Witches' Night Out

Friday night was Witches' Night Out, the main purpose for mine and LaNita's trip to Mom and Dad's.  Thursday and Friday were spent in a frenzy of last minute alterations and finishing touches to our costumes.  Lanita's cape, gorgeous and royal, was made on Thursday and trimmed right before we left for Gardner Village.  Carson's hat was purchased and altered to fit him Thursday as well.  Mom's hat was completed just minutes before we walked out the door.  My costume, while getting a tuck here and a stitch there, was mostly completed in Wisconsin, with Jana doing most of it.  I put together the red dress portion, but she did my overskirt and awesome hooded cape.  Dallas was an adorable version of Disney's Genie from Aladdin.

Mom, LaNita, Dallas, Carson and I went just a bit early to try to get to the famous candy shop with their fudge as soon as possible.  We met up with my cousin Stephanie and, later, Dad and Josh.  I loved Dad's costume with it's mask and cape!  Josh was very obliging and took Carson on his shoulders for a while.  LaNita, Stephanie and I wandered some on our own.  In fact, we had a bit of a scare when we realized we were separated from Mom and the little boys.  All three of us reached for our phones, only to remember with dismay that each of us had left our phones somewhere on the stroller  - which was with Mom.  On Mom's end, she realized she was away from us and went to the car to retrieve her phone, then called our phones.  Each in turn rang right there with her.  Fortunately, we all met up just fine and enjoyed the remainder of the evening.

I loved seeing all the different costumes!  I only took a couple pictures, but Witches' Night Out is ALL about the costume.  They range from the simple jeans and a black pointy hat, to cutesy witches, to those who go all out.  The ladies in the top right picture (below) were even in complete character - talked about putting their costumes together out of cauldrons and spiders legs.  Very fun.  Also below, the small picture above the pretty hat is the fudge from the super-cool candy shop.  Mom sent home a little over a pound of fudge just for Aaron, to mollify him a little for having me gone.  (He was pleased and loved savoring out his fudge, which lasted a week after I got home.)  The bottom left picture, while looking delicious, is soaps.  I'd love to have darling soap like that to pretty up my powder room!

In one of the shops was this amazing dress hanging from the ceiling.  We heard a woman talking about how someone wears this for one of the other festivals held at Gardner Village.  It was absolutely stunning, so beaded and laced and flowered up.  There's even a train tucked up there.  I loved it!

Also, while Mom and the rest of us were separated, we, Stephanie, LaNita and I, found a quilt shop and got a little distracted.  There were so many fun, beautiful, creative fabrics, and at least as many quilts and other projects to go with them!  These two quilts I loved the best.  The pinwheel one is neat because the points of the pinwheels aren't sewn down; they flap.  I also loved the colors there: red, light blue, pink, gray and white.  I just think the tie one is adorable in a guy way.  I can see making one for Father's Day or even a birthday for Aaron or Carson.  The colors there really made it, too.

All throughout Gardner Village were these witch props.  Some of them moved, like the hula-hooping witch, and the cycling witch.  There were many more, but these were my favorites, especially the one in the outhouse and the one hanging upside-down.  I loved the sign next to that one, "Hilda's Hang Out: Open 364 days a year.  Closed on Halloween."  Everything about Witches' Night Out was awesome and I'm SO GLAD I went!  The only thing we'd really change was that Mom said, next time we want to go, adults are allowed, but we'll get a sitter for any kids that are around.

While Witches' Night Out was in progress, Josh and Dad left to pick up Wes from school.  He'd have loved to have been with us at out Night Out, but he had a mandatory thing at school.  They met us back at the house just after midnight.  We played a couple rounds of Boggle (family favorite game) and then Mom and I packed my bags.  I took an extra bag home, checking it, and it was huge - stuffed to bursting!  Wes and I stayed up chatting until 2am, since that was the only time we had.  The next morning, Mom and I got up and she made me waffles early, because the family had a waffle bar planned for that day.  She got me to the airport, where the only catch was that the baggage was slowed up.  It all made it home with me, on a couple of uneventful flights.  My trip in a nutshell! (or3 posts, whatever.) :)