We’ve been celebrating Halloween all weekend this year, from a Halloween party Saturday night, trick tent or treating at a local church last night and more trick or treating planned for tonight – the kids are making excellent use of their costumes this year and having a blast!

This year’s costumes were : one handsome cowboy that you may have seen in a little movie called Toy Story ; and the world’s prettiest kitty – a costume I’m kinda proud of because it consists entirely of actual clothing with pretty leopard print (that she can wear again and again any day of the week) and then cute kitty ears to tie it all together. She looked adorable, even when she was really not happy about it.

Just like any good cat, Miss BB was pretty moody and temperamental this weekend and not always game for having her picture taken, but luckily for mommy she looks gorgeous even when she’s grumpy.

There were no grumpy cowboys, however, this boy was having a blast all weekend. But what could be better than getting to hang out with your friends all weekend, eating candy? I’m thinking nothing.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Our Halloween party was a pretty laid back affair with a lot of coloring, eating pizza and snacks and watching Monsters Inc. The kids were big bundles of massive energy so we also took advantage of the warmer weather that afternoon and let them play outside for awhile. Cause when they were inside it was an absolute madhouse!

One of MM’s best friends was dressed up as “one of those green guys from Toy Story” – I love that these children have no real concept of war. The innocence and good naturedness is something to treasure.

Little BB perking up – it helps that everyone there was doting on her and telling her how adorable she was. :O)

BB and Mommy – look, I dressed up, too! I found a fun geisha costume and couldn’t resist. Not a great picture, but proof at least that I was there.

And MM got his wish for cardboard box cars for a drive in movie experience when watching Monsters Inc. It was surprisingly difficult rounding up all these boxes for the night but he’d had his heart set on this idea so I made it happen!

SUNDAY NIGHT

Sunday night we went to our neighbor’s church for Tent or Treating which was luckily held in doors as the weather was not very cooperative that night. Everyone set up tents where we passed out candy to all the kids, in exchange for them performing a “trick” for us – what a clever idea!

The kids all had a blast hopping on one foot, doing the splits, touching their nose with their tongue, etc. So fun to see them get creative. I think this should be a mandatory part of trick or treating everywhere, don’t you?

MM was a busy bee last night, wandering the church’s gymnasium with his friends getting candy and it was fun to see him and his friends in their own little world. There was a lot of candy consumed and a lot of good times had by all.

Admittedly, the crowds were a bit much for Miss BB who spent much of the night clinging to me and Dan – not that we minded. Extra cuddles? We’ll take them.

Tonight if the weather cooperates we’ll take MM trick or treating again through the neighborhood and then Halloween 2011 will be complete! I’ve got two buckets full of candy as I’ve been warned this neighborhood gets a lot of trick or treaters – bring it on!

Here are some pictures of Halloween past for anyone jonesing for a walk down memory lane…

2006

MM’s first Halloween and the last time Dan willingly “dressed up” for longer than 10 minutes

2007 – MM the Lion with our good friends from back home in MA

2008 – MM as The Man in the Yellow Hat with Curious George – Dan’s first attempt at a homemade costume and our last Halloween in MA.

2009 – MM trick or treating at the Vilas Zoo, dressed up as a firefighter in his adorable Aeromax costume. Those costumes are incredibly well made, I’m pretty sure he could put out an actual fire in that suit!

This was also BB’s first Halloween. We dressed her as the obligatory world’s cutest Pumpkin baby and she basically slept through the entire trick or treating process, so luckily we took pictures beforehand.

2010 – Last year MM was dressed up as Mickey Mouse, another homemade costume by daddy. We went trick or treating with our good friends Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore.

BB was the Minnie Mouse to her brother’s Mickey but not the most willing Halloween participant and thus this is actually the cutest picture I have of her. She spent most of the trick or treating that year so bundled up that you couldn’t tell she was wearing a costume, so you’ll just have to trust me that it was adorable. :O)

Happy Halloween! What are your kiddos dressing up as this year?