If I'm just being honest, I wasn't all that excited about Halloween this year because:
1. I had been so swamped putting the finishing touches on a 32-page lesson for the ladies in my A Year in the Making workshop (Hello my lovely, AYITM friends!!!) that I really hadn't even given Halloween much thought.
2. Courtney Lee decided she's too old to dress up. And since Cole had decided the same thing the year prior, I'm officially down to my very last Trick-or-Treater.
3. My pumpkin patch shots turned out lousy, and I've been questioning my skills as a photographer.
4. Both of the teenagers in our house were resisting going with us to take Annie trick-or-treating (somehow, they forget that every single year of their trick-or-treating lives, they got to enjoy the evening as a family, and Miss Yans deserves the same experience.)
5. Both of the teenagers in our house are unpredictable when they don't get their way (sometimes they handle it well and sometimes they handle it no-so-well). It's a total crapshoot and I felt like this situation might land on the 'crap' side.
But you know what happened???
We had what might have been the funnest (I don't care if it's not a word) Halloween we've ever had.
I told Josh that I was on on camera-duty, and that he was on make-sure-none-of-our-teenagers-act-angsty duty (lucky for me, he thought that sounded like a fair split in duties). And after a slightly rocky start (Courtney was being a turd before we left the house, and Cole was being a turd after we left the house), all the angst and the turd-ish-ness went away, and was somehow replaced with laughing, acorn fights, funny stories, light-heartedness, wrestling, hand holding, hugs, happy kids, and happy parents.
Still need to finish up the editing on all the photos I took (will be back with those tomorrow), but I can't remember the last time I had more fun shooting.
Hope yours was great (and free of turds and angst).
Glad you had a wonderful Halloween!
Posted by: Tina | November 04, 2015 at 05:49 AM
Your Halloween photos are always some of my favorites. I am so happy that it turned out to be a glorious evening...those teens can come through shining ... and when they do....it is extra special. Looking forward to seeing more photos and storytelling.
Posted by: janel | November 04, 2015 at 07:32 AM
Too old to dress up! What?!? I am nearly 40 and dressed up! Haha. My 17 & 16year olds went trick or treating with their friends this year so it wasn't the family affair it has always been. However my husband and I both dressed up (as pirates) and took our 10yr old trick or treating and also have the funnest Halloween ever!! It's definitely a challenge with angsty teens glad you had all ended up having a good night out after all too!!
Posted by: Denise M | November 04, 2015 at 08:01 AM
They did dress up! As teenagers! When did that happen? Great fun photos as always! And you should post the crap ones! We want to see the good and the bad!
Posted by: Kelli Williams | November 04, 2015 at 12:52 PM
Very cute, gosh Annie is getting tall...that's what I notice about Sienna too...I can't believe they are going to be 10 next year (our babies). James turns 12 in 3 weeks that amazes me because I remember taking him down to the local park to take his "10" photos (double digits, it was a big deal) and he was so co-operative. You should be teaching photography...it's your thing!!!! xxx Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
Posted by: Kathy | November 05, 2015 at 03:40 PM
Those are some fabulous kids you've got there. Angst and turdishness and all :) thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Kellie | November 11, 2015 at 03:32 AM