happy halloween!

Happy Halloween!
Our army of vampire pumpkins

Fall is definitely our favorite season, as it is for most New Englanders.  The foliage is beautiful, the weather equally so, and fun holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving keep the festive spirit alive.  This year, we were especially excited for Halloween, now that Harper is at an age where she can really enjoy the celebration.  

Getting in the spirit at school

Last Halloween, Harper was a ladybug; we received her adorable costume as a hand-me-down from our friends, and so we didn't even have to think about it! This year presented more of a challenge: did we pick, or did we ask Harper to choose?  I fell in love with the most ridiculously cute lion costume at Pottery Barn Kids, and despite the hefty price tag, was convinced it would go on sale so that Harper could be a lion.  I ever made sure we practiced saying "roar!" in the weeks leading up to Halloween.  

Unfortunately, when it started getting down to the wire, the amazing lion costume was one of the ONLY costumes that remained full price; what the heck?!  So we were looking at a magazine with pictures of costumes, and Dallin pointed to the butterfly costume; Harper agreed that she wanted to be a butterfly.  We even started looking for pieces for her butterfly costume at our local consignment shop and on Etsy--but then Harper saw a picture of a bee costume and changed her mind.  So we gave her the final choice: butterfly or bee.  She picked bee, and so it was official.  We started practicing saying "buzz!" right away. Of course, she needed no help whatsoever in zooming around the house like a bumble bee!

Ready for school!

Harper was lucky to be able to wear her costume twice--to school and out trick-or-treating.  We didn't trick-or-treat last year, but this year she was totally into it.  The town square near our house does the cutest thing, where all the shops open their doors and pass out candy to the kids.  We decided to go there, along with two neighborhood families who have kids around Harper's age.  There were tons of people out, despite the rainy evening.  

All the people in costume were a little overwhelming to Harper, and she almost had a meltdown when she laid eyes on a man in a bear costume, insisting that she be held until we had safely passed--but she looooved the candy.  We let her go to town with the candy on Halloween night, deciding it would have to disappear the next day.  Hunter wore his Halloween shirt and pumpkin hat, but he stayed cozy in the Ergo carrier while we trick-or-treated.  Next year maybe Harper can help pick out a proper costume for him!

Holding hands with Daddy

It was a fun night, and we were happy to be able to celebrate together as a family  We even made it home in time to pass out candy to some of the older kids who came trick-or-treating at our house.  Harper, the social butterfly (or shall we say bumble bee?) that she is, liked that part too.  Holidays are definitely more fun than ever this year, now that Harper is old enough to really enjoy them.  Next up: Thanksgiving!  But not before a very special birthday celebration...