halloween

 Our Halloween came a little early - trick-or-treating happens on the Thursday before Halloween for some reason. I wasn't sure the girls would even want to go out; they had fevers and sore throats all week, it was rainy, it was cold...but of course at 5 they were rummaging through the dress-up box, in anticipation of haunting the neighborhood with their best friend, E.

 The majority of their candy goes to the pumpkins - I mean, after the extensive sorting and discussing and resorting.  In the morning their loot (minus a few pieces they keep) is magically replaced with a few other goodies: some good chocolate, trinkets, a tooth brush (yes, really!!) (and they were excited!! Eliza said, oh good, I need a new one 'cause I've been so sick!).

 Remember the golf weekend I wrote about? Well, a whopper of a Halloween party is what kicks it all off, so that's where we were Friday night...

 Last minute preparations, changing of costumes, adjusting of abdomens (I loved this costume!!!)...

 Quick make-up jobs, after bowls of chili and cornbread...

 ...and we were off. Admiring each others' costumes, and dancing our fool heads off.

 Dan and I were cross-dressed as a young couple we love.  They in turn were dressed as Frog and Toad. Above is Dan with the young man! Isn't he purty?

Our esteemed host

Our beautiful hostess

 I've never seen such amazing, elaborate and creative costumes.  I wish I had a better photo of the woman above - she had rigged a scarf, a pony tail and her trench coat to extend behind her - she was blowing in the wind!

my favorites

Dancing went on well into the night,  outside, even in a light trickle, but Ani and I left before it was over to go home and sleep in our warm beds.  Dan and Eliza stayed to camp, and apparently she made her way to our tent with a flashlight and blowing-in-the-wind woman to take turns reading spooky stories to each other. Sounds like a great Halloween...