![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLk3-wOlmesxuCCUccpvAZbgKIdiyMtV5gh5-bDLDXiqZrTJfs37ly7_6a83qnFBrOQNy0s89Z1FxfVP9ruM-YJhqLPustgbwk5GhK7ZeJSNxMC6VLsqE1JTucNUnMsFwo3AeKMObwhpbT/s400/DSC05308.JPG) |
Trick or treat? Arrrrrr. |
Update: I need to sincerely apologize to my mother for forgetting the pretty pretty princess costume she sewed for me by hand.
As early as I can remember, Halloween has always been a "thing" in my family. The first holiday I can recall featured me trick-or-treating as a mini-Hawaiian dancer... I remember being a flamenco dancer, flapper, witch, witch, witch, mermaid, witch, Straw Man (to my sister's Dorothy, much to my chagrin. Ahem, mother), firefighter (in real turn-outs no less), witch, witch (it's easy with an all black wardrobe, give me a break), slut pirate, witch and Katy Perry-does-Elmo. This year my parents wanted to host a pirate party, but the thought of reprising the mini-skirt/leather boots/eye patch get up just wasn't warming my heart. So I went to my closet and without purchasing a thing, put together a fairly respectable gypsy-pirate ensemble complete with almost every piece of jewelry I own. Somehow it worked.
So why is this a "Grateful Heart" post? Because of the joy of it. I adore that my parents get all goobery about holidays and as you'll see below, go all out decorating. I love that they will host "parties" for just about any occasion that's half-way festive, even it's just family who shows up. I appreciate the happiness and tradition. Sigh.
And I sure as heck like getting dolled up and eating junk food. See, here's proof:
xoxo,
shawna!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5vGB271MFU8uNdXbuQFo6tb09kvir3w-bcAGrCEVMIO7pKXBX1VB_8WprHpsG82ZwmVwH3AAA0cUMCx-Dfmzh2afIvTcNfPxPMG649k8DtY8y5zdOHtqqzfiyQaFqpprL9iP49BKDfnT/s400/IMAG2923.jpg) |
That I pulled these items from my regular wardrobe is either commendable or frightening, don't you think? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup9XC2NtVMpMgjkxNBsHD2sUkK7YADkqASK4QUnfOuVbi_yszImScP2Klt4uVqIkOCVRoscsMDZsi1RrKTWZA1-NpkqH3EVDbdyBy1tRD6eHNYjyLpHKna-0jhyphenhyphenbL6AYVMzyHMoKETwhU/s400/IMAG2917.jpg) |
Doesn't everyone's house have a giant mummy in the yard? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pyVZIPimVrRNd2Bgzhi4hkTuOilCd0icMDCctUFtYVel4oOVkqdOH3upWQ0TjymRP4hTXngW_o9l5invWhx8YEmuYBgmLroQtrZuKu8NkcKj2l01AfyZCY_u8UUvYD3vrR-g4_4RlDhm/s400/DSC05315+-+Copy.JPG) |
I forget that most people don't have costmetologist mothers... the site of disembodied heads just isn't that strange to me anymore |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMrNJm6Awrk38mhVNpRfb38WJzYdmlsQHaZywut23fYevOfj_zMZIEJG9nmBn89iPgA7nmA_LSE6zHY6YSyAdyN2qERc9ft9vCvgGDsdByLVSi0fbyQbF0CAJ42cak5bQoIYmH3IDNDNQ/s400/DSC05316.JPG) |
Many of the decorations were motion-sensored and made creepy noises. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXxbNYWGTLRzVZu_iEcKM9PxsVf9w2BkQ0XGIt2D2lMXhb-7hdbGsHnegbv5t6gr7HCaRYaZnGjjb4j_xJItXPlDth4fb7inJsKK-V6f80fhx0ZWIdworIpV5ajCqb7CSSWNJpKDitWMe/s400/DSC05313+-+Copy.JPG) |
The bones jangled about and let's not forget the fog machine. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVCVyr_EyacMh7sGJhOEMIVDmpgUQd3Q1hwsQZ4MHrbDeB-Tmn5gOZZ7z-QZQvPnPuvVh-LjcLTEzwmZspkel1JhagPU56EvjR1wJgZK8z7v1sW-v415y-GSq88G4gTDTKZif55bka1C4/s400/DSC05314+-+Copy.JPG) |
Love the eyeballs! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQW33FpIPz803gN4b2qr9gDTS4cHxy4JYHZ4I8BvQxbA0HrVQNH7V5U5zRx5ZuqEdxTW55-t21mw_t3U0T6PpVgk2H31hSRBtPvydT2Z56nw0fHytsoAmJxPesTuCR0f5Jp_Z8V499sYcu/s400/DSC05317.JPG) |
I can see how this might frighten the wee-ones though. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4jhYNk8OXvDHDF71GL9Dje0cdcYa8t4q5Tgjqm7NZ2lhFJq4Pem9syXlztBUmy2E1H6tgXeF4A9UNYJnmUl-SfaKgIRlrSWZWArdgDI4O5iVF3vjCZbBTJ0jPUjaxONKtTzYi93tGNZO/s400/DSC05318.JPG) |
Every year someone cries. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzVWjMLDPIdH3k_URGZ03eOyzNWqY-UY4w2vY3xlXjSFyYgWvYbAuacWESPnnQNJl-pbPAIOgbDmr1EzNhPKuqeXPDmPWYWTmKwQYlzAI61MWim7kXR2133__FlQgE1FAD1lEP2s6bhJb/s400/DSC05319.JPG) |
Thar be me mother! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_6s2Tp1WUvCjP6qwTMd67Sq-DltCFGOSTI66W908tf9wKbxqY47L4xMS54vL9oVWAYgbXLBAstSJsm05di6D2RtG5rV7ag-qb0gpsfPZ1uA3YzUdnGZ3k-Ge36s96uY2zle-DMMk7mVn/s400/DSC05323.JPG) |
And me sister. I may have been the only one to actually dress up. Err, thanks everyone. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNXVNXldn-KdSCnF0D2OyS5XRhuxtd5U9x0nc9k3pyIVhLwGpOqVpGPw2FLI5HtCmzR70wpLDoE9zPcug6wUyu1N1YbNTH4So9I9I2MTVv_S7Uck-sJ0JtS-ySYmtxvUJHDWX_sAatVCI/s400/DSC05324.JPG) |
Captain Eric John. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekOGX0Jr8qUq8m0CIuMCnX7StKOLopmuNHY4Y_ONKoIAEHQHFOo6p28RRLxKF6OnRSd74SKyEIy4tYeLRLTLSd0WnrnGmAH3xZE7lSZZC3SB69nRP5Ucjcr9yPWOeFifz_pUw3v1gW4QU/s400/DSC05325.JPG) |
Bread sticks masquerading as finger bones. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWg8Of8Xw66cAMqCB-636k1AjIyohY6tA-QxzN8-Wewr9BYbmcJR6jwcSwCofH2xAwME1MxcL9X4k2CCaJ5UypdX4nAx4our0b-PLL_TctqBBW4YoZvGP6DRKbM9lScQ6XzSHD9TIzC3U/s400/DSC05327.JPG) |
Mummy dogs!! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9RVDsorxV54BSlDWWGzZFQs99-BfNh97Ava0z5rq5IfnCfsHPDDoMlzWUQuGgozxjqsgv3uQ3T54bpRvL3JgFuuqi3zOstcm8MXlwoULgjmGt0qNR2xMFoOW-7_OoulAzDLDFiGNMn1X/s400/DSC05328.JPG) |
A perennial fave. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SHU46x_Ku0lswSks0L9q1QmZrdAzIbYsW9cqDMVxYXCI5eOhEZhaQYwSh4TDLz2IeeMFg6np9DbrVc_gXT8nB-poa9Q2gyjs9u2HkOoO3FvaAGJwL6rtHt0Ukvyf1OLFwFGtsx0Sr9D2/s400/DSC05330.JPG) |
Shiver me timbers, the dogs keep multiplying. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgGcLib_8YvPG0Erd__58mjpwn5Hq74RaBgaXxNl9bBmWsjw2ljRFb0qq4lKvqeA4vVyjCrnqEkJ9MD-jtj50CzUR2y9kWN0ZVcIct3C3u0svlJ_HiYNXU3pdHUTlHHAja7XvqObP0I1D/s400/DSC05334.JPG) |
We joked that if we ran out of candy, we'd just start handing out pugs. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsWxoVmZLO_170rJVB5ctrFh012mgk2CFpYWWioNiGWCnSDjjJNuOPKEU595IWaGMc3QP0MZBC39yE9vC6mCvCFk0AC-s4Ak8sKE1opg4enGPMyYU3ZLE9vru2avjzs3v_tXK1nVZ6bxR/s400/DSC05335.JPG) |
Betty on the right is the newest addition. She's half pug, half Pekingese. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ6FitU8qwr26yRdfrl3Ss9ojoYqam3zZAb1LjUH7ycpEA59BP8VsqgFClC6CeZFB2TAAdwuqJwCn8-qrbgnPIGMVjMVDxPfuG970s5yl1p670Na5ljQhxxpJfWIwvIxqVtjOgyJnWIbe/s400/DSC05337.JPG) |
Meena is a sad panda lately having to share the love with the new pug in town. Read a history of pug acquisition here. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMja6huAj77c_tiTQxI9sgjFT_R-ITvWexzDWYO9_oJSTk5H0vRTJx9Z1XGA8auteeWgi2iX1BBFvR1efszkXUU8Y4riON4PX_FfUCZEV4mNmNjPR4mQVG2E83aUULZGD-ohjVUX_dV1D/s400/DSC05342.JPG) |
Eric was a little miffed to be pulled away from Casper just to take a picture with me. |
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Sadly, we didn't make anyone walk the plank to get candy. |
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My cute mom and her gigantic creepy skull. |
Labels: costumes, decorating, decorations, eye patch, fam, family, Gratitude, Halloween, holidays, mummy dogs, parties, pirates, pugs, Things I am thankful for, Things That Make Me Happy