Truly, I don’t remember a Halloween with such glorious fall weather. Usually we are forced to cover our costumes with sweats and coats and even snowboots. But yesterday the temps stayed in the 60s, leaves drifted slowly through the air in a gentle breeze and everyone was giddy with candy overload and the thrill of being somebody else for the day.
Our costumes this year were of the raid the basement and your neighbor’s basement variety, except Mary of course, who simply has a stash of princess dresses hung in her closet.
the ubiquitous headed-off-to-school photos
How sad is it that Hansie’s old lady costume is a blouse I wore in 8th grade (Jessica McClintock, of course) and the skirt and apron are from a bridesmaid dress I wore in ’88– it was ugly then too.
How sad is it that Hansie’s old lady costume is a blouse I wore in 8th grade (Jessica McClintock, of course) and the skirt and apron are from a bridesmaid dress I wore in ’88– it was ugly then too.

Mary isn’t a princess, she’s Taylor Swift. Didn’t you know that?

Our adorable neighbors: I asked Sarah why SHE wasn’t a princess, “Oh, I’m a princess every day. I wanted to dress up for Halloween.”

Just a few photos before trick-or-treating….

After balancing the wig and tripping over his dress all day Hans abandoned the old lady costume and went for the much simpler (but still trippy) BYU graduate.
Do you change disguises mid-day? We do it all the time. When Hans really does graduate we’re coming back to take photos in this exact same spot.

Gabe is AWESOME. Honestly, is there any other word for this look?




Admittedly, I was a glutton on the Mary photos, but she was completely and utterly charming. She beguiled Xander and they spontaneously began waltzing down the lane.






Then off to my neighbor, Sarah Palin’s house. She opens her garage doors, sets up tables and hosts the entire neighborhood for a pre trick-or-treat buffet. I’m sorry if you don’t have neighbors this fabulous. Really, I do think she’d make a pretty good VP.



yup, my neighbors are pretty fun.


Mary and Trevor– ready to ring those doorbells.

Ben, wearing the Peter Pan costume I made for him exactly 10 years ago. How cute is he? I adore this kid.

Yes, poor Hans was Tinkerbell. He wasn’t even 2 yet, OK! Obviously, I really needed a girl.

Managed to snag one picture of Stefan before it was completely dark– he’s an elusive kid, but fabulous in every way.
My children split into five directions for trick or treating and I was left with just Mary. She paired up with her buddy Trevor and they tripped from house to house chatting and timidly begging candy from admiring neighbors. Princesslike, Mary lifted her dress as she walked across lawns and up stairs. She and Trevor laughed at each other’s jokes and spent much more time admiring the neighbor’s spooky decorations than ringing doorbells. It was so deliciously beautiful that I couldn’t help but sing out loud, “Ah, la, la, la, la, life is wonderful….”
Wonderful.

Xander’s stash– don’t touch!
Linn
They are SO sweet! How much do I love your pictures?
Okay, Mara and I went to high school together. She and I (and several of our close friends–strange) are in an exclusive club where we married someone from our high school that graduated the same year we did. We still keep in touch and do an online bookclub with many of our friends from high school, along with others. Mara is gifted and talented and amazing.
She wanted to use one of my blog posts as a guest post on Segullah. It is about our little neighbor that passed away last year. I’m not sure if she still wants it, but so flattering of her to ask. Anyway, there you go. Thanks for asking and you are never nosey. I am excited to someday meet you in person. You know we have room for you to stay. C’mon, Ruth did it. 🙂
Jaime
Oh, Michelle. SO sweet. Seriously. These make me so happy, and so sad… all at the same time. I wish Miss Carina could have some (or one! LOL) sibling who could waltz through life with her.
Happy belated Halloween!
Cheryl
Love the costumes! And your neighbors do look like a lot of fun. 🙂
Michelle, I wanted to ask you if I could do you a favor. I know that sounds weird! Could you email me? happymeetscrazy at gmail dot com.
Thanks!
Katie
I can’t believe you dressed Hans in a tinkerbell costume! That is so funny! What cute pictures…
JaNeanne Dazley
What great memories you are creating! Your pictures (as usual) are so beautifully done. You are very talented.
SO, have you gone through all your kid’s trick or treat bags and secretly “borrowed” your favorite candy?
katherine
Your pictures are sooooooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!
Claudia
I especially love the look on Xanders face in the dancing picture.
And Trevor and Mary, oh so sweet!
I still can’t get over the fact that you dressed Hans up as a Tink. It’s a good thing he is confident in his manliness.
Go Cougars!
duchess
What sweet pictures & great memories.
My crew hardly stood still long enough for me to snap any pictures at all much less get a great session out of them like the ones you got. I guess yours are just used to the routine, huh?
Love the peter pan costume.
Bonnie
Sounds like you had so much fun! I wish I had…but I just HAD to be sick on HALLOWEEN. It was upsetting. I still had a pretty good time though.
I LOVE that Tink costume! That’s hilarious! And I love your pictures too, as always!
GeorgiaBecksteads
Natalie says:
Mary looks like Taylor Swift to me.
Jan Russell
Well, I have to say props to you for having boys so beautiful they could pass as Tinkerbell! That is hilarious!
Love the gorgeous photos of your crew!
Alyson (New England Living)
Love your photos, so beautiful! Great costumes too. What a great Halloween!
Denise
Here are my many observations:
1. My you do take lovely photos.
2. Xander looks so much like you, it’s amazing.
3. Gabe looks so much like Erik it’s amazing.
4. Why do you still own a blouse you wore in 8th grade? DI is your friend. Embrace DI.
5. Ben is hilarious. He looks more like the Jolly Green Giant in that costume.
6. I can’t believe Erik let you dress Hans (albeit still mostly a baby) up as Tinkerbell. He is so patient.
7. Yay for great fall weather and beautiful foliage.
8. Happy Halloween to you all…
Ken
Dear Michelle,
I would like to order two Halloween books if you are going to submit to Shutterfly. Thanks for sharing and thanks to the children, especially Ben, for letting you take these photos.
With love,
Tracy
I just want to know if you and Erik went with the Nurse and Doctor costumes you posted about last month?
StubbyDog
OMG the cow costume and poor Hans as Tinkerbell (*snort*) made me laugh out loud. Love it!
Great pictures.
Melinda
Great pics. You look like you had a great Halloween.
dalene
You’re photos are sooooo gorgeous!