Claire's First Halloween

(Gratuitous fall family picture from our visit to the pumpkin patch.)

Last weekend was Claire's first Halloween. We started the festivities by going to a birthday party. Our little Durr friend turned one year old. His mother Ms. Erin Durr went all out. She decorated their new house from top to bottom, Halloween style. She even had a TACO LADY! It was awesome! Of course it was a costume party. All the kids and self-respecting adults were dressed up.

Did we mention Claire was an owl? This is what her costume looked like:

Emily made the costume based on a Martha Stewart design. She bought brown shirts at a local thrift store, cut them into feathers and sewed them onto a onesie. Then she ordered a knit owl beanie on Etsy. Emily debated adding felt wings, but decided against it because Claire would probably just try to eat them, and wet felt is gross.

We designed our costumes around Claire's. Emily went as a tree (like an owl sitting in a tree, get it?). Joseph went as a tree hugger. Of course.

Anyway, back to the party, it was a lot of fun. After the birthday party, we went to our ward's Truck-or-Treat. Which would be more aptly named Halloween-a-palooza. There we met up with more friends. The night at church included trick-or-treating, a chili dinner, games, a costume parade, and more. It put all past Trunk-or-Treating nights to shame.

(The day twinners.  Sienna is totally an Ewok. What? Adorable.)

On Sunday we went to church.

(Not our chapel.  But kind of.  But actually not really at all.)

It was the primary program.  Emily sang the whole thing.  She was amahzing.

(Not real children.  Did you even notice?? Pic from here)

On Monday, we went to another Halloween party thrown by Mrs. Erika Nelson and Ms. Mooy. There we had a soup-off, played even more games, had a costume contest and watched the classic Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus. Amazingly, Claire stayed up for most of the party. What a party animal, or should I say party owl [That pun was all Joseph. Embarrassed.]!

(Tongue hanging out like a rocker.  

This pic is from Erin's S. Durr's party.  

We didn't take any at our last party.  

We were too busy dancing to "This Is Halloween."  

Is this too long to be a caption?  Maybe.)

Better pictures of Claire in her costume are still on our to-do list. At least we got some cute family pictures!