A Look Back at My Favorite Halloween Costumes: Embracing Spooky Season
Spooky season is truly one of my favorite times of the year. There's something so magical about the crisp fall air, pumpkins glowing on doorsteps, and the thrill of transforming into something—or someone—else for the night. Luckily, my love for Halloween has been passed down to my sons, and it’s become a fun family tradition that we all look forward to. But as they’ve grown, our Halloween traditions and costumes have evolved. When they were younger, I had full control over their costumes, which often meant matching or coordinating outfits that I couldn’t resist snapping photos of. Now, as they get older, they're more interested in choosing their own costumes—and I’m less likely to get a perfectly posed photo shoot out of it. Still, I treasure the memories of those earlier Halloweens with little ones, and I’m so grateful I took the time to document them. Here's a look back at some of my favorite costumes and the memories we've made over the years.
Baby Batman and his Super Hero Brothers
One year, we went all-in on superheroes, and my older two boys were decked out as their favorite crime-fighting characters. My youngest, who was just a baby at the time, wore a hand-me-down Batman costume that couldn’t have been cuter. With his tiny cape and mask, he looked like the perfect sidekick for his older brothers. By naptime, my little caped crusader was totally worn out from all the excitement, and I have the sweetest photo of him fast asleep, still in costume. It was one of those moments that perfectly captured the magic of Halloween when your kids are little—pure fun, imagination, and just a little bit of chaos.
Pirates of the Tongue River
This one has a special place in my heart because it was the last year I managed to get all three boys to dress in matching costumes. We had spent the summer binge-watching all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, so when Halloween came around, I convinced them to become little buccaneers. We dubbed ourselves the "Pirates of the Tongue River," a nod to a local landmark. They looked so adorable with their pirate hats, bandanas, and swords, ready to plunder (or at least fill their bags with candy). It was the last time we pulled off a fully coordinated family look, and while their interests have shifted since then, I love that we have this costume to look back on.
Frankenstein and His Bride
A few years ago, my husband Kevin and I decided to get in on the costume fun and went as Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein. This might be my favorite couples costume we’ve ever done. It was the perfect mix of spooky and fun, and the vibe was just right for Halloween. We’ve had some great couple costumes over the years, but there’s something iconic about those two characters, and it made for a memorable Halloween. I still can’t believe Kevin was such a great sport!
A Foggy October Photoshoot
Our first Halloween on the farm was one for the books. That morning, we woke up to thick fog rolling over the fields, giving the entire place an eerie, haunted vibe. I convinced the boys to get into their costumes early so I could take advantage of the spooky setting for some photos. Even though their costumes didn’t exactly match that year, the photos ended up being some of my all-time favorites. There’s just something about Halloween on the farm that feels a little extra magical, and those pictures captured the spirit of the day perfectly. The fog, the fall leaves, and the boys in their costumes—it all came together in a way that still makes me smile every time I look at them.
Passing on the Halloween Tradition
Halloween holds so many amazing childhood memories for me. My mom always went above and beyond, pulling off whatever costume I dreamed up, and she made every holiday feel extra special. Now, I try to do the same for my kids. While I don’t have full control over their costume choices anymore, I still love seeing what they come up with each year and getting in on the spooky fun myself. There’s something so heartwarming about watching them enjoy a holiday that brought me so much joy when I was their age. And as much as I love dressing up, it’s even more special to share that excitement with them.
As my boys grow and our Halloween traditions continue to evolve, I cherish the memories of those earlier years, when they let me dress them in coordinating costumes and happily posed for photos. Halloween is more than just a holiday for us—it’s a celebration of imagination, creativity, and family. And while they may not let me dress them up as matching superheroes anymore, I know we’ll keep finding ways to make spooky season special for years to come.
