Happy Halloween!

I'm getting a hard time from some people about why I haven't posted in a long time, so...I'm back!

I love doing this, but sometimes life gets in the way. Like Halloween, for instance.

Usually we carve pumpkins, roast the seeds, get crafty, and so on. This year, not so much. Rather, we went to a few parties, so focused our efforts on trying to imitate the best food offerings on Pinterest.

I started with trying to find something that wasn't junk food, because I know most of the people at the parties are little ones. This plate of clementines with celery was a huge hit. I can't tell you how many people came up to me and told me what an amazing job I'd done. Really? People, anyone can do this; it's all about presentation. Sure, I might have a bit of citrus under my nails a week later from peeling them, a blind eye from juice squirting in it, and a whole lot of celery left over, but it was worth it.

Speaking of presentation, I couldn't bring just the "healthful" option to a Halloween party, now could I? Charlotte helped me make these caramel apples. That girl peeled all the wrappers off two bags of caramels. She deserves a medal for that!

When we were done, they looked pretty pathetic at the bottom where the caramel drips down and creates a nasty looking pool. I couldn't let all that hard work go to waste. Candy corn and harvest M&Ms to the rescue. An added benefit--the candy sticks to the apples when you pick them up, enhancing their appeal. Voila! Another Martha Stewart dish to amaze your friends.

The first party was specifically for kids, and was the night before Halloween. I brought my handsome other half. Just a cute shot to show you what he looks like these days, since we rarely get our photos taken.

Later in the night, Charlotte showed off her artistry by "face painting" Russell's arms. (He vetoed the face.)

You might remember that Charlotte is the reigning Bobbing for Apples champ. Let's just pretend she wasn't on the tail end of a stomach virus, shall we? This year, she didn't disappoint. She went in for the kill (5 times actually), and every time in, grabbed an apple. She ate almost all of them, too.  Thank goodness, because I think it kept her from overdosing on candy.

Anson tried, but wasn't as successful.

Now, on to the most important part, the costumes. Charlotte was a Greek Goddess, which fit her to a T.

I mean, look at that gorgeous hair! It only took a few bottles of hairspray and a gallon of whiny tears.

Anson's too old to go for cute; he went straight to the grim reaper costume in the store. The grim reaper with neon orange shoes.

Like last year, we went to a party and trick or treating in a friend's neighborhood on the actual Halloween night. I got this cute shot of Charlotte and her friend Sofia, who was Cleopatra. They looked perfect together.

That is, until the night ended. Then Charlotte looked like this.

That's Charlotte for "take me home." They were home, candy sorted and traded, showered, and in bed by 9. I call that a successful night! Oh, the bag of chocolate Anson gave me didn't hurt, either.