LOL, that is so cute. Is that from Despicable Me? Too funny.

My girls are going to be Nyan cats (they had to explain this to me) and my son wants to be something from Minecraft.

Frankly, I hate Halloween. The colors are so garish, no one needs all that candy, and I can't stand buying all that imported from China krap for their costumes, half of it toxic against their skin I am sure.

I am the mom who brings Clementines, with magic marker on them to look like Jack o Lanterns, to the school parade. I am sure there will be years of therapy for this ...

LOL! That's so much wiser than candy. Our grandson eats those like they are candy!

I'm with you in despising the holiday, which is one reason we stopped celebrating. Though our children said they don't feel like they missed out by not dressing up and trick or treating, they both want to celebrate it with their children. Granted they are only six months and five years old right now, so that may change like it did with us. It is fun when they are very little.

Our daughter has often told me she thought they had it better than their friends that had to go "beg" for candy that they may or may not like in the cold weather. I always bought them each a bag of their favorite candy. I didn't give it all to them at once so theirs lasted much longer than and they didn't get sick.
I had to look up Nyan Cat and realize our grandson has shown me those on YouTube. To tell you the truth I'm surprised he didn't want to be something from Minecraft. When I was first making Khloe's hat he had just seen the latest Despicable Me movie so I'm sure that's why he chose the purple minions.

We escaped most Halloween stuff with our older kids but the two younger boys seem to have a desire to participate more. The problem is that we do not do trick or treating (rural area, most lots at least an acre with long driveways and gates) and while they can wear costumes to school, they are not allowed to wear masks. My most excited son will be going as a mad scientist. I will write equations on one of his dad's old T-shirts, have him wear safety goggles and spray his hair green. He will also carry around the slime that he made this weekend (glue and borax). My other son who is less of a joiner will go as a caramel maker. I will put an apron on him and let him carry some ruber spatulas and make a cardboard candy thermometer for him and he will carry around some caramels as that is his favorite candy.

The 2 older kids will go to a party for their youth group and the theme is cultural so some costume representing a different culture. As of right now, we are clueless as to how we are going to execute that.

I love your costume idea tish tosh! Cute. The olders kids costumes sound like they could be a challenge.

JGTBM,
The Minion hat and it's model are really cute.

Tish,
What clever costumes. One of your older kids should go as a Petrie dish and be a blood culture. Or is that too gross?

Mtn,
Isn't it your husband that has a funny name for all these big, over the top celebrations? Wedding industrial complex or something like that? That's certainly what Halloween has become. A retailers dream. They push decorations and costumes and candy and many, many people are buying, so it's working for the marketing people and retailers.

My neighborhood elementary school parades around the 'hood in costumes. Each year the teachers dress in a theme - they've been the Cat in the Hat, and M&Ms. I used to watch the parade when my nephews attended the school. A neighbor would host a viewing party on her lawn, complete with refreshments. It still surprises me how many parents drive over, from other 'hoods and from work, to watch the parade. Now I make sure to get out of the neighborhood before it starts or be stuck in my driveway until it meanders back to the school and off every street I need. Speaking of which, it's probably today, I need an escape plan.

The best trick or treater I can remember was a little girl, 3 or 4, dressed as a bride. Her Dad, who accompanied her, was dressed as Father of the Bride. I like when people can really stick to a theme. And not in store bought costumes.

The last few years, I've been leaving a box of candy on the porch and trust the honor system. We don't get many kids but that might be changing as younger families are moving into the neighborhood.

Well, I'll admit it, I enjoy Halloween. For us, it's a neighborhood affair -- among 4-5 families, one hosts a pre-trick-or-treat pizza party every Halloween, so we start there. Then the kids used to go as a big group with parents (usually the moms -- the dads stay home to give out candy), but now as a lot of them are getting older, the kids are dispersing into different groups. Last year I practically had to force my 6th grader to stay with the group because I wanted to still go trick or treating! (She's my youngest.) I may have to let her go this year, though. Our neighborhood is very safe, with sidewalks and houses very close together, and they generally cover only 2-3 streets before their bags are full enough and they're ready to come home.

My DD is dressing as a fairy this year, and making the costume herself. She has pink, black, and purple tulle that she's making a big tutu-like skirt from, and we found matching fairy wings at Target. She'll wear a black sparkly shirt and black leggings, and glitter in her hair. We haven't bought a store costume in years, only because she is creative and crafty (last year she went as a poker game!).

We enjoy Halloween - it's just fun!!
I think I like it so much because it was a simple, joyful "holiday" for me as a kid, and without any family drama.

We make/create costumes out of things we already have.
Sounds like tishtosh's kids do the same type of thing.
SO much fun to watch kids be inventive and imaginative.

DH and I go to a costume party every Halloween.
We never purchase our costumes for that either; in fact, no one there does.
It's hilarious, and we always have a blast!
(Can't wait!)

We do all like clementines at least as well as we like candy. :)

DH and I are going to a party at the historical society tonight. He refuses to dress up, so I am wearing party clothes and have a headband with two halves of a knife attached that stick out from my head. There is liquid "blood" going thru the Knife parts using the same technology that you baby bottles use for disappearing milk. It's called "the splitting headache" and I got it on my annual trip to walmart. Five bucks!

My almost two year old great grand is dressing up as John Travolta in Grease. (Hey, his Mom is young...) We found him a leather motorcycle jacket at a thrift store. He will wear tights instead of pegged jeans with short white socks and loafers.

We always make our own costumes. The picture a dated one of my grands. I sewed the clown pants and Aimee did the rest.

I loved Halloween as a kid in the 60's. We'd end up miles from home with pillowcases full of candy. I also took those fond memories and tried to make Halloween special for my kids. Never a store-bought costume...I either made them (as my grandmother did for me when I was very young) or we used what was around the house. I've saved some of the ones I made--bunch of grapes, Belle, etc...to pass along to my grandkids one day.

I loved Halloween as a kid in the 60's too. It was so much fun thinking about what we were going to be, and then making the costume from stuff around the house. I loved the candy too. Especially the butterfingers!

My kids loved it too. My daughter made (knitted) my grandson (9 mos) a fox costume. I don't remember, as a kid, babies being dressed up but I think it's fun.

I do get kind of sick of the halloween "industrial complex" as mentioned above. I went to Michael's recently and they had Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas stuff all mixed up- it was a lot of annoying visual noise (can't think of what else to call it).

As much as I enjoy Halloween, Christmas and Easter, I don't overly decorate for any of them. For Halloween...a few pumpkins for the porch. When the kids were little I did more of course...some Halloween windsocks hanging from the front lights....I cut out the plastic pails and put them around the lights, a straw scarecrow...that's about it..not much inside the house either. I agree there is entirely too much "stuff" for sale for all the holidays....and I remember growing up you never saw anything Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Now you see it in August...don't like it at all!

This is the extent of my Halloween decorating. It's one of those house pins, sold as a fundraiser. I liked it because it was the only one and not as stuffy as most of the house pins. Normally, I wear it on my jean jacket for the month but I forgot to get it out until yesterday. (I put it on a cloth for the photo so you could see the shape better.)

In our town, Halloween is still very popular. I thought that once my daughters hit middle school it would be over. Although they did not trick or treat in high school, they still dressed up.
The high school seniors have a fun tradition. The kids create a short performance for the high school in the open courtyard. One year my oldest did a song from Grease. All the girls wore the poodle skirts.
Then, they go back to their elementary school and perform for a kindergarten class, usually for the teacher they had as a kindergartener.
My neighborhood is very popular for trick or treating, so we get 100 kids. I make up goodie bags, so I basically keep track of how much I give out. Seems like a lot but really they come in large groups. During a school night, it's over by 9:00.
My daughter's still dress up and go to parties etc.

Hi,
Here is my grand daughter from the last 3 years.
She is so excited this year.

This post was edited by lyban on Mon, Oct 28, 13 at 15:14

I'm sure most have seen this.
I think it's cute.........

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkBDRUO8hAo

I wasn't sure about starting this thread because of how I personally feel about this gory holiday. I worked at an elementary school and the teacher I assisted convinced me one year to watch the parade with her as her granddaughter went to our school. I was shocked at how many blood dripping young children there were. One my students, only a second grader, showed me a pouch of "blood" he had with a pump so his "wounds" could keep bleeding! Ewww!
That aside, Golddust I can't wait to see your grandson as John Travolta! The little clowns are adorable. And Lyban your granddaughter is adorable in every costume too. All of those are the kind of costumes I like to see on Halloween. When we did celebrate our children were never allowed to be anything bad or gory. I know that's part of the fun for teens and adults, but to me it's just wrong for the young children.
JoanieP our childhood Halloween was very similar to yours. Home made costumes, pillow case full of candy and going way further than most parent would feel safe letting their children go anymore. I'm not even sure you could buy costumes back then. I don't remember seeing any.
hhireno that is a cute pin. That's more my speed on decorating too. Cute little ghosts! Very cute. I've not seen other "house pins".
ellendi, your town sounds like it's left over from Halloween past when it still a sweet holiday! My hometown had beggars night on the 30th and a huge parade on Halloween. I miss that kind of celebration.
forboystoo that was cute and funny. I'd not seen that. What a neat idea!

Our kids always loved Halloween. They liked dressing up and the annual trek for candy. It was one day out of the year....they just liked candy. Some years we went to kids' Halloween parties, but nothing could take the place of trick or treating. They grew up, survived, and do not now wear garish clothing or eat candy regularly. We went to church on November 1 for All Souls' day and they dressed up as their favorite saint. My son kept telling me, "but I don't have a favorite saint" because he wanted to wear his Halloween costume to church. They preferred to dress as prisoners and witches and ninjas rather than saints, lol.

"but I don't have a favorite saint" Ha ha ha! That sure brought a chuckle up for me kswl! Too cute. I can't imagine there being too many children that have a favorite saint. Maybe if their were a Saint of Candy....

Found her in a pumpkin patch, and decided to dress her up for tonights Halloween party

Oh my gosh Judie, how cute!

My beautiful 12 year old granddaughter who is working at her school's haunted house today...

Our mad scientist who later sacrified his mustache to drink hot chocolate. The equation on the front of his shirt is for nuclear fission (I think) and on the back of his shirt is an equation that results in slime. The bucket contains slime he made last weekend and some "brains" from a toy.

Hi,

I love seeing all the cutie pies in their costumes - so adorable and creative. It is so wonderful to see the kids enjoying themselves. Not all the grands have reported in yet with Pre-Halloween photos.

Since I was unsuccessful uploading more than one photo on the test site, I will send another post with the second photo.

Here is Harry Potter. He does seem to be flying.

Here's another: Presenting Pocahontas, Princess, and Pumpkin. They had a good time today trick or treating in their town from store to store.

Oh what fun costumes! Thank you all for sharing.
And yes, Harry does appear to be flying!

Ooh!! I love the pics. Such cute kids.

I loved Halloween growing up in the 70s/80s. It was always a special time to go T/T with wonderful family friends. When one of the girls died (she was 10, I was 12), Halloween was especially comforting because it was "our" time, but of course, never the same again.

I am pretty sad that it's become about sex/gore/commercialism in so many aspects. I like fun scary, not gross. And, if they are going to make "sexy" costumes, I wish they would not be for girls. (Never made for boys.) Just adults!

My mom made our costumes or we put them together from thrift store finds. She was so disappointed the one year I insisted on a store-bought Casper costume.

My kids are being-- a cat (specifically, one of ours), Artemis (my DD made her own working bow), Phantom of the Opera, a random butterfly fairy, and a ladybug.

Cute!! Not mine, though.

I love the kids pictures! They are all adorable!!!

Martina.....so adorable! As well as all the other cutie pies here!

Martina.....so adorable! As well as all the other cutie pies here!

Then

And now.

I like the sneakers.

Aw! I love the then and now pictures! My bestest friends daughter is going as a geisha too. I wanted to be one when I was a little girl.

I love all these pics!!

Justgottabeme, 2 of my 3 kids are going as minions too!

Here's my youngest:

And who says you have to be a kid to dress up??

Here's a pic of me and DH as Bob Ross and a happy tree from a party we went to this past Saturday:

Too cute Polly! Did you make the hat? Looks as thought you unraveled the "hair" like I did for our grandson. He modeled it real quick today while in a goofy mood. I'll get a better picture later after I get the goggles and mouth on it.
What creative costumes you and your hubby did. I love them! And what a pretty tree you made.

What a clever costume, Polly! And your minion is adorable.

Thank you to everyone who shared a pix. It is fun to see all the creativity.

I didn't make the hat, I bought it on etsy. I wish I had those skills!! And yes the yarn is unraveled for the crazy hair. He loves the hat and insists on wearing it every where!

And thank you guys! Sadly we lost the prize of best couples costume to Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke. I saw it coming, I knew there'd be someone who had the guts to wear Miley's get up, but it definitely wasn't me.

Polly, crocheting is easy. I taught myself with a how to book over thirty years ago. The hard part of that hat was the how long it to unravel the hair. It really makes the hair perfect though.
Sad that a Miley costume won the contest though. Really sad.

My daughter wants to be Medussa this year and I am making the wig. I haven't started it yet! I am off today so the plan is to work on it today. Nothing like a little pressure to get something done! I couldn't find long rubber snakes anywhere but have the smaller ones. I hope it turns out. I don't want to have to buy a cheesy foam one from the store.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that cuts things to the last minute. Part of my day is finishing our grandson's hat. If I had a pattern I'd just go ahead and make his bibs since I know his Dad, our son, hasn't bought them yet.

DH and I have dressed up for many parties over the years, but this was my favorite, I think: zombie bride and groom.

Love it Sue!!!

Jgbm: I wish I had the time to learn!! Maybe someday when I'm not up to my eyeballs in kid activities and work.

As for Miley, if you knew my friend who had the nerve to dress up in it, you'd find it a riot too! It wasn't quite as revealing as the real one and she wore a miniskirt with it. I didn't think anyone would have the nerve to do it. As much as I can't stand Miley, for an adult only party it was hilarious.

Sue, what a cute zombie couple you two make!

Polly, I agree when it's an adult party it's okay, but to me it's still sad that "sex" sells over creativity.

Joanie, the little snakes are easier to work with and carry around. Last year I did my daughter's hair in an up-do and we tried securing the snakes into it, she was very frustrated with it by the end of the night.

Such great costumes. Love the cute babies!! Can't wait for another grandbaby.

Dd would get mad at me if I posted my adorable grandson in his tigger outfit if she ever caught me somehow, lol.

My 11 yr old twins went to a party Friday night. One was too cool to dress up, the other went as the Joker. Younger Dd took a stage makeup class in college.

Here's the result.