My friend Natalie's Halloween

We took photos together on Saturday. So I decided to post her family's pictures as well, because their costumes are amazing too.

Joshua is a king, Candace the queen, and Luke and Levi their knights in shining armor.

Natalie made all their costumes too, except this one. (More of a time issue, than anything else.)

This is the first major project she's sewn, and yes, I lead her down the path to join me in my addiction.

I don't know what our husbands thought of our late night visits asking each other questions on our various projects at the time.

Or for that matter, what the neighborhood thought of us setting up our sewing machines out on our shared front lawn and sewing constantly while our kids rode their bikes all around on our driveways.

And let me tell you, the cleanliness of our houses decreased drastically. But it was all worth it right? Happy Halloween! (And yes, Ana wasn't in costume for these ones, but just wait, we have something planned...)

A very difficult subject to photograph

Gnomes are a hard subject to photograph. I mean, they're pretty industrious.

I guess they have to be--living in the woods and all.

Picking berries and mushrooms and whatnot.

Sometimes they get a little annoyed when you interrupt their work.

And given the chance they can be a bit mischievous, stealing hats and playing pranks.

And other times just getting them all to look in the same direction, well....

it's nearly impossible.

They don't like being in the lime light either, so they try to slip off back into the woods.

And sometimes they just crack under the pressure.

They just really don't like being disturbed.

But, occasionally, if you catch one by themselves, they might be patient for a few shots.

Just a few.

So be quick.

And always offer Halloween candy. It might at least get one to smile. (And yes, I made every costume from top to bottom. And they won best costume at our ward Halloween party--that's two in row, but who's counting?)

My parents inspired me, by the way. They took a trip to Norway this summer and they were there over Norway's National Day. Hence, lots of pictures of cool costumes. Can you tell Sebastian's costume is based off of this Sami's outfit?

And with the girls, I went for the traditional Norwegian bunad. Yes, that's what it's called. But gnomes are cute, so they still stayed gnomes anyway. I bought all the ribbon off of Etsy--yeah, for Etsy!

Sebastian

Birthday Girl

Elena wanted a spooky Halloween cake this year. I was happy to oblige, because this was so simple.

I can't believe she's five!!!

She's doesn't know how to react she was so excited.

I'd say that's a pretty happy little girl.

Yes, I bought a Barbie from 1995. But it was less expensive than the ones in the stores now, and way prettier.

Bike stuff. She loves it!

I love birthdays!

Go Cougars!

I had my friend take some family photos of us around the BYU campus before the weather turns really cold.

It turned out how all family photos do with more than two children.

Kids crying, people blinking, whining, whining, whining.

But she didn't take enough for me to photoshop our heads to pretend that we have an absolutely darling family that always looks at the photographer and smiles.

Oh well. I promised Leo it would be low-key and it was.

Someday I'll pressure him into a really nice family photo again.

But that wasn't this time.

And maybe won't be for a while.

But at least the girls love their BYU shirts and were thrilled to get them.

Sebastian even recognized the logo and tried to say BY.... (it trailed off after that). Sweet, my kids all know where their loyalties should lie already. Sorry USU--I loved you, but you're not the Y.