Goodness, I think we are going to be Power Rangers again this year (you know, the foam-padded costume that looks like muscles? And the plastic mask? That makes it so HOT? So the costume is basically off by the time you make it to two houses?)

That one.

Um. Dude. Er, Dudette. Did you or did you not abandon the Ren Faire sewing project and purchase 3 adorable medieval outfits JUSTIFYING SAID PURCHASE by insisting that the kids would wear them again for Halloween? Did I imagine that?

But then again, I'm the sort of person who's never paid more than $5 for a costume. So. When the Dawn Of The Smurfs arrives and we are all smurfified, you can be Fun Smurf and I will just be Miser Smurf. ;)

I totally just dropped $78 bucks at Target on Halloween stuff, and that doesn't include candy!

At least you are ambitious...the little angel is going to be a cheerleader, because my SIL off-loaded a cheerleading uniform in her size on us this year. Oh, and she already has tennis shoes. Am I horrible or what?

My kids usually take forever to decide. I did homemade costumes for a few years- Princess Atta (from the Bug movie) was a purple sweat suit and an ivy crown and antenna; the "blue & black kitty cat" (don't ask)- but then the requests became more complex & I began purchasing retail. This year SugarPlum *thinks* she wants to be Hermione, so hopefully it'll just be a robe. Which is good, because now we are in Ohio where is is freaking cold on Halloween! The little one will get to choos from the recycled Elmo or the recycled dinosaur. They are both warm & will accomodate earmuffs!

The Halloween costume drama is at it over here too! My daughter has wanted a "Wonder Woman" costume for the last 2 months. Last night? I talked her into a 'Hula Girl' outfit. That's right. I'm trying to save a bundle. $0.99 for the lei. $12 for the grass skirt. I do NOT want to shell out $38 for Wonder Woman!

Logan is PUMMELING me with pleas to be a cave woman so we can all hop around on our toes and knuckles and go "HUNH HUNH HUNH!"

My kids start in on "Next Halloween I'm going to be a ____" the day after Halloween. It's a year long process. About 2 weeks before the Most Holy of Days, I call a final decision. Make up your mind kid, this is it. Oh, and I have this Thing about homemade--I'll buy components, but the look must be assembled. I don't know why, it's just me. I've informed my 8 year old, though, that at 8, one begins putting together one's OWN costume. So her ideas are a little less elaborate than last year's "Spirit of the clouds...or like a sunset fairy or something." Still trying to talk the 3 year old into the Perky costume I made child #1. Yes, she wanted to be the mean dog from Arthur. Cute costume, though. But noooo, she has her OWN ideas. grr. Boy wants to be a zombie pirate, which is perfect b/c last year he was a pirate. Last year's costume + circles under his eyes--zombie pirate! Or at least Blackbeard on a bender.

That costume is darling but $55 bucks? Oh Lordy.

My mother was extremely stingy with that sort of thing. So I remember one store-bought costume in all of my life. I had to wear it two years and then my sis wore it two years. ANd it was a cheap one.

SInce my little guy was born, I've been getting gender-neutral costumes. So if I have another, that kid can wear the lion, bear and now dog costume. I also get them big enough that they fit for two years. So at least the costume gets worn 4 whole hours in its lifetime before getting discarded. We stay away from the catalogs so the only costume he ends up seeing is the one he'll be wearing. Don't think I'll have that sort of control over his environment when he's older.

If my child wanted a costume that was $55 I would make him wear it to school at least once a week for the rest of the school year. I no longer own any item of clothing or shoes that cost that much.

But it was very cute. And if one can afford it, good for it and enjoy. But its all that catholic guilt instilled in me... Probably the reason I don't spend more than $15 on a costume.

Oh god, we need pictures of you as "Sexy Pirate Wench".
Please.
Please?

Or the teapot.
The teapot's cute.

I'm being a grumpy medic for hallowe'en, I think, or else a barfly.
I'm good at the latter.

Definitely go with the pirate wench ;-)

My son has been a carpenter for the last 2-3 years which is super easy since his daddy is a carpenter.

My youngest daughter likes all the princess costumes from Disney. Last year she was Mulan because it was on sale.

My oldest daughter wore curlers in her hair, a bathrobe, jammies, slippers and I put white make-up on her face to look like cold cream.

I have no idea what's in store for this year.

Oh geez. Since this is Lady's first Halloween and she can say relatively little about how many goofy costumes I can dress her in, I predict no less than three wardrobe changes.

It's not all my fault though, the two Grandmas have to also share in the blame.

I know that sooner or later, Girl Terror is going to find out about Halloween. But until she does, we go out for dinner, and grocery shopping. Yes, I am a grumping old tightwad. Perhaps I need to eat more candy?!

my son wants to be the headless horseman. I'm still mulling over how we are going to pull THAT one off..

Yep, the sexy pirate wench gets my vote too!

Yes, please be the pirate wench, Jenny. Pleeeeease! I'm too chicken to try it. That teapot, tho. I remember seeing it last year & thinking, "Yeah, I want something that's going to make my butt look even bigger!" But, come to think of it, at least for one night, I could blame the costume!

We were so poor growing up that I clearly remember the Halloween I went as an angel: white nightgown, cardboard wings affixed by duct tape. Yep, SILVER DUCT TAPE. Now there's ingenuity.

So far, my kids are content to be subject to my will, but it's coming... I can FEEL it.