so......we like to dress up

If you happened to stumble upon our end-of-summer (Robby's side) family get together....you might just think we are crazy. And maybe we are. But let me tell you....crazy is fun! So WHAT if we're having a full-on themed costume party in September while we all stay on the beach....that's how we like it!

With Halloween coming up right around the corner, I thought I'd share the last few years of our family's costumes.....because, not to toot our own horns.....but TOOT TOOT!

I think we are pretty good.

I have no idea how the whole dressing up thing started really. We used to thrown on a lei or a cowboy hat and call it good. But then a few years ago, our theme night was "Pirates" and we all got a little bit out of control.

note: we never ever ever know what each other are wearing. It's always a surprise, and always so fun to see how well we coordinate!)

Pirates.

the ladies. yes. that first one is a lady. one of my very favorites too.

What you need to be a pirate:

(all these items were thrifted.....some the day of the party!)

-women's blouses. gah. I hate the word blouse. But in this case, the blousier, the better.

-women's vests.

-cut offs.

-gaudy jewelry and accessories, or a TON of your own jewelry layerd

-anything striped

-bandanas

-my little family's eyepatches and clip on earrings were the only things we bought new.

-eyeliner of course! perfect for hairy eyebrows, whiskers, moles, blacked out teeth, and Jack Sparrow's famous guyliner look.

next up: Super Heros!!

more special than super.

What you need to be a superhero:

-Anything shiny!

-emergency blankets!

-shiny fabric from Walmart

-my shiny leotard was thrifted

-belts, thrifted

-sparkle tights on clearance

-shiny oxfords for $3 at Forever 21

-I made the girl's skirt super fast with some tulle

And this year.....

Cavemen!!

(ha! the best part about this photo is that kyle and ryan s. are so hairy you can't even see them!)

We have never looked lovelier.

What you need to be a caveman:

-animal print--I swear the cheap stuff is always on sale at Joann's. I made all of our costumes with 3 yds. I do NOT sew--these were basically just tubes with arm and head holes.

-"bones" for our hair made from tinfoil wrapped in masking tape and then burnt on the stove

-clubs made from tin foil, butcher paper, and masking tape burnt on the stove

-the boy's tooth necklace is masking tape

-Robby's necklace is an actuall skeleton he found on the beach. gross.

-heavy on the bronzer, and eyeliner for facial hair, awesome teeth, moles, and smudges

-You really do need my hair on this one

and that is us in a nutshell.

The funny thing is, it has never occurred to me to maybe take a photo of the eight of us kids (Robby's, two bros, one sis, and spouses) all NOT dressed up.

We really are semi normal looking people in real life, I swear.