When Nature gives you rain, pull out your cute raincoat.

So the other day, I remembered about this ridiculously cute raincoat I bought for The Captain back in the day.  I think I was lamenting about the lack of jackets for Joy.  But this raincoat is plenty warm, and since it was actually raining the other day, it was perfect for a photo shoot.  

She's obviously had too much experience posing.

Someone has a cute raincoat?  Oh wait, it's me.

There was a sad lack of puddles, but she did her best.

And raincoats give you the wonderful ability to play in the rain!  No those are not galoshes, they are Sunday shoes, her current shoe of choice for everyday.  

And the obligatory grumpy picture.  The Captain didn't like the hat.  I'm pretty sure Joy was mad that I wanted her to stop playing.

Halloween at our Casa

I feel the need to apologize.  (I usually do.) First, because Halloween is kind of a big deal at our house and I haven't had a month's worth of posts with our decorating.  This is partially because I didn't do a whole lot until the actual day.  I'm not sure why.  Time got away from me a little.

Also, secondly, I am aware the Halloween is the only big holiday where you aren't allowed to keep your decorations up afterwards.  I feel like on November 1st everyone's like, "What's with the ghost?  That was SO last month."  Not sure why that is.  It probably has something to do with All Saint's Day and the origins of the holiday, but I'm too lazy to internet all that. 

Instead, I will simply show you some of our festivities from the night in question.  We had at least three other costumed events before this, but I didn't take pictures.  You'd never know I was a photographer sometimes.

I will be using the always fabulous Barenaked Ladies to caption:

The ninjas are deadly and silent.

They're also unspeakably violent.

They speak Japanese.

They do whatever they please.

And if you tear off their masks, they'll be smilin'.

I tried dinner in a pumpkin this year.  I will have to not take a nap next year and put it in earlier so the pumpkin can join the dinner.  

Our house.  The Captain insisted on this tree ghost, but was too busy playing with his friends to make it.  So I did.  All by myself cause Joy can't play with scissors.

Our porch.  The part you can't see has glow-in-the-dark skeletons and spiders hanging down.  Also there are Halloween pictures on the windows.  I added streamers to the lanterns and put in batteries so they glow.  And my monster wreath is hidden behind a door full of gel clings.  That was definitely the kids' favorite.  Also our pumpkins are kind of lame.  The Captain made a bat, and my mummy pumpkin is hiding behind a bush, probably from shame. 

Our trick-or-treating was abysmal on our street.  I blame the fact that there are no street lights, so it's dark and scary.  Too scary for Halloween, even.  So we made Monster Bags again this year.  They are so cheap and easy I seriously wish everyone would do them.  You can get brown bags and tea lights at the dollar store.  I filled my with cat litter (non-clumping) this year which I got for $2 at Kroger.  And then I just used paper scraps and a glue stick to decorate.  Or rather, I made The Captain decorate.  He loved it.  And they glowed for about 4 hours.  Anyway, I've got to go, the ninjas are after me.