Monday, November 02, 2009

Halloween 2009--Happy and Sad


After three and four years home with us, the girls are really getting into the swing of Halloween. It is so much fun for Kindergarteners and First Graders. Chloe and Pearl are still in the princess phase, so I told them it was time to move up to the "queen" level. Pearl decided to be the Queen of Hearts and after a couple hours of re-sizing her costume, she looked quite majestic. Chloe was dressed as the Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra. I thought it would be unique and original and that I would have fun with the make-up. Well, as it turned out, we ran into two other Cleopatra's at the park and Halloween parade and I am not as great a make-up artist as I thought I was. However, I was able to "fix" Chloe's running and smeared eyeliner in Photoshop. Take a look at the lovely picture below where she is crossing her eyes. Actually, out of character, Chloe was NOT in the mood to have her picture taken. What's the fun in all this dress-up and make-up if Mom can't get a picture to remember it by? At least Pearl was willing to pose for me and I had a lot of great shots of her.

On a very sad note, we learned when we arrived home from trick-or-treating, that our friend Catherine lost her husband Jimmy to the H1N1 flu. We had been anxiously reading updates whenever Catherine had time to post on Facebook and we were constantly thinking about what they must be going through. Catherine and Jimmy are adoptive parents like us. They adopted their little girl from China at the same time we adopted Chloe. As anxious parents waiting for referrals, we joined a support group called the "Sweet Peas" and Catherine and Jimmy were part of that group. Now it is with a heavy heart that we keep Catherine and her family in our thoughts as we wish them peace and comfort in their time of grief.







UPDATE: After the parade, we left the park and carnival early to go trick-or-treating. We just found out that Chloe won 1st prize and Pearl won 3rd prize for their Halloween costumes! I am so sorry they missed it.

20 comments:

mommy24treasures said...

oh I am so sad to hear of your friends passing. That is tragic. My prayers are with his family.

The girls look magically beautiful.

Hannah said...

I am sorry to hear about your friends. I pray the family will find some comfort.

Your daughters look amazing in their costumes! That last picture cracked me up!

Marla said...

Gorgeous pictures, the girls look amazing! I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. I will say a prayer for Catherine and her family. Hugs.

Leah Maya Benjamin said...

they are just beautiful! their costumes are beyond anything we ran into.

Wanda said...

You all did some serious dressing up. And I like how you've stepped up to the queen level (instead of going toward the Hannah et al).

The last picture of Chloe, crossing her eyes to the moon is too funny!

Very sorry about your friends. That's rough.

Unknown said...

The costumes and the girls are both gorgeous. And I LIKE Chloe's makeup. Love her face in the last photo.

I read Tassie's post about Jimmy when we returned home from our church's Fall Fest. The news knocked the wind out of me and I just cried. I had high hopes for better news. I've been in contact with her friend, John about donations to her church that would go directly to the family to help out with medical bills. Tassie and I are working on ideas we Sweet Peas can come up with to help.

Rachel said...

So sorry to hear about your friend - so heartbreaking.

Your daughters look great. You did an amazing job with their costumes and their makeup looks great!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your friend. How horrible.....I will keep this family in my thoughts and prayers.

The girls looked STUNNING......The costumes were fantastic and the makeup was perfect!!

LOL at the crossed eyes....that is something Sarah would do to me:)

Lisa

Carol said...

The girls are beautiful. The death is tragic

Everything Beautiful Shay said...

Adorable costumes and they sure deserved to win!!!

So sorry about your friend's husband. We will be praying for them!
blessings,
Shay

Katrina said...

Look at THEM!!! So so stunning! Amazing costumes and beautiful girls! Katrina

Carolin said...

Crossed or not ... that baby girl has the most awesome eyes! How do you keep from just staring straight into them all the time!

Great pix, as usual :-)

Cheri said...

I'm so sorry to hear your friend passed away. I will keep them in my prayers.

The girls look amazing! Love their costumes. My children ALWAYS have to warm something warm as it is always cold here. No princess costumes here although my daughter would love it.

Cyndi said...

You take the best pictures! Your girls looked ravishing! I can't wait to introduce Lily to Halloween when we get back to the U.S. Japan and Norway don't really celebrate!
I am so saddened to hear of your friend's death. My heart and my prayers go out to their family.

3 Countries 1 Love said...

I just rediscovered your blog and am so glad that I did! The girls have gotten so big and your photography skills are amazing :)

Unknown said...

Just read the update. Finally, you've been recognized for your incredibile talent in costume making. Have you ever considered being a costumer for the film industry? Seriously!

Ms Jewl said...

The costumes are fantastic! Love them both.

Cindy said...

Lori

So so sad to hear about the loss of your friend! I am behind in commenting for I have had a death this week too!
I really do hate this though for the child is so young!
This has to be tragical for the left beft behind parent!

My thoughts and prayers are with you!

The girls are queens! and thye did win a place too! YAY great!
They are so cute!

Yu take care and up date us as you can!
The make up looked beautiful to me!

Hugs to you on this day!
Cindy

Cindy said...

Prayers to Catherine!
Psalms 23.
love in the LOrd!
Cindy Lou

tiffany said...

The pictures you get are sooo amazing! The girls look just beautiful. The queen thing made me laugh bec Sophie was a queen for Hallo and then her bday was a couple weeks later. She got a card with a 3-d princess on it and she said (after guests left!) but mommy is this a QUEEN or just a princess?? LOL She is over the princess thing and has decided queen is the only way to go! heehee

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. It startled me to read that he died of n1h1. ugh. Just very sorry for that family.