A Happy Halloween

I feel a little sheepish this morning.
And believe it or not, pun completely unintended.

Last night was one of the best Halloweens I've ever had.
And we've had a lot of great Halloweens.

We went to our friends' house for the third year in a row.
Something we've done every Halloween since we moved back to Kansas.
A tradition of sorts.

It's so funny to look back at our first year.
No babies.
Just girls chatting over wine and a couple of "grown men" desperate to scare all the trick-or-treaters.

Then last year, we entered babies into the mix.
And what a hoot to see all these sweeties in mini costumes. To relive one of childhood's greatest joys through your own little one.
But they were babies. Babies who were still figuring out the world around them. Babies who couldn't talk or move a whole lot. Babies who needed nursed and comforted, and lots of sleep.
And they sure as heck couldn't understand why they were wearing fluffy and colorful outfits. And why all these strange creatures kept oohing and ahhing over them.

But this year.
A different story.
The babes interacted with each other, laughed, and lit up when they found the perfect piece of candy in the trick-or-treat bowl.
Little wagons were the method of transportation for the babes, while the adults tagged along with adult-beverage "treats" of their own.
We were an entire crew of characters walking through the neighborhood, laughing and taking plenty of pictures.
And we even added another baby to the mix this year - A little carrot.

Miss Beans was a lamb. And very last-minute, I decided to be Mary.
Mary had a little lamb.
And Gabe was...just-got-home-from-work dad. {After-work beer included}.

We ate good food and had adult conversations after putting *most* of the little ones to bed.
Lyla went into a chocolate-induced sleep coma not a second after 7:30.
And these conversations were so needed.
I am absolutely convinced that laughter truly fills the soul.
And we laughed a lot.
Therefore, my soul is completely filled.

So why do I feel sheepish?


Well.
I was a bit of a bah-humbug this week.
Just couldn't quite shake my funk.

I was sort of dreading Halloween.
{Insert head shake and sigh}
It was just one more thing to add to my already-dripping-off-the-sides plate.

I truly wish I could just be happy with going to Wal-mart and buying a pumpkin costume. At least they're perfectly manufactured and turn out looking like a pumpkin.
My goodness would that make my life so much easier.

But I never take the easy route.
Ever. Ever. Ever.

Nope.
I'm stubborn.
And I have to make a costume.
And I was feeling sorry for myself that I don't have more time at home to do things like make a witty costume.

Anyway.
A couple of weeks ago, I finally decided to go to Wal-Mart, get the cheapest things I could find, and bust out the hot glue gun and fabric scissors.
Because I don't sew. And I'm not crafty. {Just because I was an elementary teacher does not at all mean that we sat around and cut out construction paper shapes and built towers out of craft supplies. Contrary to popular belief}.
A couple of hot glue gun blisters and three seasons of Breaking Bad later, and I had the torso of my little sheep.

Halloween day rolled around, and I still hadn't figured out what Gabe and I were going to be.
I spent my lunch break picking up the chili fixins' for the evening, and I just ran out of time.

Until I had a thought - 2 hours before the party.

I rushed out of work at 4:30.
Picked up Lyla from daycare.
Changed her diaper, put on her costume, and fed her a snack.
I rummaged through my summer clothes, found some old ribbon buried in our gift wrap corner, and pieced together some sticks and crepe paper for my staff.
A coordinating costume: Mary had a little lamb.
With 3 minutes to spare!

Beans looked a little more like Martha Washington than a little lamb.
And her sheepskin was shedding and completely falling apart by the end of the night.

But everything turned out perfectly.
And I feel completely sheepish for even thinking that it would be anything otherwise.

It was a very Happy Halloween, and I'm already anticipating next year!