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I wish I could say I just threw together our costumes this year and was pleasantly surprised at how they turned out! Buuuuut I’m definitely someone who comes up with a family Halloween “theme” by early summer and spends months trying to find the perfect costume pieces!

Every year, we join our bests Tim and John David to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom! Our first year with Ollie, we were all Wizard of Oz characters (I mean, I couldn’t dream of a better theme for Ollie’s first Halloween than “there’s no place like home!”) Last year, we were characters from Nightmare Before Christmas, but this year was my favorite by far: PINOCCHIO. <3

Ollie is two and most DEFINITELY “got no strings” to hold him down this year! He’s running a million miles an hour, wanting to touch everything, meet everyone, and eat anything he can get his paws on! Family costumes can be tricky finding something everyone’s excited about, so I’m more than thankful our gracious friends were along for the ride!! I thought Nate would make the cutest Gepetto, I could swing a Blue Fairy with the right wings, and how cute are our donkey boys?!?!? Ahhhhh!!! I don’t know that we’ll ever top this year, y’all. <3

If you find this blog someday and are looking for links to our costume pieces, here are a few with our affiliate links! <3

Pinocchio : Yellow Hat, Red Suspenders, and Brown Mary Jane Squeaky Shoes! Pinocchio ribbon on his shorts here. The rest of his costume was sewn by me. <3

Gepetto : Blue Vest, Brown Pants, High Socks

Blue Fairy : Blue Headband, Wand, Dress, Wings!

Donkey Boys : I bought these hats and hand-sewed ears from brown and pink felt! Hooves bought here. :)

Now on to favorite photos from our adventure! Waiting for the ferry <3

The best thing about their hooves was they were pretty much able to wear them all night- texting and all! :)

My mom always made our costumes when we were little and I love that I’m continuing the tradition as long as he’ll allow. Is he not the most perfect Pinocchio you’ve ever ever seen?!?! And his little curls peeking out just melt me!!!!!

All of Ollie’s best friends in one photo!! He loves his Uncle Timmy and Uncle John David!! <3

Everything is more fun in Halloween costumes on Main Street! :)

Someone kept stealing my wand and insisting HE was the Blue Fairy (while hitting me with it.) Family photos are gettin’ harder and harder with this boy and outtakes like these are some of my favorites!

“No mama. I’M BLUE FAIRY!”

Tim and John David, thank you for inviting us along for another year and being the best photo sports ever! We love y’all and I’m ready to start on next year’s costumes!! <3

Over the past few years, we’ve been able to share a number of adventures with Root Photography blog stars Carrie and Patrick. Last October when they invited us to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, I knew it was going to be like no other MNSSHP I’d attended in the past! I was right.

The Magic Kingdom looks glorious in the fall. :)

Nope, that’s not a Disney character…

… It’s my Carrie. I mean… The late Constance Hatchaway. Constance resides in the Haunted Mansion along with 998 happy haunts (But there’s room for 1000- Any volunteers?) We spent the evening with her and her most recent husband/ victim…

… Harrison Hightower! If you’re like me and haven’t been to Tokyo Disneyland, Harrison is who the Tower of Terror there is centered around. He’s an explorer, and the little green guy is Shiriki Utundu, an idol Harrison brought back from Africa. Patrick made this costume (as well as Shiriki!), and the costume was so believable, guests thought he and Carrie were Disney Cast Members. :)

This is seriously just a small handful of all the guests (and Cast Members) that posed for photos with Constance and Harrison. A crowd actually formed around them in the photo on the bottom left of the collage- They just stood around waiting for a show, and of course, Patrick/Harrison happily obliged. :)