i've got a golden ticket!

i knew full well that we'd never be able to top last year's costumes.
i wasn't even going to try.
in fact, john and i decided that we would scale WAY back this year, picking a relatively simple theme, and then each year we could do a bit more...
you know, make the costumes a little bit better than the previous years',
thus gradually working our way back up to the top again.
so for scaling back and simplifying, i think we still did a pretty good job.

we decided on the willy wonka theme almost a year ago, but thought we'd get some resistance from the kids about being oompa loompas.
after showing them the movie however, they were thrilled about the idea...
and even suggested that we make dix-d an oompa loompa, too.
they've viewed the film a hundred times since, and every time they watch it, asher says "look mom, there's ruby and asher!".
it was obvious that john would be willy wonka, and i decided to be violet beauregarde (only because, although i love veruca salt's red dress, i didn't think i'd be able to pull off because of how short it is).
as it turned out, my pregnant belly, and rather large body, thanked me profusely for going with the violet look.
we ended up having such a great time;
and the kids (and dog) managed to keep their wigs and gloves on all night...
which, i figured, would have been less likely than finding a golden ticket in a wonka bar.


Willy Wonka


Violet Beauregarde


Oompa Loompas