Spooky Halloween 2013

Halloween this year was the best one yet. It was just really supremely fun. The kids really got into the spirit. There was a Halloween party at Cameo Woods for the kids the previous Saturday and it was super cute with a balloon "artist" and some mini trick or treating.

Halloween Day Lev enjoyed some pregame festivities with his class. he came home with a big bucket full of toys, stickes, and temporary tattoos. Then the parents were invited for a pot luck lunch with the Little Dippers class at Lev's school, followed by a parade. Some parents went overboard and the spread was quite impressive. Ilana was happy to sit quietly and chow down but Lev ran around with the boys in their super hero costumes instead. Then they all lined up to do a circuit of the school parade, waving blindly to the crowds like little reigning kings and queens. It was adorable.

Lev was a knight. We had  bought him a Captain America costume he had promised to war but then got the idea of a knight costume somewhere along the way and refused Captain America. We didn't want to reinvest more money into costume #2 so I hobbled together this outfit from a Goodwill find and a cape. There was a sword and shield too but he lost that priveledge when he used them too roughly on other kids.

Ilana was a Pegasus and I was surprised by her comfort level in the suit. Once it was on, she was game to trot around from house to house with her pumpkin bucket and take a candy here, a candy there. No shyness and she kept up with Lev's ratio, just not his speed. She got really possessive of her stash and wouldn't let me hod it for her, even when it got heavy. Scared I might steal some candy from her?

We had hoped they would nap before heading out to trick or treat in Pam's neighborhood, but no such luck. They were too excited. We got together with the same families we have been trick or treating with for the past few years and it was as good as always. Alec and I cobbled together some random costumes. Pam tried to concoct Halloween inspired drinks and introduced us to chocolate wine. I was again impressed with the finger foods selection she put together for the kids. Pretty amazing - oranges hollowed out and carved to look like jack o lanterns that held fruit. Homemade kale chips. You get the picture. 

Their neighborhood was really happening. Many groups walking around, lots of houses with extreme decorations. The kids love dit so we kept going farther and farther from home base to see more houses and get more candy. We finally made it back and Nico and Lev enjoyed sitting on the stoop and handing out treats too. Lev was mad when we had to wrench him away to go home for bed. The kids were both exhausted and fell asleep right away, leaving us to watch some American Horror Story. A perfect Halloween.