Halloween greetings from the little-known but very ferocious Pirate Clan of central New York

We love Halloween! While the little cherubs are still small and malleable (and bribeable) I try to get our family to do a theme every year (we were bats 2 years ago, last year we did Star Wars), and this year we were a Pirate clan. Mostly, anyway. Noah has developed a very annoying stubborn streak and insisted on being a bat (fortunately I still had Connor's bat costume from 2 years ago that barely fit Noah). I insisted that he at least needed to be a pirate bat. Noah refused. Little booger!

To move this tale along (I'm wordy, I know), one of our favorite family Halloween traditions is attending our church's Trunk or Treat (where you decorate the trunk of your car and everyone trick or treats in the parking lot - typing it out makes it sound really lame, but it's actually kinda fun!). So, in keeping with our Pirate theme, I also transformed our SUV into a fearsome Pirate vessel, complete with sail on top and treasure chest inside, along with fun Pirate music blaring from the stereo. Pirate Mark ( I had envisioned the Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow character for Mark, but the old Michael Jackson wig and my black eyeliner didn't quite get the job done, eh?) handed out the candy and regaled the kids with his HILARIOUS pirate-speak, though it appears here that he's actually sneaking a Snickers for himself:

Okay, now back to my dilemma with Noah - it turns out that not even the promise of wielding a sword could convince him to be a Pirate bat. However, by happy accident I discovered that he LOVED the Pirate music I downloaded, so I sneakily told him that he could NOT listen to Pirate music unless he was a Pirate bat. Convincing done! Noah became a Pirate bat with the aid of a sword, a gold hoop earring on his bat ears and a skull/crossbones eye patch.



And doesn't Shelby make the cutest little Pirate princess?

Grandma Davis from Idaho came out to visit and of course was recruited into our Pirate clan, under threats of making her walk the plank.



Now we have the boys getting ready to start their trick or treating, squaring off on our front porch for rights to the coveted "ghostie" trick or treat bag, as opposed to the nerdy pumpkin one.



Oh, and every year we drive around our neighborhood at least every other night looking at Halloween lights (another favorite tradition), and about 2 years ago this crazy Halloween family moved in and they go ALL OUT. I mean ALL FREAKIN' SCARY out. They were our first stop for trick or treating and we had a blast visiting their crazy setup in person (instead of sitting in the car looking out the windows like sissies) - you know, moving stuff in the yard, creepy sounds, people hiding in bushes, etc. They are my Halloween IDOLS! Anyway, Noah was not quite as brave as he'd planned, and grabbed Mark's hand as we approached the house and whispered, "Daddy, please protect me!"



I know this next photo is blurry, but it's so cute with all the kiddos practicing to be Pirates by practicing sword fighting in the living room. And yes, I KNOW, two of the swords are actually light sabers (obtained from a birthday party 2 years ago and the boys still love them- BEST props ever, Capone family!). You'll notice that Noah, however, has the real costume sword, and yes, seconds after this happy little photo was taken he whacked Shelby in the ear with his sword. Pirate fight OVER.




We also decorate our house crazily every year, inside and out (and darnit, I should have taken photos, but watch for 'em next year) and this is Shelby's first Halloween that she's aware of (well, that she became aware she'd been born into a crazy Halloween-celebrating family). It took a while for her to get used to it all, but in the end, WE GOT HER! She loves the shrieking mummies and talking skeletons and screaming coffins. Here she is pushing her favorite "skeleton baby" around in her shopping cart. How stinkin' cute is that (especially in her frilly little girlie flower pajamas)!??!! (oh, I also just noticed that she has adorned herself with a glow-in-the-dark necklace. Shelby's such a girlie girl!)

And what holiday would be complete without us posting ourselves in premade JibJab videos? So here it is this year, with Grandma & Grandpa Davis with the grandkids. Honestly, we entertain ourselves endlessly for countless hours every year, inserting ourselves into these videos and shrieking with laughter, and I'll admit that maybe they're not as funny as we think they are. Savvy? Anyway, I'll shut up now and present, for your watching enjoyment:

Oh, and by the way, next year's Halloween theme choice belongs to Connor, who has informed me that he wants to be a Greek family...so....ummm.....look for us wearing togas and sandals next year??? Yikes. Now THAT will be really scary.