Halloween 2011

This year Ian wanted to be Darth Vader and Sam was Super Girl.  She really had no choice in the costume, as it was the one I ordered her last year and she refused to wear anything that year.  The costume actually fit her perfectly this year and before she knew to ask to be anything different, she was saying "Super Girl to the rescue!!!!!!!!!"   Next year I know I won't be able to convince her to be something I want her to be, but it was nice to get our money's worth out of the Super Girl costume. 

Every year my cousin, Leslie and I send each other's kids fun Halloween packages.  This year she sent Ian Halloween themed shrinky dinks.  Ian had never seen shrinky dinks before and really had a blast making them.  The kit had approx. 40 different shrinky dink designs and after baking, they attached to a 4 sided spooky-looking tree.  It became a really cool centerpiece for our table. 

We went trick or treating last night with some good friends in their neighborhood. When we came home, Ian was eager to hand out candy to the kids who were still out collecting.   As the kids were picking out a few pieces of candy from our big candy bowl, Ian added, "Wait, I've got a surprise to show you."  All the kids were taken aback by this and not sure what was going to happen.  I was in the kitchen and listening as some responses ran the gamut from "Is something going to jump out at us?"  to "Um, what kind of surprise?" 

Every time we had more trick or treaters at our door, Ian quickly put the bowl of candy down and to a very nervously awaiting audience, pulled out his shrinky drink Halloween tree and showed it off.  "I made this!  It's shrinky dinks".  Some kids were impressed.  Some not so much.  One father did think it was just as cool as Ian did and said to his little boy, "They're neat. We've got get some of those."

It was very sweet watching Ian be so proud of his art project and want to show all the kids.  If you ask Ian, he'll tell you, you come to our house and you get more treats than just candy.