I don’t know about you but in our house, we start talking about Halloween costumes in like July. My kids start telling me what they want to be, my friends’ kids start telling them…it’s actually a conversation we have around the pool. We’ve gotten wise in our older years and have learned that no matter how much they beg and plead…we don’t buy that costume until at least mid-September…because no matter how much they swear they want to be Cinderella in August, they will change their mind in October. Sigh. #learnedthatthehardway
With Halloween approaching, I thought I’d go back and look at my kiddos from Halloweens past…here’s what I’ve learned about myself from these pictures…I am an awful Halloween picture taker! Seriously! I have approximately 5,869 pictures of my kids’ backs as they’re receiving candy from neighbors and like 2 of them actually posing in their costumes (and that’s two over a 6 year period!). This year, I am going to consciously make an effort to take better pics of them (or hand my camera over to someone who will!).
Ahhhh! Look at baby Kensington! This was Halloween 2008 when my sweet girl was only 6 weeks old. I can hardly stand the cuteness here :).
My sweet pumpkin XO
Halloween 2009 and I had a 13 month old and was pretty pregnant. My cousin Casey made this over the top dress for Kensington and so we called her a fairy and called it a day.
Fairy K
Halloween 2010 and we have some boys around here! Smith was the cutest little tiger and Nixon was the cutest little football player. I remember this like it was yesterday! Such cute boys!!
Luke, Ebby Lee and Kensington (a.k.a. Belle). Seriously, this is the best picture I have of my sweet 2 year old on Halloween…sigh.
Halloween 2011 and Kensington wanted to be Fiona, so that made one year old Smith Shrek!
Fiona 🙂
Shrek much preferred to not wear his mask.
On Halloween 2012, Kensington wanted to be a unicorn and Smith wanted to be Iron Man. This was the first year that I can remember them really getting into Halloween and being super excited.
And Halloween 2013…my sweet little witch and Iron Man (again). He wanted to be “blue Iron Man” this year. This Halloween was super, super fun!
This year, they’ve picked out their costumes…both pretty predictable and both very much “them”. You’ll have to come back and see after they wear them!
I love to hear unique costume ideas. If you have some, please comment! I also love family themed costume ideas too!
It’s one of my favorite times of the year…that being said, this year, I’m going to work on my picture taking skills (hopefully).
And BIG NEWS!! Our Manda Strong tee shirts are now on sale! Kids sizes are available in the navy as well as adult sizes in both navy and grey! Support Manda and wear a cute shirt :). If you order one, email me a pic of you in it and I’ll feature it on my blog! Let’s support our sweet Manda!
On my foodie blog today…
Simple little treats to make your season more festive!
XOXO
Narci says
Aw!! I love seeing pictures of your kiddos when they were babies!! Baby K and baby S were so cute in their tiny costumes!! 🙂
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Smith and Nixon in that chair was just too much! Hilarious! Love all those kiddos like crazy!
Natalie Zambreski says
Well those were some cute Halloweens! It's so fun to go back and see how teeny they were, they are getting SO big!
Blue-Eyed Bride says
So cute! I love looking back at Halloween costumes. I thought I had successfully avoided them wanting to be ninja turtles. For months they've wanted to be buzz and woody and then it was a dragon and a knight. But now it's turtles 🙁
Erika Slaughter says
Awe!!! Loved this post!!! It happened to me this year! Ebby Lee switched and was so passionate about it I caved!!
Ranisa says
I love this post! We do themes every year. With 5 kids it gets fun. Over the years we have done whiny tge pooh, bears football player with two cheerleaders and the baby at 16 days was a football, batman robin and cat women, starwars, pirates and a parrot for the baby, knight dragon and princess, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians. This year we are making it simple. Moving the week before means zombies.
Jamie says
So cute – I love that you let your kids decide what they want to be 🙂
My 9 month old is going to be the Queen of England this year, and her dad and I will be English Royal Guards. Made me think of your love of all things England!
Jamie says
So cute – love that you let your kids decide what they want to be and just embrace it!
My 9 month old is going to be the Queen of England and her dad and I will be English Royal Guards. Made me think of your love of all things England!
kimm atwood says
Love the pics. Adorable
Krista Youngblood says
Love seeing all the littles dressed up this time of year! Order a shirt, can't wait to receive it… More than anything, praying for your friend and her family!
Peyton says
Darling! My 19 month old daughter is going to be a cupcake and my hubby & I will be the "pastry chefs" 😉
Baby Mama says
So sweet! My little one is going to be a dragon and the 4 year old keeps changing his mind by the hour. Think it will be a game time decision! 🙂
Sarah and Craig says
Precious pics! Our family of 4 tries to stick with a theme each year so that we can decorate the back of our truck accordingly for Trunk-or-treat at church! This year it's Peter Pan (son – Peter Pan, daughter – Tinker Bell, husband – Capt Hook, and I'm going to try to be a croc somehow!)! Last year we did a circus theme with a ring master, lion, tiger, and clown! Before that it was a fire truck and only my children dressed – son as a fire fighter and daughter as a Dalmatian!
Hayley Nelson says
Is there a link for the tshirt?
Jaren says
Oh my gosh that pic of Smith and Nixon is the cutest ever!! Frame that one! Last year, my 2 year old was a scarecrow with cute pigtails with straw and overalls.
audra wray says
My kiddos LOVE Halloween costumes! I have two little Captain America's running around my house 🙂
Melissa Gibbs says
Bought my shirt and we are praying for Amanda daily!
As for Halloween, love your pictures. The one of Tiger Smith kills me…his smile has not changed at all, such cuties!
This year we will be on a cruise for Halloween so we are dressing up as a family. Our 2 kids (5 and 11) will dress as cops and hubby and I will be robbers..should be a lot of fun!
Can't wait to see what your kiddos decide to be!
{Hi Sugarplum!} says
I love when you post older pics of you guys…so fun to see! And I'm off to grab my tee!
Phil and Beki says
We are all about themes here in the Smith house! We have had Millie & Geo from Team UmiZoomi, Mike the Knight, Evie & Mr. Cuddles (the frog) from Mike the Knight, last year we were The Incredibles, and this year we have Anna, Elsa and Kristoff (our son finally went along with our ladies wishes after they went along with his wishes the last few years!)… Currently looking for an Olaf shirt for me and a Sven shirt for The Mister! We LOVE Halloween!
Sarah says
I used to hate Halloween, but now with kids, much more exciting. The first year, I made yes made bear costumes for all of us. Then the next year my son was a dragon, husband was a knight and I was the Damsel in Distress, and the next year husband wore the bear costume again (bless his heart), son was a zebra, daughter (1.5 months old) was a monkey and I was a zoo keeper, this year son is spider man, daughter is wonder woman and my husband and I are going to be burglars…so fun! 🙂 Trying to do family themes until the kids decide they don't want to…until then, we're having fun.
Kimberly says
My daughter wanted to be Little Red Ridding Hood so we're going with the Woodsman for her little brother. He would have been a cute wolf, but Olivia wanted her dad to be the wolf. I'm not sure he's along for the ride though. And she tells everyone I will be the grandma and I certainly will not!!
Sharon Kruschen says
I'm not artistic, but I decided to make my 2 year old a costume one year. It was fun! http://www.mamachitchat.com/2012/11/halloween-2012/
Ashley Van Dam says
My husband and son have matching (spandex) Spiderman costumes. It will be both cute and terrifying at the same time 🙂
Ashley Van Dam says
My husband and son have matching (spandex) Spiderman costumes. It will be both cute and terrifying at the same time 🙂
Dina says
My daughter, Katie, is telling everyone she's going to be a unicorn for Halloween. I can't find a cute unicorn costume anywhere. Where did you find Kensington's?
Praying for your friend Manda. Love the shirts!
Mrs Scratch says
In 2012, my husband and son (6 months) were 1920s gangsters. My daughter (2) and I were flappers. In 2013, my daughter (3) was Princess Tiana and my son (1.5) was a frog prince. This year, we have another addition, so the 4 yr old, 2.5 yr old, and 6 month old are all going as super heroes.
Jamie Allen says
so excited to get my {manda strong} t-shirt. i'll be sure to share a photo. say a prayer for a sweet little just 4-year-old at my church. #chadtough was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor on his brain stem. we believe in miracles.