41, the Magic Number for Halloween

Isn't 41 days past an event the magic number for posting about it, or is that only Halloween? I didn't want to drive people crazy with one more Halloween post. Now we're all about Christmas so a Halloween post will give us all a little break from that madness. A look into the past, if you will. Lots of pics to follow, gird your loins, here we go.

Ian dressed as a traditional public school student. He attends a charter school so he doesn't usually get to wear a t-shirt and jeans to school.

Sophia, the 50's girl. Orion, black Spider-man. Theron, future surgeon. Dylan, half-dressed Ben 10.

Mitzi was a vampire, notice how her glowing eyes lull you into a false sense of security.

I was able to help out in Sophia's class. We had four different stations, with 2 games, a craft, a treat and a lot of fun. They are such cute kids.

Now to the Harry Potter neighborhood. What have we created?! It is madness and so fun, and I don't see a way out. We had over 600 trick-or-treaters. Some of our neighbors aren't fans and I'm pretty sure that a few of the new move-ins were totally blindsided as they finished handing out their candy in record time. We are not upset by those who don't want to participate and keep their lights off or leave. I totally believe that is their right as it is our right to create Harry Potter mayhem.

We will visit The Daily Prophet first. That's my house.

We are The Daily Prophet because I wanted to dress up like Rita Skeeter. That's how I roll and I make my family roll with me.

We have our newspaper in the window complete with the moving pictures and everything. You have to see it in person to fully appreciate it.

Rita's best selling book on the life of Dumbledore,

our owls,

and delivery boy.

Ian got to stay home this year and hand out candy so I was able to go out with my kids for the first time. So Rita wasn't actually at the paper much this year and most people I met on the street had no idea who I was dressed up as. Rita needs to be at the paper for people to recognize her. The weather was fairly warm. It was great.

Gringott's Bank. They have a new vault door this year. Very cool.

We met Ben 10 Alien Force.

On to Azkaban. I think that they are the reason for the large crowds. It is just so amazing and larger than life. We are so grateful to the Dementors for thinking of putting it in our neighborhood.

They also provided the large HP in the park.

Potions Class.

Hogwart's Library.

Tom Riddle's House. Creepy and perfect. I love it.

The Forbidden Forest. I didn't get a good picture, but they had some really big spiders around.

Ollivander's Wand Shop.

With the winner of the best pumpkin of Halloween 2008, brooding Edward. LOVE IT!!!

Dolores Umbridge's office.

She looked so great. Creepy Sweet. Notice Mad-Eyed Moody's eye on the door. She's so evil.

The Burrow. They have the clock saying where everyone is. The little owl, the rat, and a wizards chess set.

The Owlery.

The Apothecary. Notice the white-haired wizard handing out the candy. He is there every year.

St Mungo's was new this year.

Kenneth has ruined my kids with his pansy trick-or-treating of years past. He was ready to stop after just our neighborhood, and so were the kids. I was wearing heels and my feet were killing me, but they was so much more candy out there calling to us that I wanted to keep going. Sure it was raining, but it was a warm rain. Kenneth said it was because I had a wig on and was wearing a wool suit that I thought it was warm. I guess when you are bald rain tends to really affect you. We did stop and so must this post.