Halloween

Last year we started a tradition for our family. We had a bunch of friends over for chili before going trick or treating in our neighborhood. Sweet and simple, right? Well, this year we had 18 adults, 12 children, and 2 babies at our house! We decided to eat outside in the backyard - which was a wise move, I think. It was complete chaos, but it was lots of fun.

(our best attempt at getting all the children to sit on the porch for a picture!)

I found two dalmatian costumes at a consignment sale this year, and since 101 Dalmatians is one of Meg's favorite movies, it was a perfect find. To go with our little dalmatians, Bill and I dressed as Roger and Anita. Unfortunately, you can't see our costumes very well in the picture, but it was fun, nonetheless.

Props to our friends, the Raines family, for being the only others to dress completely in costume. Their boys were dressed as alligators, so they dressed as "gator farmers"! Love it. :)

Trick or treating, en masse...

Among our guests were two Chinese students from Vanderbilt. We're getting to know them through the "First Friends" program. I'm sure they found this American tradition to be very strange and amusing! But I think they had a good time, too!