At Our House | Halloween

simon's drawing

At our house one boy really wanted to create this drawing to hang on our front door to let everyone know there was a pirate here.

the kids

At our house the same group came together again this year, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunties, uncles, friends.

At our house we made this chili for the second year in a row and it was just as good as the first time.

80's Bridesmaid, Jack Sparrow & Bride of Frankenstein

the elephant trainer, elephant, & oscar

80's

king & queen of hearts, clone trooper, and ladybug fairy

snow white & her leopards

At our house the adults get dressed up too. I was inspired by a costume I saw in Martha's special Halloween issue: Little Miss Monstrous (designed as a kids costume that I modified for an adult body).

best house on our block

At our house the best house on the block (at least what I saw in during my brief outing) was this real guy sitting holding a bowl of candy. He didn't try to scare the littlest kids but I bet he was a total hit with the older ones.

cousins + oscar the grouch

Dorothy on her way

At our house Dorothy lasted about 10 houses before deciding it was too cold.

At our house there's one kid who really loves the candy and one who could really care less. Can you guess?

candy givers

At our house Anna and Gabrielle ended up being the greeters, passing out candy to all who knocked on the front door (with support of course).

At our house we're thankful for the family that was able to travel to celebrate this fun, all-to-quick holiday together.

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42 thoughts

  1. dawn says…
    11/02/2011

    awwww these are so cute! love that even the adults get dressed up. everyone's costumes big and small were all great!! I think Anna/Simon costumes were perfect for them and their personality's. Love Simon's note on the door.

    Just have to ask, do all your family members stay with you or do they stay at a hotel?

    Thanks for sharing and making me smile.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. dawn says…
      11/02/2011

      Thanks for answering Ali!! That was the answer I hoping for, makes it even more precious. NEED TO DO THIS WITH MY FAMILY EVEN THOUGH THEY LIVE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET!! LOVE THIS!!

    2. Ali says…
      11/02/2011

      They all stayed here. Lots of sleeping bags and blow-up beds :)

  2. Peggy K says…
    11/02/2011

    This year, I fell in love with Halloween again. For too many years it was not fun passing out candy at my house. But this year, I went to my daughter's house and experienced Halloween thru my 4 year old grandson's eyes. And I'm back as a believer in the joy of Halloween!
    Looks like you had lots of fun, for both kids and adults.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Brooke says…
    11/02/2011

    I love that the adults get dressed up too. We don't really do Halloween (here in Australia), but I imagine that sense of family/community and fun is what it's all about. This was our 4th Halloween in this house and of course the first year I don't decorate is the one that we get the first knock on the door. My son (3yrs) loved handing out the candy.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Liz says…
    11/02/2011

    i love all the costumes...they are just so fun!!! however i am glad it's done!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Lisa W. says…
    11/02/2011

    Awesome costumes...beautiful people, and WONDERFUL houses...those front doors and all have beautiful curb apeal. LOVE Halloween:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Christine says…
    11/02/2011

    Love the sign on the door. The costumes were great especially Simon's pirate outfit. Looks like you were blessed with pleasant weather. I need to try out the chili recipe....the perfect recipe for Fall.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. laura g. says…
    11/02/2011

    love the picture of all the kids sitting on the porch i didn't have a chance to get a group pic this year but have several of the kids trick or treating it was cold and windy here and it was dark by the time we got home fed kids and grandkids and got out the door one little monster (lol) couldn't decide if he was going to be spiderman or a dragon his mama opted for the dragon costume as it was much warmer...the best costume we saw was a couple and their 2 small children she was the cowardly lion and he was the scarecrow...the 3 year old girl was dorothy (same costume as anna..so precious!) and the baby boy was toto!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Michelle L says…
    11/02/2011

    You guys look great! I love your costume and that little Dorothy is adorable!
    We had a great time at my sister's place! Their neighborhood has several haunted houses and every sits outside handing out candy and hanging out! I love Halloween!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. kristin says…
    11/02/2011

    I loved Oscar the grouch. Kids were so cute. I have no kids yet so it is nice to see the fun and joy of others, thanks.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Ann says…
    11/02/2011

    Oscar the grouch is the BEST! HA HA!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Chris says…
    11/02/2011

    I love that your family had the opportunity to all get together for this fun celebration. That family deemed the time together more important than the time in school. That family was more into making memories then just floating through life without the experiences.

    Your family is inspiring. At a younger age, I'd be envious. Now, I can just take your post as motivation to do the same when my son has family TO do things like this with.

    Thank you, Ali...for sharing and inspiring.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Chrissy Hunyady says…
    11/02/2011

    Love that the adults dress up! Can't wait to move up there and go trick or treating with you! ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Dori says…
    11/02/2011

    When my son was still trick-or-treating (he's now almost 33) we had to deal with the threat of tainted candy here in the Chicago suburbs. Halloween was almost called off! So instead of buying candy that year, I bought several packages of all kinds and sizes of colored markers and pencils. I dumped them into two baskets and let each tirck-or-treater choose two items. And holy crow! You'd think I was giving away gold bricks! It was a HUGE hit with the kids - and their parents - and I continued it every year, buying up markers and pencils whenever I found them on sale and stashing them until October.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. maryg says…
      11/02/2011

      i gave away colouring books one year to the littlest of the trick or treaters and both kiddies and parents were delighted!

    2. Susan R says…
      11/02/2011

      Dori, this is a great idea! We handed out the mini pots of playdough for the little ones and a smaller bit of candy and one fellow said as he ran to dad, "Dad! Look at how much I got!!" (it was only 2 things-1 pot and 1 candy bar) He was going to turn away after the playdough and we had to call him back to get his candy, lol. I will have to source out the markers for next year though.

  14. Gretchen says…
    11/02/2011

    looks like fun was had by all~so neat that all the grown ups dressed too :) what great memories!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Carrie says…
    11/02/2011

    This totally warms my heart, friend. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Tere says…
    11/02/2011

    What a wonderful family and the costumes too! I love the sneak peaks of your side yard too! Lovely.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Suz says…
    11/02/2011

    Great pics Ali! So awesome to have all of your family there to celebrate. :) Such.a.blessing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Cecilia Madden says…
    11/02/2011

    So much fun! And I too love that everyone huddles up under one roof. Things are so much better that way :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. slmnontec says…
    11/02/2011

    Great Halloween. My husband of 46 years passed out candy for the first time ever! I had eye surgery that morning so answered the door with a "patch" explaining to shocked kids that I had surgery. One girl turned to go and said "that lady looks like she is hurting" and I was! A Level 10 on the pain scale that evening....I was particularly pleased to hear so many kids say "thank you". One 3 year old had to reach through the open door to gently pet my 16 year old Jack Russel terrier. So kind....loved it....

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. rhonda says…
    11/02/2011

    What great costumes and I miss my daughter being little the years go by so fast. What wonderful memories you all will have!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. jen says…
    11/02/2011

    love these shots! i was wondering how you do it - always have such brilliant photos...do you put them though photoshop or are you just that good? hahaha. also do you use a flash? would love some tips! looks like you had a great halloween. we had a nice quiet one but still fun filled!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      11/02/2011

      Hi Jen - thanks for the note. I don't use a flash - I think a lot of it is my camera - a Canon 5D. I don't use Photoshop much - every once in awhile to lighten using curves or levels.

  22. Teresa says…
    11/02/2011

    My daughter is just a few days younger than Anna, and she dressed up like Dorothy, too! :o)

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Petra from NL says…
    11/02/2011

    Favourite shot: cousins+oscar the grouch. Two little people in front of a really tall door...

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Steph S says…
    11/02/2011

    Looks like you had a great time! I love how Oscar's costume doesn't seem to fit all of the way around him:) Now, onward and forward to Thanksgiving! I'm ready for some turkey.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Denise KC says…
    11/02/2011

    Hi Ali,
    I love Simon's "Pirate Warning Drawing" -- so cute! And your costume rocked! Glad you'll had fun :)

    Reply 0 Replies

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