We don’t celebrate Halloween around here but it is fun to dress up and we never (hmm, almost never) pass up the opportunity to have a party.  We spent the day in preparations.  Though she has many a princess outfit (perfectly acceptable attire for a costume party) Sister decided she needed to be an eagle.  Hmm. One brown sheet, yellow construction paper and package of white craft feathers later our hallway was filled with sounds of EEE! EEE!  She didn’t look exactly like an eagle but apparently it was close enough.  Will settled for the cowboy look.  As he grew up on a ranch and many in his family actually are cowboys it struck us as pretty funny that for him it would be costume.  Brother couldn’t decide between an alligator (Thanks Grandma Blue) or lion (Thanks Grandma Sheila) - two costumes we actually have that required no alteration - so he wore one half the day then switched to the other.  That left me.  No fan of the ordinary nor complex my costume had to be unique but easy to make.  Comfort was also an important criteria.  So here I am as a Glade Scented Candle. (sheet, headband with homemade flame, and a good spritz of apple cinnamon room spray).

We set up the jumparoo and created a few carnival game stations - ring toss, ball toss, knock over the bottles, kick the ball through the tunnel, and the favorite by far the penny toss.  You know the one where you try to get a tossed penny to land in a cup or saucer.  I offered the kids a quarter for every three pennies that made it … so you see why it was the favorite. :) 

Grandma made spaghetti - always a kid hit around here - then after games we enjoyed hot spiced cider, haystacks and good conversation.

I love family parties.  No one expects everything to be perfect.  It’s easier to relax and just enjoy the festivities.  A little food. Simple homemade games. These are the best affairs.