern and designed the cape on my own. This is the first time I’ve successfully sewn clothing, and I must admit, I am pretty darn proud! At the last minute, I found the cutest play food for her basket; I’m all about purchasing things that can be used again and again, not just for one night.

Cullen practiced his wolf growl for weeks, but when it came time, he refused to wear his mask and tail any longer than it took to take pictures.

Cullen helped me make some popcorn snack mix earlier in the day, meaning he ate most of the ingredients. If you have not made this yet, do it now! My parents and Corey’s parents came over for dinner, so we all filled up on chili and cornbread before trick-or-treating. Most years, costumed kids are ringing our doorbell before we can even get dressed to go out, but this year it seemed like everyone waited for the Clemson game to end, which made all the men in our house happy.

Still working on perfecting my chili recipe!

We left the Papas and Gigi at the house to watch football and hand out candy, while Corey, Mimi, and I took our eager trick-or-treaters door to door. Colette napped in her stroller the whole time. Cullen, who seems to have taken on the roll of family safety patrol, carried a flashlight and warned us of oncoming traffic as we walked through the neighborhood.

I was expecting Cullen to be as wide open as he was last Halloween, dragging us from house to house, but this year, he was much more hesitant to walk up to the doors. He was very polite and said “Trick or Treat” and “Thank you” at every house. My favorite part of the evening? When Cullen sang his Halloween song between houses. He will make up a song for anything!

“Halloween is fun.

Halloween is fun.

Halloween is fun!”

There was one slightly traumatic event at one of the last houses on our street with a man and a mask and tears, but Cullen went right back up to the house to get his candy after recovering from the scare. I was so proud of the way he handed being scared and didn’t let it stop him from going to the last few houses!

I think Colette enjoyed her stroll around the neighborhood and Cullen definitely had a great time! But more than getting candy, I think he enjoyed handing out candy when we got back home. He is such a people-person, he loved telling everyone that came to the door “Happy Halloween!”

I am already planning next years costumes, and can’t wait to get both kids fully embracing the holiday!

Halloween Holidays

Halloween 2014

November 4, 2014

This little Strongman had an absolute blast trick-or-treating this year! The grandparents came over to hand out candy so Corey and I could take Cullen door-to-door. Cullen quite literally drug the two of us down the street to get to the next house as quickly as possible. We couldn’t get him to say “Trick-or-Treat”, but he did wish everyone a Happy Halloween when they gave him candy. He also tried to give kisses to everyone’s dogs. I think Halloween is he perfect holiday for this social little boy!

He requested that each piece of candy be opened as soon as he got it. So he snacked on pretzels and skittles between houses. And once we went to a respectable number of houses, we headed home where Cullen’s grandparents sneaked him even more candy, and he helped hand out candy to other neighborhood kids.

I loved watching his face light up every time he was gifted a piece of candy and every time trick-or-treaters showed up at our door. We all had such a great night watching him really experience this holiday!

Halloween Holidays

Cullen’s First Halloween

November 1, 2013

I am not usually a big fan of Halloween. It is just not my holiday of choice. But having a little one definitely makes it more fun!

Allow me to introduce Linus. Who, true to character, loves his pumpkin!

I started thinking about Cullen’s first halloween costume almost as soon as he was born, but it took me until September to actually decide on a costume. That was the difficult part…making the costume was pretty easy. He already had the shorts and shoes. I bought a blue blanket, painted black stripes on a red t-shirt, and found the perfect jack-o-lantern treat bag at Pottery Barn Kids. At the last minute, I put together a ‘Welcome Great Pumpkin’ sign; a Linus costume would not be complete without it.

Corey, Cullen, and I started the night handing out candy. Cullen had a blast! He kept reaching his hand into the bowl to take a handful of candy before we could give it to the trick-or-treaters. Sorry Cullen, no candy yet.

Once things slowed down a little, we took Cullen to about three houses. He couldn’t not trick-or-treat on his first Halloween! We really just wanted to show him off to our neighbors, but he got a few pieces of candy anyway. He had way too much fun ‘sorting’ his candy when we got home.

Happy Halloween everyone!