We had a spectacular Halloween. So. Much. Fun.
The girls got off the school bus, inhaled a quick healthy snack, and leapt into their costumes. In fact, we all wore costumes this year — as Star Wars characters! Why yes, we are geeks. You got a problem with that?
Here are R2D2 (Elegant) and Princess Leia (Graceful) before we left:
As for the R2D2 costume, I found the t-shirt online and then created the hat from an aluminum pie pan and aluminum foil. I used blue painter’s tape and a scrap of red paper for the various lights and markings. Voila!
And here we are recreating a scene from Star Wars:
In case you don’t get it — because, you know, you have a life — let me jog your memory, “Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.”
[Oh, and before you ask, as I am the family photographer, I totally forgot to have someone take a photo of me as the Emperor. Yes I am a dumb ass. But I do have photos later on of Pete as Obi Wan Kenobi. ]
Then we were off to Part 1 of Halloween: Trick or treating at the University.
Part 1
If you’re local, you know what I’m talking about if I say we went trick or treating on the Lawn. If you’re not, I don’t think I can adequately describe it, except to say this: MAYHEM. Utter chaos. A couple thousand people in one particular area, many of whom are uptight parents looking for that perfect photographic opportunity. As if.
When we got to the university, we met up with Melissa, the other half of the Dynamic Duo of Shoe Shopping, her husband Rich, and their cute-as-hell kids, who were dressed as Yoda, Darth Vader, and a Clone Trooper (early version of the Storm Troopers — because that’s an important distinction):
And here’s Yoda (aka Ava), who’s teething and was really more like “Angry at Life Yoda”:
She’s thinking, “Aunt Jen, get that f*cking camera out of my face or I will HURT you.”
Melissa wore a superhero cape, because she is:
And we’re off! (Much purposeful walking…)
Check out how fierce Vader is. You can almost hear his menacing soundtrack:
I like the way his cape drags the ground.
I do think Obi Wan Kenobi is kind of cute:
I could say something here about his lightsaber, but I won’t.
I tried to get the girls to say “May the Force be with you” instead of “trick or treat.” Elegant opted to beep (droid language) instead, but Graceful said it, thereby thrilling my geeky heart.
About halfway through, we stopped to assess the haul, just in case there was something that needed to be eaten RIGHT NOW:
Then, off for more taking candy from strangers.
At the end, I got a photo of my loved ones with the Rotunda in the background:
Once we got home, we had the ritual Sorting Of The Candy, followed by the Trading Of The Candy:
I think everyone was satisfied, including Pete and me, as we were given anything with coconut or dark chocolate.
Part 2
After a healthy sugar-free dinner of chicken soup and apples, Pete took the girls around the neighborhood for more begging for treats. Because, you know, we didn’t have enough candy already.
By 8:00, the girls were done. I cut off their candy consumption because I think eleventy squillion pieces in one evening is more than enough.
And this morning, Graceful started talking about Christmas.
All the kids were star wars characters? Sweet. I love the group idea.
But I’m with Graceful…let’s move on.
By: jenny on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 8:16 am
I love the theme idea! My kids either want to be the SAME thing (like two Darth Vaders…guys?!), or something completely different (like this year’s pirate and clown?!). Your way is much cooler!
Lovely tradition going to the LAWN in the afternoon.
And yes, I also think eleventy squillion pieces should suffice. After all, Christmas is near…!
Thanks for sharing
Heidi
By: Family Adventure on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 8:53 am
What a great idea! I wonder if I could ever convince my husband (a huge Star Wars fan) to do something like this, someday.
By: Suzanne on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 9:12 am
We are in the MAJOR geek range too… Star Wars RULES this house… well along with Harry Potter. And my kids are teens, lol. They were inducted early and will always be fans.
By: Flutterby on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 9:29 am
I do miss those days. (I got all of the coconut items, too)
By: The Hotfessional on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 9:36 am
I love the theme idea too!
It looks like a good time was had by all!
Love that Graceful…a girl after my own heart!
By: Lisa@Take90West on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 11:40 am
Great costumes. And I totally recognized the scene from Star Wars. I’ve only seen it eleventy squillion times.
Oh, and it’s 12:15 here, and I’ve already eaten 5 mini-chocolate bars: 2 kit-kats, 2 Aeros and a Snickers.
That was breakfast. I am so going to be fat by Christmas.
By: alison on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 12:16 pm
What a fun evening! the costumes looked great and the girls looked like they had a great time! that’s cool that they got to go trick-or-treating, then eat dinner, and then go out for more!
By: Happy Working Mom on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 12:37 pm
what a perfect holiday! I loved reading about it.
By: Melissa on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 12:50 pm
The Lawn is mayhem, isn’t it? Did you see Rob Bell handing out candy?
By: Sarabeth on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 1:39 pm
I love being alone in the house and laughing my ass off at my monitor-if seen from the outside world, I’m sure I’d look . . . well . . . I don’t know : )
*Love* the posed photo of “Help me Obi Wan . . .” Too clever! I never would have thought of it!
By: countrymouse on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 2:08 pm
Jenny and F.A.: The most clever group costume idea I’ve ever seen was an entire family who went as “The Incredibles” last year. They were FAB.
Suzanne: Let me tell you, it took some convincing (nagging) to get Pete to do it. But once he was in, he was IN. If one of my girls were to dress as a cowgirl and needed a horse to go with it, I could probably get him to put on a mane and tail.
Flutterby: In spite of what you’ve read here, we’re not mega Star Wars fans. The girls have seen only the original movie thus far and that’s the way we intend to keep it for a while. As for Harry Potter, I’m a huge fan of the books, but we haven’t let the girls read the books or see the movies yet. We’re planning to read them the first book during the long break from school next month.
Alison: I have actually managed to keep my pudgy hands out of the candy today and I intend to remain strong. We’ll see how long it lasts.
Sarabeth: The Lawn wasn’t as crazy this year. As for Rob Bell’s table, we went around it, with Pete and me muttering to each other “No way in hell, we’re not letting our kids eat Republican candy.” The larger issue is that we’re offended that anyone would use a kids’ event to spread propaganda of any kind.”
By: Jennifer (Jen on the Edge) on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 2:43 pm
That post made me want my own family! So sweet and fun. Love it.
By: Aims on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 3:25 pm
What a wonderful post! I wish we were neighbors. My youngest went as Hans Solo and he could have use your posse.
By: Mrs. G. on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 4:44 pm
Great costumes! So do the students actually give out candy to the trick-or-treaters or were there other people there with tables?
When I was in town last Fall, my cousin and I wandered over to the grounds and took a stroll around the Lawn. There we were, innocently walking along (at 1 or 2 a.m.), when suddenly he pointed and said: “is that a streaker?” I started to say “of course not” (we’d been drinking, I thought he was imagining things), and then three more naked people ran by on the Lawn. We wound up talking with some fourth years who informed us that streaking the Lawn is a rite of passage - so, that of course begs the question: did you do it when you were a student there?
By: erin on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 10:39 pm
Erin: Hell NO I did not.
By: Jennifer (Jen on the Edge) on Thursday, November 1, 2007
at 11:38 pm
I was not aware how HUGE Halloween is in USA. How fantastic for everyone. And great to see outfits not just spooky or freaky.
By: Linda and her Surroundings on Friday, November 2, 2007
at 3:30 am
Mr. Messy was laughing at me because I tweaked a Christmas song the other morning to sing about how cold it was instead of Christmas. Considered me chastised for breaking into Christmassy tune before Halloween…
By: Lela on Friday, November 2, 2007
at 9:22 am
great costumes!
I especially love the re-enactment photo.
By: blackbird on Friday, November 2, 2007
at 1:26 pm