Let the People Sing!

I know. It's only five days after Hallowe'en and I'm already posting. I boggle your mind! I blow you away! I...take too many pictures.

Last Monday, after having wanted to be a cowgirl for two weeks, Millie decided upon a woodland fairy. Annika, having wanted to be everything under the sun, immediately followed her big sister's leading. Susannah stuck to "Papa Butterfly" even when Millie tried to convince her to be a catfish. Is she crazy?! Who wouldn't want to be a catfish?

On Tuesday, I found flimsy lining fabric in fall shades, and I designed an elaborate costume in my head. On Wednesday, I folded the fabric. On Thursday, I looked at the fabric. On Friday, I decided I should probably do something with it, only to find that my sewing machines that have been on the fritz ever since I sewed the monsters are, indeed, still on the fritz. It was too late to go to Nanticoke to use my mom's machine, and it was certainly too late to go to the repair shop to get an estimate for fixing my dears (the machines, not my girls). I cajoled, wheedled, raged, and battled; around 2 o'clock, I waved the white flag and borrowed Becky's.

So, Millie's costume is much different than the elaborate one I had envisioned (and that I never would have been able to put together in one day, anyway, if at all), and Annika became a woodland pixie. I ripped apart last year's bear costume (which she has requested I put back together again), made crowns out of grapevine my dad had brought down for that purpose, and gave them cattail wands. There was even time for a few snapshots before dusk fell. Who would've thought...

Millie's costume cost under three dollars to make, Annie's cost pennies, and I still have that pile of unused fabric for the next batch of woodland costumes ('cause this one ain't gonna hold out long). In case you were wondering, I persuaded Susannah to be a princess instead of a Papa Butterfly. (Q: "Do you want to be a princess instead?" A: "Yes.") She was easily convinced that her Alice in Wonderland dress was a princess dress, but she kept telling people she was a butterfly, anyway. Whatever works.

In the light, Annie made it snow with her magic, puffed-open-cattail-wand powers.






Millie merely examined her faulty wand.



In the shade, five steps to the right. Annie continued to make it snow.




Millie continued to examine and improve her wand.



She did not appreciate the paparazzi.



Even this butterfly stood still for a few.






They're all a bit bemused. Where's the candy, already?!



John drove us to the neighborhood we usually visit on Hallowe'en. Millie drummed a pumpkin on the way.


They knocked on doors, danced, and sang a few songs in exchange for candy. The funniest moment was when a man asked, "Can you say 'pumpkin?'" and stood expectantly while all three girls replied simply, "Yes." He chuckled and handed out the loot.




Just so you all know, I've subsisted on candy for four days now and can barely see through the sugar-haze enough to type this.
Thank you, pumpkin buckets.