Second Star to the Right and Straight on 'til Morning!

That is where we went on Halloween.

(And if you didn't recognize the reference, the answer is NEVERLAND!)

 

"I will never, ever grow up!"

So every year we tend to dress as a family theme for Halloween. Travis is a good sport and is usually on board. Past themes have included Goldilocks and the 3 bears, fairy princesses and a frog prince, a bunch of bugs and a bug catcher, and a family circus. Every year I say we are DONE with the theme costumes, but then every year somehow we end up doing it anyway.

This year the girls had the idea to dress as characters from Peter Pan, and they worked out the casting so perfectly and were so excited that we just had to go along. We took Kate to see Peter Pan on stage this summer for her birthday, so she has been off in Neverland ever since.

Here we are (clockwise): Captain Hook, Tiger Lily, Tinkerbell, Wendy, and Peter Pan.

(I say it worked perfectly because I had an old Indian costume for myself from days of yore. But it turns out no one knows who Tiger Lily is, even when I explain the Peter Pan theme. Really? Is she that much of a peripheral character?) The other costumes I made this year, with the exception of Travis's coat, which was recycled and refashioned from last year's "ringmaster."

We went to the ward trunk-or-treat in most of our costumes (much was left behind - it was a crazy night!) and decorated our trunk with a pirate theme to boot. The mast and sail were meant to go on top of the car but, well, we just didn't get that far. And yes, we put a blond wig on Kate (pulled up in a Tinkerbell bun)! It didn't work out so well though and was super annoying, so the wig was quickly scrapped!

The inside of the trunk was all decked out too with a beach and treasure chest and map, but we didn't get pictures. Here is the indoor version of the ship mast and map.
 
 Mostly the big hit of the night were Travis's pirate boots, which are actually mine (and maybe a little effeminate in shape). He's such a good sport and really got into the dressing up!

ARRRRGGGHHHH, MATEY!!!

 And of course, what's Halloween without a little pumpkin carving? 

I think it had been at least 3 years since we last did this. So terrible...

 

 And on Halloween morning, Brooklyn's playgroup had a Halloween party. I told her she could wear whatever she wanted (since Wendy by herself would be kind of boring) so she pulled out her ladybug costume from a couple years ago. Fun fact about the ladybug costume: it isn't even hers, it was mine, which my mother made for me when I was Troy's age! And it is still as adorable as ever.

 And finally, Real Halloween

My trick-or-treaters are ready to go!

 Most of my pictures from Halloween night didn't turn out well, and I wasn't really invested in the picture-taking anyway so I gave up early, but I wish I could have captured Troy's intensity as he ran to each door trying to keep up with the big kids! After the first house or two when he figured out what we were doing, and people were giving him candy, he was all business! He ran with purpose and held out his little candy bucket! Kate had to protect him from getting trampled. He was such a hoot!

And that's about it for this year.

Happy Halloween!