Breana: A mermaid.
As you can tell her vision was not to be "Ariel - The Little Mermaid" nor did she want a mermaid costume that restricted her from normal mobility. She definitely designed & created this costume on her own. With her sketch she had a consultation with Tisha. Satisfied that her simple design would work, she picked out the material and cut the pants out on her own. The shoes I must add use to be a part of my Mom's evening wear and now is in our costume box! When Breana wore this costume to the Halloween Party she knew she'd be running around so wore flats. For trick-er-treating she started off with these gold pumps - she even wore them all afternoon to get use to them - but ended up with her Uggs upon my insistence (We don't need a sprained ankle during soccer season!)
Her friend, Kaitlin D, was a hobo football player. She had the white wig tied under her chin to mimic side-burns & a beard, it was a great 'hobo' look!

Kaitlin was a girl in the 80's (Having spent my teenage years in the 80's I just showed her pictures and rattled off various outfits that I proudly wore.) This wasn't her original costume. We only pulled this together a few hours earlier. Next weekend she's attending an 80's bday party, that's when we'll add the neon accents, shorten the sleeves so you can see all the rubber bracelets, cut the fingers off the lace gloves...and much much more...

Her original costume was to be a dead Barbie. The sketch of her costume was well-planned out, her idea 'approved' by Tisha, the material chosen well and the plan well thought out and sewn. I was real proud of her. Unfortunately the evening of the party the costume didn't look right on her. The idea, the planning and the execution of it was incredible - admirable even. However some how it didn't work out. Fortunately it didn't bother her. Kaitlin went to the party in her everyday clothes and didn't bat an eye. I did offer her many costume ideas, none amusing her at all. I had to tell myself to give up and let her be.

Kylie: A Peasant. See what I mean by talented? Yes, a costume designed & created by Tisha.

Usually Dan & Tom take the kids around while Tisha & I stay back in the warm house to greet the trick-er-treaters. This year felt different. I wanted to savor this moment...this time where I am still a part of their lives...sigh... After walking around Tom & Tisha's neighborhood, my Parents, Auntie Millie & Dan went back to the warmth of the house. Tisha went back to finish the desserts (she definitely was excused from the trick-er-treating task hands down!)
It seemed like many homes weren't interested in Halloween this year. Not as many homes were decorated as last year and years prior. Most homes had their porch lights off. A few had a bowl of candy outside. The homes that were decorated went all out. They ranged from heart-pounding eerie (for the kids, of course) to mysterious & intriguing. Even the weather contributed - crisp cold air & a low hanging misty fog.