Halloween used to be fun...right?

Halloween used to be fun. My oldest child is near 11 years old. This year finding a costume was not fun, not enjoyable and not even remotely magical.
 No costume I picked up was suitable. Now mind you she had no idea what she wanted to be.  Eventually I wasted way more of my life than I would ever want to in Value Village sifting through others cast away belongings.
Isle by isle my dear sweet possessed child  threw  full on body convulsions. Eye rolls, groans, and limbs flying at my mear suggestions.
Tagging along on this craptastic fun filled trip was my ADHD/ODD 4 year old. Swirling through the discarded shirts, dresses, and pants she sang about all that she was seeing and the odd ball trinkets she was touching. No matter what I did this kid could not stay with me and absolutely could not keep her hands to herself.
Nearly loosing my mind I tried to keep a calm and deep breath. However it was too late. I ushered the kids into the nearest dressing room and threatened pumpkin costumes.
I left the dressing room on my own to look for a dress, formal dress of sorts. After all the oldest decided she wanted to be a fairy. I brought my one and only find, took it back to the dressing room.
My find worked and I swear I saw a big toothy grin flash as she checked her self in the mirror. Short lived as to not show me that I had succeeded.
Last night my Dad took the girls to the store for pumpkins. I couldn't pull it together to get the girls to a pumpkin  farm. My mom retreated to her room under the guise of being on a phone call (fully avoiding the carving).
We set out drawing out the faces the Poppy (my dad) would carve into each of the 3 pumpkins. I would consider it a success; albeit my 5 year old was much more interested in the "sing and stroll" through out the house in her wheel chair. The 4 year old had melt down after melt down over not being old enough to draw with permanent marker on her pumpkin. Surprisingly the oldest was a trooper and made it through the experience.
So Today is Halloween. Now here in the PNW we are used to rain and yuck. However its supposed to be REALLY rainy and thus Yucky; forcing me to find other venues for trick or treating. 
Which ever we do I am sure the kids will have a great time and I will have a whole year to gear up for the next year.
Pictures to come this evening!