Halloween Costumes

I admit it. I drive my husband crazy sometimes. I get these ideas in my mind and I tend to get a little bit carried away.

About 2 months ago I asked Parker what he wanted to be for Halloween. He insisted that he be an "army guy." It makes perfect sense, especially since he has really been into anything army as of late....tanks, guns, grenades, death, why people kill other people, is anyone going to kill him, is anyone going to kill me, did someone kill Grandma....I guess it is all a little confusing to a 4 year old.

Anyway....I was trying to come up with some kind of "family" costume that could go around the "army guy" since Parker was the only one who wouldn't budge on his costume decision. Yep....we were going to be "one of those" families for Halloween this year. I figure there are only SO many years the kids will think its ok that their parents costumes go along with theirs.

After thinking about it for awhile I came to the conclusion that we were going to be the characters from Toy Story. I called Nate to tell him that for Halloween he was going to be WOODY!!!! After a long silence I finally heard........(drawn out sigh).........If you really want me to do it then I will but you know I reeeeeeaaaaaallly don't want to." Now if that isn't love, I don't know what is!

I think secretly he worries that my great ideas are going to cost him an arm and a leg...like that would EVER happen. :)

So....here are the Starnes Family Halloween costumes for 2009....prices included to humor my spouse:

Parker the army man: fatigues borrowed from friend, hard hat $1.00 from dollar store, face paint $1.00. Total cost=$2.00

Landon: cutest Buzz Lightyear ever. Outfit borrowed from friend. Total Cost=FREE!

Dallin: ZURG that bad guy from Toy Story 2. Costume borrowed as well. Total Cost=FREE (On Halloween night he opted to be an army man like his brother since the Zurg costume was so hard to move in!...we had that one already good thing!)

Nathan: A very handsome Woody. Costume includes white shirt $3.99 at thrift store, yellow die for the shirt $2.99, fabric paint and brushes to paint the stripes on shirt $3.00, hat from Goodwill $1.99, spray paint for the hat $.99, yarn for the stitching on the hat $.99, vest $2.00 in cow print fabric, red bandanna: free...already had it, fake gun: $1.00, boots: borrowed. Total Cost: $15.96.
Staci as Jessie: frumpy shirt that was too big from Goodwill $2.99, straw type hat from Michael's $2.99, red spray paint for hat $.99, white yarn for stitching on hat $.99, cow print for chaps $2.00, iron on sheets $2.00, paint and brushes for the shirt $3.00, boots from DI $5.99, red hair spray $3.99 (would NOT do that again!) Total cost: $24.94

Yeah....I did spend a LOT of time painting our costumes and I even had to dig out the old sewing machine to make Nate's vest and my chaps but I think everything came together.

Total amount spent on all costumes: $42.92. That is less than $9 bucks a person! Pretty good if you ask me!
Regardless of the amount of money spent we made some pretty priceless memories. Thanks my dear...you are a good sport and I love you for putting up with me!