H@!!0w&&n 2@12

So I have a confession- a secret if you will.  Please don't tell.  People tend to get hot under the collar about this kind of stuff and I seriously hate conflict. Seriously.

I severely dislike Halloween. 

I don't even like to say the word.  

Oh, you didn't get that?  Ok, one more time...

I severely dislike Halloween. 

I don't even like to say the word.  

What a load off!  In good conscience, I will now begin this post. 

THE BACKGROUND

I've tried- and failed- at homeschooling more than once.  I wish I loved it, but I don't.  I love summer.  I love staying up late, sleeping in, and wearing my pajamas all day.  I didn't become a stay-at-home-mom for nothing, my friend.  Call me lazy if you want, I don't care. The house is clean, the laundry is done, and all kids are accounted for-- and that ain't easy.

All this recession business means Public School for a Homeschooling Failure.  And Public School means H@!!0w&&n Parties. It means scary costumes and scantily clad children.  Last year I heard that October 31st is the only time of year we encourage our little boys to dress like little girls and our little girls to dress like prostitutes.  Simmer down, now...  I didn't say that, I just heard it.  

This year I was like, "Holy Moly!  I have to get costumes together for all the Public School parties!!  What to do? What to do?"  After a severely stressful hour I convinced all the kids that they really, really wanted to be Indians.  The Native American kind.  

THE PICTURES 

One little

Two little

Three little Indians!

And that, my friend, was the easy part.  The hard part comes while trying to catch all that cuteness in a GROUP shot.  

Can you just stand there and smile?  Just one perfect shot is all I'm asking for here, offspring!!  Be still.  And smile, darn it!

Yeah, I know... never gonna happen.  

I almost had it here... but I think Liliana and Henry took a few too many puffs off the old peace pipe.

Before I totally gave up, I threw Zeb into the picture.  He was none too happy, but smiled because I told him I was putting it on Facebook no matter how grumpy he looked.  

Obviously Lil doesn't care how goofy (or stoned) she looks on Facebook.  

"Ok, just ONE more.  Please try to look normal and happy.  And cute.  Ok, one... two... three... CHEESE..."

And Daddy photo-bombs the picture.  Arghhhh....

Maybe next year...  

Henry enjoying his party at school!

Liliana the warrior princess.

Although I'm totally flattered that everyone thought I made these costumes, the girls' tunics came from an open air market in Ethiopia.  I never intended them to be costumes, but they are too awesome not to use.  Henry's costume is a repeat from a few year's ago when the older three were Indians (the Native American kind) and I did, indeed, make it. 

This was Fall 2009- one of the last years Zeb participated in dressing up.  He totally rocked the Indian look!  I look at this picture and wish my sweet Michal could be that age again for just one day.  She was so stinkin' beautiful and sweet.  Liliana, on the other hand, was TROUBLE!  All that cute-ness saved her tail more than once.  

So Happy Fall!  

We're one step closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas and then to my FAVORITE holiday of all...

EASTER!!