Happy Halloween!

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my all-time favorite movies. It is, in my opinion, just everything a movie for children should be. Imaginative, scary, whimsical, terrifying, heartbreaking, and heart-warming, all at once. This year my sisters-in-law and I got together with our kids and let them eat pizza and M&M;’s and watch the movie. Sienna has seen it before but none of the others had, and I loved watching their little faces widen at the sight of the freaky creatures in Halloween Town, the giddiness of Jack on his first trip to Christmas Town, and the ensuing mayhem and mischief.

If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it heartily. And even if you have, I’m sure you’ll enjoy re-watching this little clip from it.

And then there’s this, one of the most awesome things I’ve ever seen.

My sister-in-law is mid-sugar-cookie-making with the minions, so I’m off to join her. I hope you all have a spooky and spectacular Halloween filled with tons of candy and adorable costumed children! Oh, and as soon as I have one, I’ll update this with a picture of my costumed ones. Which I’m sure you’re dying to see. (Probably just you, actually, Mom.)

At last, here they are. First, my wee minions, in a recycled, Wal-Mart clearance, and thrift store costume, respectively.

Pretty good, eh?

And then all the minions. These would by my kids (obviously) and their cousins. How adorable, right?

Be advised that Jessie’s outfit was entirely homemade, as were Harry Potter and Hedwig’s outfits. What can I say? My sisters-in-law are craft-tacular. I am not. At least I shopped thriftily.