Halloween hangover

No I haven't been drinking too much. Well, when I say too much,..oh, never mind. No, I'm just a little Halloween'd out. These bloody Americans go hell for leather, especially this year as it fell on a Friday and it was unseasonably warm.I have seen us some years, dash out with the kids for half an hour, dodging hailstones the size of golf balls, or too wrapped up in parkas for anyone to see the costumes. No this one was perfect.

Of course, we had the usual lack of decision-making in the costume department. Little one changed his mind every day, until I told him that he HAD to be a wizard as there was no time to make another costume. (Yes, I'm one of those sad mothers who makes costumes.) He wouldn't wear a wig, so I ended up affixing long strands of white wool to some tape, then stitching the tape in the rim of his hat. (I know, I know. I told you I was a saddo.) It looked quite cute. His cape was made when his 15 year old sister was three, and had a foot of fabric added when she was eight. It's a rather fabulous affair with gold moons, stars and black sequins sewn on. (OK, that's enough.)



The older two never mentioned dressing up - till the night before. The look on my face must have indicated that I wasn't lifting a finger this late in the day so they asked permission to walk to the costume shop. As a precaution, I had suggested that my 13 year old shouldn't be a soldier as it might be taken as disrespectful (you never know here), and a robber in a hoodie was an even worse idea. There'd be enough of them about as it is. I am fairly certain we agreed on a traditional robber and if he couldn't find an eye mask I could be persuaded to rig something up.

Naturally, he came back with two fake cigarettes that actually smoke, and a plastic M 16 gun.

Naturally, I hit the roof!

He went as a robber carrying a big black bag with SWAG painted on it. Nobody knew what it meant and I think it actually means something not nice. Will have to find out.

Queenager meanwhile, decided she wanted to be Tinkerbell (?!?) but could only afford the wings when she got to the shop. She wore them to school and had to go through all the doors sideways! She also wore a pink sparkly t-shirt, a white parka, white cut offs and white flip flops. It was warm but not that warm.




And we all had a great evening. Our street was hopping with everyone sitting out on their front stoops, laughing and visiting. I am glad to take all the decorations down though. And this girl has also disappeared:



Now we can start the build up to Christmas, pointing out every toy in every commercial ad infinitum. Oh wait, the little one's been doing that since his birthday in June.

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