Happy Halloween!

Shielded from the elements.

Spent too much time on these mother-loving costumes...needed to snap a picture.

Back to the more weather-resistant marching band costumes.

Romping in the leaves with buddy Jackson.

Add "ruined Halloween costumes" to the long list of Hurricane Sandy's destruction.  Who knew that her wrath would reach all the way to Chicago?  Jerry and I should have checked the weather patterns before racing home from work to blow up a bunch of balloons and weave their baskets.  Within five minutes of leaving the house, the balloons were wrapping themselves around the girls' heads, weaving a spider web of helium filled disaster.  Smiles turned to frowns and a near trick or treating boycott.  Luckily, we had our marching band costumes as back up.  In addition to keeping a closer eye on the weather, I would like to document some other "take aways" from this year's Halloween festivities.  They all seem to revolve around the same theme:  Home-made costumes.  Home-made costumes, in theory, are supposed to be cheaper.  Their costumes consisted of feathers, poster board, gold duct tape, gold cording, buttons and balloons.  Their baskets were made from Trader Joe bags that the girls painted brown.  So why is it that I feel totally spent after each October 31st?  Home-made costumes.  Why do Jerry and I find ourselves splayed out on the kitchen floor on the days leading up to Halloween cursing the fact that we didn't just go to Party City and get the "Princess in a Bag"?  Home-made costumes.  And this being only two days out from our Halloween Hell can you guess what I have planned for next Halloween?  Yes...Home-made costumes.  Much like child-birth, the home-made costume amnesia sets in quick.