The Perfect Mix

Some Halloweens are cold. Some are rainy. Some are scary. And some are the perfect mix of not-spooky spooks, candy buckets filled with chocolate instead of those weird orange and yellow taffy things, and hours of giggly fun with friends. We hit the perfect mix this year. 

I have never seen so much chocolate. I'm not kidding. There are Kit-Kats, Snickers, Heath Bars, and peanut M & M's. My children owe a mommy tax on their buckets of candy; after at putting together least three costume changes, orchestrating at least 7 pumpkins, and ensuring the proper mix of long underwear and costumes, I earned it. 

She was Cinderella for her school party,

along with her fairy godmother--because someone had to get that child's hair into a bun, and that really did take a magic wand. 

Her prince charming masqueraded as Batman this year, but I totally caught him stealing a kiss in line at the fall festival. Watching these two together is a lesson in friendship and coupledom. They naturally navigate to each other, nonchalantly hold hands, and regularly fight and make up. Here's hoping the weirdness of adolescence doesn't get in the way of friends. 

She was Anna for her dad's office party, 

 and the tears were real when her tiara washed off in the bath. 

She was her grammy when we ran errands (yes, really, complete with the jean jacket and bun). 

And Halloween night? 

Oh my goodness. 

Her brother didn't suffer such an identity crisis. He knows what he's about: 

 Luke Skywalker all the way. 

He was extraordinarily excited Luke Skywalker when he "won" the pumpkin toss at his little Lutheran school. Spoiler alert: there were no winners. It's 2015. Every child is a winner. Just don't tell RJ. 

He was blown away Luke Skywalker when his Auntie Amy surprised him at his school party. (We're working on our picture smile). 

And he was Luke Skywalker, Mama's Boy. 

Luke Skywalker, Halloween 2015. 

Even Luke Skywalker had a sister. 

A really adorable little sister who tries to steal the spotlight every chance she gets. But this year, Halloween was the perfect mix, and the spotlight shined equally on each kid.

The mommy tax has been paid in full (and I will be going for a run shortly).  I have an extra hour today, and soon, the jack-o-lanterns will give way to cornucopias, and things will settle down.  I'll have time to catch up, write Gigi's birthday letter (because she's 4 years, one month, and 6 days at this point) and capture the magic that is family vacation. Or you know, hit the panic button because Thanksgiving is about three weeks away. Happy Fall Y'all!