halloween 2018 + ghosts of halloween past

Ahhh, Halloween. It has always been one of our most favorite holidays, and coordinating has always been our thing when it came to siblings.

Today we thought we’d share our 2018 photo, and a few ghosts of Halloween past along the way, too!

It’s really fun to watch them grow in all these photos. Someone make time stop.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2006 Lobster + Chefs

This one is from circa 2006, when we were the lobster + chef hipsters of our day. We felt oh so cool doing it for originality’s sake. It was our first real Halloween as a family. Aiden was also, totally indifferent. We look twelve here. Also also, I think someone gave us a kid, and we weren’t quite sure what to do with him. So we dressed him like a lobster and stuck him in a pot. It’s scary now looking back on how much we didn’t know. {About parenting… not Halloween. Because I’m sure that was confusing.}

Oh wait. We still don’t.

Then there was that one year he went as the cutest squid ever, {because I was totally waddling with Emerson in my belly at that point} but as soon as he had a little sister, we coordinated the costumes. Matching costumes have always been a tradition with our kiddos, ever since they were old enough to call themselves siblings. I think we {the parental units} were busy in the past with a fall festival of sorts, and didn’t start dressing up with them until they asked us.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2008 Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

For their first halloween together, I remember Aiden being big into Disney’s Peter Pan. So it was pretty obvious what character Emerson would be. It was the first time I’d ever pieced anything together like this, and I painstakingly spent days, along with hand stitching everything for a personal touch. I learned my lesson after that. Kind of.

That halloween, little did I know we were expecting a third little surprise, and he would be making his debut to join the costume club the following year. Emerson had just started sleeping through the night, and we finally figured out why I had flu-like symptoms around Thanksgiving. Good times. But he makes the cutest addition ever, if you ask me.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2009 Beauty and the Bees

I’d lost my ever loving mind right after Malone was born, and decided they all needed matching bee costumes with handmade wings. WHAT.

No regrets. 

I think I was trying to follow up from the following year, and I thought he should be included. As it turns out, I kind of enjoyed these little creations, and it was actually easy with pantyhose, puff paint, and black clothes with yellow tape. The little antennas were pipe cleaners. We had so much fun that year. In retrospect, I think Emerson was still devastated that she wasn’t the youngest anymore.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2010 Pirates – Argh Mateys!

Pirates! This is the year we decided to build their pirate ship from cardboard and duct tape over their wagon. We painted, and then “distressed” it with a light coat of white paint. I hand painted a pirate symbol on black fabric for a flag, and tada! We had a pirate ship. The “cannons” were red solo cups.

We made quick vests out of felt and hot glue with gold accents, along with red and gold fabric to add all the little details. No sew all the way, y’all. Plastic hats from the party store for the win.

Pause: Are you seeing a pattern in my arsenal? Felt to avoid seams, hot glue to add accents, random pieces of fabric for the extra pieces, paired with all the basics. Tulle to disguise that I have no idea what I’m doing… Winning.

Until they jump into a bouncy house and I’m diving for a lost button. Because hot glue.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2011 Mario Brothers and Princess Peach

The next year, we had a little Mario Kart action going on: Hats with felt, overalls, a homemade dress with tulle and elastic, and we were good to go. We were also winning with a cardboard crown and stick-on jewels. We went to my parents’ house where their cars are kept, and there ya have it… Mario Kart. Add some plungers for good measure. No, I didn’t build any giant turtle shells.

See how I got a little lazier each year? I actually call this smarter, by the way.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2012 Kung Fu Fighting

Kung Fu Fighters: Dyed karate suits from amazon, and some swords from their toy box. They were very much into ninjas, so I just color coordinated.

They sure were cute as little ninjas that year. Emerson was having none of it with the tutu conundrum {she would always say she wanted a tutu and then change her mind} and was oh so happy with just the pants.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2013 Ninja Turtles

Kind of still into ninjas. TMNT: More plastic weapons and backpacks from Amazon, {What would we do without Amazon?} + dyed shirts and pants hand painted for the front-of-the-shell effect.

More felt and paint for masks and fabric accents… sensing a trend here?

They put all their candy in their “shells.”

Family Halloween costume ideas: Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hedwig

This one may be our all time favorite.

Harry Potter: What can we say? Our kids were a natural fit ;} This was one of my favorites as it was Chloe’s last Halloween with us. Easy Harry Potter finds and angel wings {which made her an owl} for Chloe.

We added some touches to the kiddos, with a crimper and hair paint, along with wands and fake glasses. Probably our easiest yet.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2015 Princess Leia, the bounty hunters, Yoda and Chewy

Star Wars circa 2015. And the pups made their debut the following fall, in a team effort as Yoda and Chewie. Thus beginning a new tradition…

Also, princess Leia wasn’t going to be taken prisoner.

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2016 The Force Awakens

The dogs faces were the best. They’re all, Why you betway me like this?

And then I saw Emerson’s.

Rigby’s costume is too big, and Fitz’s too small. I remember we weren’t even in our house yet with the whole relocation/remodeling conundrum when this one was taken.

Very close, but not yet. 

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2017 Princess Bride

We have Princess Buttercup, Fezzik, Vizzini, Westley, Inigo Montoya and R.O.U.S’s – and it was perfect.

Jamin’s wig was a little off, and I’m definitely not suited to be a brunette with a mustache… but hey, it works. Such fun photos. 

And this year, drum roll please….

Family Halloween costume ideas: 2018 Our Favorite 80’s Movies

This year, we went as our fave 80’s movies. From left to right:

• Marty McFly + his hover board – Back to the Future – {Isn’t he amazing?!}
• Uncle Eddie and his poop thingy – Christmas Vacation {just glad Jamin didn’t flash the neighbors}
• Elliott + E.T. – {Elliott’s face is spot on.}
• Indiana Jones {that jacket + hat combo is legit, y’all – She’s so cute!}
• Madison {Eat your heart out, Daryl Hannah} – Splash – {I Even have the I heart NY shirt}
• The Gremlins. Because you really can’t feed these guys after midnight. 

Every year I think we can’t top it. And every year is our very favorite. 

This was a one shot wonder with a lot of moving parts {the pups and their gigantic ears + me and my flopping tail and immobility for a small example} but we do love capturing the kiddos each year at their ages. 

They keep agreeing to do it, and we keep shooting, though I think they were a little worried this year that their friends may drive by. I told them to own it if someone sees, because they’re amazing. 

Hope you enjoyed this year’s little costume round up. 

Let us know what you think – we’d love to hear from you!

Have an inspired day!

PSSST… Just wanted to share these one more time while they’re still relevant –

Don’t forget about our free Halloween printables… here!

Our DIY Halloween Totes 

quick Halloween shirts here

Metallic Fairytale Pumpkins

And our fall home tour two years ago. If you haven’t seen this one, it’s worth the hop over ;}

Have an inspired day!