First Place!

We had a neighborhood Halloween Party this weekend. I was spending the last week sewing furiously (and I don't mean in the sense of concentrated business, but in the angry sort of way). The DUMB pattern was so frustrating, and I made things worse by trying to "fix" it with my minimal (ok, non-existant) sewing skills. Thankfully, as my grandma Winkie would say, "Nobody will notice it from the back of a galloping horse.

The best part? Both Zoë and Megan LOVED their costumes! They felt beautiful in them, which made every ripped and re-sewn seam, every readjustment, every "Oops!" and explitive worth it (I'm still repenting for all the cuss words that flew from my mouth- particularly when the FOURTH gathering stitch came out! Yes- I put FOUR of them in there, and all of them broke.)

The girls could hardly wait to go to the party (but maybe it was the fact that I said they couldn't eat any of the sugar cookes we'd made until after lunch, and after rest time, when the party started).

There was a costume contest (which I don't think any of the kids knew or even really cared about). Zoë was VERY excited that she won "Most Original Costume". The candybar and cookies were nice, but she was very proud of her "bookmark".

I was happy for her, and glad that she won a prize. Travis laughed and asked "SHE won the prize...?"

I guess it was, in a weird way, my prize, too. Although, as I said, the best part was how excited the girls were to wear their costumes, the way their faces lit up when they tried them on. I thought "most original" was odd because Zoë's costume was only slightly different than Megan's (I used the same pattern). And, both girls had all the same accoutrements (fake hair, colored wings- although those didn't last long in the cold wind). I'll have to take pictures of them together in their full gear and without jackets so you can see the similarities.


It was a fun afternoon. We got to meet new neighbors and reaquaint ourselves with old ones. The kids got lots of sugar, some new friends, and train rides all the while feeling beautiful and magical.

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!