Ok so total catch up before the 1st… not likely, but some posts… this I can do.

Well another Halloween is done and dusted. This year may have been the last one the twins trick or treat at. They are growing up so quickly!

Echo’s costume was a combination of a Ren in the Glen (Post to follow on that fun time) purchase, and a tail made by Ken from faux fur we picked up at Joann’s. Bam – an adorable unicorn.

Trinity went smart and asked for a Koala onesie she could then wear as pj’s.

Emanuel went classic as a pirate.

Zander and Gavin did a repeat on their wizard as they humored mom.

This year part of Zander and Gavin’s schooling is to plan the themed meals for Echo. They seem to lean on the side of deserts. We may need to discuss balance next!

We decorated jars for candles.

And of course the pets dressed up too…

We had a lovely light afternoon and then in the evening were off to the Novak’s to trick or treat with Aidan (Stan Lee). It was great fun and a huge haul!!

The whole group

Yoshi

Of course, the evening ended with the big parent candy sort.

Not bad for a Halloween that seemed to creep up on us. We only got the pumpkin carved 2 days before!!

I even dressed up… well sort of. I had bought an amazing hat from a local vender… Three Bears – Fun Fur Accessories HERE. Paired up with a few pieces I had on hand, Ken felt it was very… Russian Mail Order Bride… I felt is was deliciously warm. In fact, I ordered a special order matching Muff from the same woman!!! 

And now for some spare photos!

Well October rushed by and it was Halloween in what felt like was the blink of an eye. This was not the year for the new handmade costume for the family. Rather a couple repeats, and some purchased pieces worked out to a rather nice looking group.

Echo was enamored with the movie My Neighbour Totoro, and since we could not find a chinchilla costume (her first choice), Totoro was a VERY close second. I ordered this one off Amazon. Ken whipped up an acorn bag and for the photos I lent her one of my handmade Totoros.

Trinity chose to be a princess this year. Again a dress off Amazon, and after 2 attempts, a tiara to match.

Emanuel is still a Minecraft fanatic. This year we went with an Enderman. Black sweats, black sweater and a mask/box I bought off Amazon.

The twins went for a repeat of wizards. Ken had made the capes and staffs and the hats were crocheted by me.

This is our second year trick or treating with our homeschool friends. Echo was over the moon to run the neighbourhood with Nate.

Nate the Power Ranger

They didn’t do half bad on candy, which I sorted and bagged up. We will be eating these with some restraint. Stomach aches are not worth the gorging.

Of course Neko-chan had to get in on the fun. Though when we tried to actually WEAR her costume she balked and attempted to eat it. But still – adorable. I bought a dog costume hat, it worked!

I had less of a costume and more of a comfortable slightly on theme outfit. (not the highly indulgent Irish sweater… I plan to live in it)

Of course the girls had to do a little photo session with last year’s mini witch’s hats… I love that Echo wore skeleton jammies under her Totoro costume.

That week we did some fun Halloween themed crafts as well.

It was supposed to be thumbprints but with kids who hate getting hands dirty we used the eraser end of pencils.

pastels

Meet Jerry

We also had a lovely special lunch on Halloween. We did good!

So this year we had FIVE homemade costumes… I don’t think we have ever had so many to make! Ken and I each had some part in an aspect of each costume. Be it crochet or sewing. I think they turned out rather well and all were done the day BEFORE Halloween!!!

We did a costume try on on Friday in the backyard with out amazing leaves. I was so pleased to see that everything fit well and that the kids were all happy with their costumes.

We have a tiny witch…

Rapunzel…

A triceratops…

An ice wizard…

And a fire wizard…

Ken even made the staffs from the limbs of trees Baba cut down last month.

The hats were all made from the witch’s pattern on crochetspot.com. I have a toddler version up for sale on my Etsy store if anyone is interested HERE.

I used another crochetspot.com pattern for Trinity’s flowers. We sewed those to a fabric headband and then tied ribbons to the back which were braided into her hair.

Ken was 100% in charge of the cloaks! Didn’t he do a great job?

For our resident dinosaur I found a great pattern for a Triceratops hat thanks to Ida Rott HERE. And then Ken made the tail and the gloves with claws. (his overalls outfit thing and Trinity’s dress were lucky Goodwill finds as was Echo’s broom)

I, myself even gave dressing up a go and went as a gamer girl… Ken had to have a photograph… the shirt said Do Not Disturb I am Playing Video Games… I think he just wanted a visual record of the fact I was actually wearing jeans and socks. Men.

We did our yearly traditional trick or treat with the Novaks and then hang out after. This year we came early and had pizza. The kids had a blast and we came home with WAY TOO MUCH candy!

Jacob and Echo

We did not do a full on Halloween unit this year… what with the printer being mean and refusing to allow the ink to last (we think there may be a leak… devastating for a homeschool family…) and the busy busy life we have had I simply did not have the time. However, we did do some great print outs from Activity Village HERE, and read some amazing books… oh and watched a couple films! So I will share that info below!

Free hot chocolate!

Movies:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• The Haunted History of Halloween (The History Channel) I have also included a link that has information all about Halloween thanks to the History Channel HERE

Books:

• Halloween by Natalie M. Rosinsky HERE
• Halloween by Mari C. Schuh HERE
• Halloween and the Day of the Dead Traditions Around the World by Joan Axelrod-Contrada HERE
• The Story of Halloween by Carol Greene HERE
• John Pig’s Halloween by Jan L. Waldron HERE
• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson HERE
• Trick or Treat, It’s Halloween by Linda Lowery and Richard Keep HERE
• H is for Haunted House by Tanya Lee Stone HERE
• Skeleton Shake by Liz Conrad HERE
• Halloween Is… by Gail Gibbons HERE

Gavin chose to do a quick fact list on Mummies so he used to following two books for that:

• Ancient Egyptian People by Sarah McNeill HERE
• Mummies & Their Mysteries by Charlotte Wilcox HERE

Echo and Zombie Alex

Kids with their Halloween treats from Gammie and their popsicle stick and yarn spider webs

Pizza!