Halloween Parade

Every year Michael and the girls carve a pumpkin. It's a craft. I don't partake. I just take the pictures. It started out as a traditional pumpkin face. And over the years, it has gotten more elaborate. We have bought the kits to carve our pumpkin...and then Michael realized that he had the mad skills to do it without the kit. One year, Katie said she did not want a scary pumpkin. At the time, she was obsessed with the PBS show, Sagwa, The Chinese, Siamese cat. And Sagwa's best friend is Fu-Fu the bat. Everytime I have mentioned this show, people look at me strangely. If your kids haven't seen it...find it. It's great. And the stories are written by Amy Tan (who wrote "The Joy Luck Club" - "The Kitchen God's Wife" - "The Bonesetter's Daughter" amongst others).

So...Katie asked for a Fu-Fu pumpkin. And Michael did it. I don't know how. But he did.

I love the detail he did for it. Fu-Fu has a notch in his glasses - and so do the glasses on the pumpkin!

And this year, in honor of our two new kittens, Michael drew (free hand no less) a two headed kitty monster. Here is the free hand - it was hard to capture - there was a reflection no matter what I did. And here it is all carved and lit up. Pretty cool, no?

I don't know about your children...but mine have been planning their Halloween costumes for months. And it takes that long to plan because they change their minds weekly.

For the past month, Madalyn was planning to be a genie. And then she discovered an old diva outfit of Katie's. And decided that it would just be easier to wear that - mostly because it would keep her warm. So...we spiced up her outfit by making her an American idol contestant.Katie has been pretty steadfast in her decision to be Edward from Twilight. I love that she was going to be Edward. And not Bella. We decided that it would be fun for her to be Edward in the sunshine - and make her all sparkly and glittery. And then someone told me that you could order Forks High School t-shirts from the Forks Chamber of Commerce - so we got her a t-shirt.

(Ya'll must check out the chamber of commerce. They have lots of different t-shirts and hoodies. And my favorite is the bumper sticker that says "Vampires love forks." With our order we got a window cling that proclaims us members of the "Forks Chamber of Commerce." AND we got a map of the town. And it has all the sites - including notations of where you can buy a Bella Burger - and other Twilight nostolgia.)

We decided to make a mask, too...just in case no one recognized her. And well, no one did recognize her. Except one mother. Obviously Lula has not gotten to the people in this neighborhood.

Everyone needed a turn posing with Edward.

Sharing Edward.

And fighting over Edward.

After the girls got home...and took showers...and were sent to bed...I moved Katie's candy out of her bag and into a basket. And when I dumped it in, I noticed the candy that landed on the top of the basket and immediately thought - I am getting rid of that. She doesn't need straight sugar...and it will make such a mess.

And then, I looked a little closer, because there was writing on the package.

It's personalized! And not to my child.

And then, I looked even closer.It's VALENTINE candy. Someone regifted Valentine candy for Halloween! Regifted. Candy!

So...what about you? Any artistic carving skills at your house? Do you re-gift? Did your kids come home with anything strange in their candy bags? And, please tell me your approach to the candy! Do you let them have what they want till it's gone? Do you ration and still have some at Easter? What do you do? Is that too many questions??

OH...and have you entered my contest? It's a great one! Just scroll back to Saturday's post and get your name in the pot!

Theme song: B-52's - Love Shack. Why? For Valentine's. Duh.