The Best Halloween Ever

Halloween- this was the first year that I actually prepped ahead of time, and came up with some costume ideas... Usually, I just raid my mom's old costumes, which are darling so it totally works... but this year we took a different route.  I planned ahead, and I MADE costumes.  Yes, I did say made.  It was quite an adventure.  

My sneak peak pictures:

Dora and Boots!  Anyone who knows Cooper, knows of his love for his "Bootsy."  Bootsy goes everywhere with Cooper.  He even has two of them... "New Bootsy" and "Old or Dirty Bootsy."  Because of this love for his "best buddy"  I decided it would be darling to have Cooper be Bootsy for Halloween.  He loved the idea.  Sydney even jumped on board and said she would be Dora. Dora and Boots for Halloween.  Perfect.  So I bought a monkey pattern, that with a few adjustments, would make the perfect Boots.  I was a bit, ok a lot, intimidated because I have never actually sewn anything from start to finish by myself... (unless you count the apron I made in 7th grade sewing class).  But my mom talked me into it, so I went for it.  The Dora costume was pretty easy.  We just gathered clothes in the right colors, borrowed a wig and backpack, made a bracelet, and we were set.  They both turned out so cute, and the kids loved them!

He was the cutest, happiest Boots.  Every stitch was worth it!  It took me so long, and there was a lot of trial/error, unstitching, restitching, and trips to Nana's for some teaching tips... but I learned a lot, and Cooper's excited smile was so satisfying.  I could not get enough of him... It was his idea to carry around the banana from our play food, and he kept pretending to eat it...too cute!

And Dora... well many people did not even recognize her as Sydney.  Her costume turned out perfect as well.  She walked everywhere making sure to say "Hola" instead of "Hi."

The kids were able to wear their costumes a few times... to Matt's work, the ward Halloween party, preschool, and of course trick-or-treating.  We had preschool on Halloween morning, and had so much fun... having a Halloween party and a costume parade.  Unfortunately I was a bit busy, so I didn't get any pictures... But, it was fun!  All the kids loved that Cooper was Boots... even the preschoolers know how much he loves Boots, because every time Cooper has show and tell, he brings Boots.  (On a side note: I am so grateful that the kids in my class are so nice to Cooper.  It was a big worry of mine as to how he would be treated, since he is so much younger.  But they are so kind to him.)  We were able to go to Nana's house and show her the finished costumes, then go trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.  Trick-or-treating was a blast.  We met up with a bunch of neighborhood friends and walked the streets. It was so warm, the kids didn't even need jackets.  The weather was absolutely perfect!  This was also the first year that we REALLY trick-or-treated.  We've done a few houses in the past, but nothing like walking the neighborhood.  It was so fun to be with friends, and watch the kids with their friends.  Perfection at its finest!  We love our neighborhood!

The little boys- Hudson, Ty, Cooper

Connor, Sydney, Ella, Dylan

After trick-or-treating, we went over to my mom and dad's house.  We decorated some cookies, ate taco soup, and went to visit my dad at his work.  The next day, we were so tired from all the fun and busy-ness of the day before... not to mention probably a "candy hangover."  It was a good thing we didn't have school that day!  Halloween is not usually my favorite holiday, but if every Halloween could be like this one... it might actually be in the running.  We hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did!