October Part 8: Halloween Parties

We almost didn't host our Halloween party this year. I was feeling down about friends and feeling tired of inviting people to things but never getting invited in return. I thought all these feelings would go away after leaving high school, so I've been sad to discover that things I associated with immaturity in high school are actually just a part of life. My friend Jen helped me decide to go for it since she blocked out the Friday we always have it, even before we sent the invitation. She told me, "Well, I'll hang out with you no matter what." I'm so glad she did. 

We found these old trophies at DI and gave them a makeover. I don't have good before and after photos. I didn't think of it until I already started reshaping them with hot glue. 

Brian fully committed to being Gomez Addams, and shaved his beard down to a mustache. Up until this day, I'd been the only person to ever see him with a mustache. 

We had a smaller group at our party, but I loved it. I like small groups best anyway. I only felt bad because the common denominator for at least two of the couples was us, meaning they didn't know the others but they came anyway. 

We love having Michael and Kristina nearby again, and their costumes were epic! 

(Side note, Brian and I came down in costume together because I wanted to see the kids' reactions to Brian's mustache. The funniest reaction was from Michael (our son, not our friend here). Michael stared at me for a good beat until his face relaxed, and he laughingly said, "I didn't know who you were!" I guess the black wig, black eyebrows, and pasty make-up were more transformative than Brian's mustache.) 

Saroj and Manoj always bring it with the creativity. Here they are as Peach and Bowser. 

Trent and Kari are a double rainbow. 

And somehow, Annika or someone in her family dresses up with our same family theme. When we did Marvel a few years ago, so did her family. Then we were all dressed up as Harry Potter then next year. This year, we laughed when she came as Wednesday Addams. You can kind of see their best female and best male awards in this picture. 

Jen and Karl came as Wreck it Ralph and Vanelope Von Schweets. They won best couple costume. 

This was my favorite trophy make-over. 

Rachel really wanted to throw a Halloween party, so the next day, she had all her friends over for a movie night. She made these cute signs as well as some cute ads before they watched "The Haunted Mansion."

We attended our ward's Halloween Party/Chile cook-off. Brian opted not to tint his hair and mustache for this one (we used black eye shadow and gel for his hair, and mascara for his mustache, thanks to advice from the ladies at Ulta). 

We were amazed that we got Michael to make an appearance at the ward party. 

He even got into the spirit of things and dressed up. Okay, not really, he just put on my wig. 

 Rachel and I decided that next year, we're not wearing wigs for our costumes.