After much deliberation and many hours of listing the pro’s and con’s of every costume imaginable, Billy and I finally chose Brooke’s Halloween costume… a LOBSTER. I have a feeling that we are more excited about it than she is. I have looked forward to dressing up my kids for Halloween for my entire life and I can’t even put it into words how excited I was to put this on her.
She figured out how to use those claws of hers.
We went to a Halloween party at our church and Billy and I enjoyed every second of showing Brooke off. There was a costume parade, lots of food and Halloween movies playing.
I always take one of everything at potlucks because that is the polite thing to do… wouldn’t want to hurt anyones feeling…. okay, my real motivation behind this is that I want to try everything on the table and so I do.
I ended up bringing these cookies but they are way too flat to share the recipe with you. I am still on the search for the world’s best chocolate chip cookie recipe, it is hard work.
After dinner they do a thing called ‘Trunk-or-Treat.’ Everyone decorates their cars and lines them up in rows and the kids go around to each trunk to get candy.
Brooke’s favorite treat was the pixie stick.
I am very thankful at this time that Brooke cannot eat anything but milk. My candy stash has now doubled thanks to my little lobster.
Did anyone else’s dad charge daddy tax after you went trick-or-treating? My dad would always charge at least 20% when we got home and he always took the Dots and Baby Ruths:) I will just have to mail him his tax this year.
Enjoy your long run or race this weekend… hopefully I will be out there running next weekend but this morning I will be staying in pjs until noon and making pancakes while icing my back:)
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What are you going to be for Halloween this year? Do you dress up every year?
What is your weekend run!?!?! Let me live through you:)
99 comments
Anne
She is so cute, her eyes are almost as big as the lobsters!!!
You bring up an aspect of motherhood I’ve never considered, how in the world am I not going to steal ALL of my kid’s Halloween Candy when I have kids???
Janae
That is a question I struggle with every day of my life!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats
Hahahaha I bet you can eat all her candy next year too before she catches on! She is tooooo adorable!
Janae
I am hoping to eat all of her candy until she is at least five years old!
Kris @ www.kris-lawrence.com
In the first two pictures here face is saying “Help Me!” lol. So cute! Trunk or Treat is awesome. We did it last year for my kids preschool. That was the first time I had heard of it, different but fun!
Janae
You are so right! She was so confused about what was going on ha! Hope you are having a great day!
Jessica R
I’m glad you went with the lobster costume. It is super cute. I like the idea of truck or treat. My church has done that in the past but I’ve never participated.
I’m currently trying to get out of bed for my pre long run rituals. I haven’t decided how far I’m going yet, probably around 11. I’m working on base building this fall/winter which includes lengthening my long run. My ultimate goal is 15 on the weekends and at least 8 per running day during the week. I should be there by the end of winter. I’m very good at doing too much too soon so I’m taking this increase ssssllloooowwwww….
Janae
Good for you to take things slow!!! You are being so smart! Hope you had a great 11 miler!
Sarah
I’m going to join your church just so I can go “trunk or treating”
P.s- love the lobster… hope you used Brooke to get lots of candy from the cars ;)
Janae
I definitely did ha! Hope you are having a great weekend!
Tess
Ha, you could join the Marines! My son is a Marine in San Diego and he is doing it for his troops families this weekend! I have never even heard of it. So fun.
Audra M.
I love the lobster costume!! I’ve loved the lobster idea since I saw “Love Actually” and the little girl is the “First Lobster” in the Christmas pageant. That part always cracks me and my sister up and it’s what I had planned on dressing my daughter up as this year. Unfortunately I’m a terrible mom and didn’t order it in time to have it shipped out here to Japan. Oh well, maybe next year. But Brooke definitely is an adorable little lobster :)
Janae
Next year for sure! Such a good movie!
Morgan
Too cute! Are you guys wearing lobster bibs to go with Brooke?
Janae
Hahahhahaha yep we are!!!
jan
LOVE the tax idea. I think tax rates have gone up since you were a kid, don’t you? Surely it’s at least 30-40% now.
B looks adorable in her costume–excellent choice!
Janae
Thanks Jan! I am going to have to agree with you in the tax raises:)
Becky Przy
Oh my gosh, Brooke is sooo cute! I am not running this weekend either. I took 3 weeks off and then got a little ambitious this week and now my IT band is hurting, ugh will I ever learn?!
Janae
Nooooooo! I am so sorry about your it band! That is so lame!
Heather @ Run Eat Play
Brooke is so adorable as a lobster! I just want to eat her up! lol!
My kids are going to be an angry bird and a zombie. My son is 11 this years so he’s kind of growing out of the Halloween dressing up thing. What?! That’s crazy! I’m 30 and I still dress up!
Karen @ Runner Girl Eats
Love the lobster and bibs. Super cute. I’m getting ready to head out for a 4 mile run. Still unsure if I am going to be dressing up for Halloween this year, maybe I’ll search for costume ideas this weekend.
Sarah M
HI-larious! Halloween its one of many amazing holidays and I love that you, B, and Billy take the same approach as I re: costumes and pot lucks. genius! I’ve got two costumes today- 1. Super Sconnie for a costume run this morning and 2. Honey boo boo child for a night party. Cliche? Yes. Hilarious? YES!
Janae
Best costumes ever! I need a picture of these two costumes! Have fun on your costume run this morning!
kim@hungryhealthygirl
Love the lobster costume and the added touch of you and Billy wearing the aprons! I have a nerd and a witch to take trick or treating this year.
Mary Kay
The lobster is super cute! My 4 year old is a mermaid. My 3 yr old b/g twins are Spider-Man and a butterfly and my 2 month old twins are a frog and a flower. I love reading about Brooke since she is only a few days older the. My new twins! I was not as dedicated as u while pregnant . I didn’t keep up with my running so basically starting over. Just doing a5 k.
Janae
Cutest costumes ever! I need to see a picture! There is no way I could have kept up my running while pregnant with twins and already having two other kids… You are incredible!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Brooke is looking so cute! And I love how you and Billy put on bibs to match her. I haven’t dressed up for Halloween in a few years, but I think I might this year just to give out candy… That being said, I still have no idea what I’m going to go as so I guess it’s time to dig through the old closet, put random things together, and hope for the best :D
Janae
I think you should dress up:) let me know what you decide on wearing!
Adrienne
Here is a GREAT recipe!
31/2 cups flour
1 1/2tsp baking soda
2 tsp.kosher salt
1/2 cup shortening (crisco)
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups brown sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla
1 egg
4 tbsp. milk (i use 3 tbsp.choc milk, 1tbsp.whole milk)
1 bag milk choc chips
1 bag semi sweet chips
Heat oven to 365
Combine flour and dry ingredients in med bowl
Beat together shortning, butter and vanilla. Add sugar, brown sugar, and egg. Then add milk.
Slowly add dry ingredients. Fold in chips.
Bake about 10-12minutes. Take off right before they look done. The key to fluffy cookies is to make them smaller.
Janae
You are the best!!!! Thank you!!!
Erin @ The Grass Skirt
Brooke looks so adorable!
Kaitlyn
if you’re looking for the best chocolate chip cookies, just ask Phoebe’s grandmother…”Nestle Tollhouse” [said with french accent]
….please tell me you’ve seen that episode?! :) one of my favs. That lobster is absolutely adorable, btw!
Janae
Bahahaha Yes!!! Best episode ever! Phoebe is my favorite!
Pam
hahahaha I haven’t been able to say the words Nestle Tollhouse without the French accent since I saw that episode, what, 15 years ago??? LOL
Khushboo
Looove Brooke’s costume and the bibs on Billy & you are priceless!
Katryn
Running the Marine Corps Marathon….TOMORROW!! Eek!
You guys are seriously the cutest….Brooke’s lobster costume is 100% adorable. :-)
Have you tried Alton Brown’s ‘The Chewy’ chocolate chip cookie recipe? It is literally THE BEST chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever had and I never even think about using another recipe anymore. It uses bread flour instead of All Purpose flour and you melt the butter before creaming it with the sugars. These little differences make them SO good! I could talk about them all day long. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-chewy-recipe/index.html
Janae
Bread flour…. That is such a good idea! Thanks for the link! Good luck tomorrow, you are going to do incredible!
Pam
My bestie is doing MCM tomorrow, too. I hope the weather behaves for all you guys! GOOD LUCK!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
Awww Brooke’s your lobster!!! (friends reference!)
Janae
Hahahhahaha yes!!! I know I can always count on you for the friends references!
Abby @ Change of Pace
Brooke looks a little scared of her costume at the beginning, but looks right at home with the candy at the end!
I’m going to try running today after two weeks off. Fingers crossed it goes well! Enjoy your pj and pancakes day!
Janae
Good luck Abby! I hope your run goes perfect!
Abby @ Change of Pace
Thanks, Janae! It was actually pain-free! Now I just have to restrain myself to not run too much.
Hope your back gets better soon!
Michelle
1)brooke looks so cute. I can’t even!
2) I have the best chocalate chip cookie recipie! Let me know and I’ll email it to you if you want!
Janae
Yes yes yes yes yes! Please email it to me! Thank you!
Losing Lindy
what a great costume, your cookies look nice and chewy..the way I like them.
I usually take all of the chocolate bars, and freeze them. I have found that if you put the fruity candy with the chocolate, the chocolate starts to taste funny, so I always separate them.
Janae
That is brilliant! I will totally be doing that! Thanks…time to freeze some chocolate!
Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More
Cutest little lobster!
I always dress up. Halloween is my favorite holiday! I hope to participate in a trunk or treat with my cousin this year. His is pretty awesome! We will see if I get out of class in time.
Michelle D
Hey Janae!
If you like super soft cookies- then this one is for you. And these won’t flatten out either! Everyone raves about it and it’s a staple at my family parties. I think you’ll approve!
http://www.marthastewart.com/354939/cakey-chocolate-chip-cookies
Janae
Michelle! Thank you so much! I will be making these ASAP! You are the best!
Nicole@TheKidlessKronicles
No dressing up for Halloween. I am not much of a fan, except seeing the little, little kids like your lobster (good choice!). Halloween just drives the dogs INSANE.
Run will be somewhere between 6 and 8. I haven’t decided yet.
The Kidless Kronicles
cathy@1970kikiproject
janae, brooke’s costume is adorable – love the photos!!
trunk or treat is a genius idea! as is the dad tax…i don’t think my dad knew about that one when we were little (thank goodness).
i did my LR in the rain…it’s ok, i was out there in the fresh air and it was awesome. you will be back soon!!!
Megan D
That is one heck of a good catch! I would never throw that lobster back ;)
My dad didn’t have any sort of tax. But I am SUCH a nice mom that I take all of the candy out of Anna’s bag that she is allergic too (aka all the best candy! )
We are all dressing up as the incredibles. My kids are stoked. And you would think I would be eating fewer treats knowing what I will be wearing in a few days, but I am just banking on it being dark when we go trick or treating.
I ran 10 miles on the treadmill this morning followed by a Turbo kick class. Let’s just say, last nights Ethiopian dinner did not agree with me so well :/
My friend has a website called theperfectchocolatechipcookie.com I don’t necessarily use her recipe, but she goes through all the things that can go wrong with a cookie (like it being flat) and why it happens and tricks to fix it. My cookies have been much better since! Good luck!
Janae
I will be using that website! Dang girl… Awesome workout! Your meal last night looked incredible! I want to see a picture of all your costumes:) enjoy your peanut filled candies!
TorontoRunner
My heart!!
That is soooo cute. She’s a doll.
Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile
Oh my gosh, I am dying! That is the cutest thing ever :D
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries
Ohhh MY! She’s too flippin’ cute! Good choice on the costume mom & dad!
Kristen @ notsodomesticated
She is such a cutie! I’m trying to figure out what you and Billy are wearing … some type of aprons, but I can’t read the words!
We’re not dressing up this year, but we will be handing out candy to kids who come to our house. And you better believe I’ll dress up our little one next year! ;)
Jean
Wait, what did you guys go as, chefs? So cute!
Sarah
Oh my goodness! Cutest baby EVER! (Well, beside my three, but I have to say that since I’m their mother.) She is so so so cute and I love the lobster costume!!!
Sandee
She is so cute as a lobster! I am running the Morgan Hill Half and then running 5 more . Hope your back feels better soon!
Heather
You should have put her in a cooking pot and dressed yourself as a chef!!
Awesome costume!!!! :)
Happy Halloween!!!
Holly
AHHHH!! I’m so glad you chose the lobster. She is the CUTEST lobster I have EVER seen :D
Love that your Dad charged a ‘candy tax’- that is too funny. I have a feeling Craig might like that ‘tax’ idea….our poor little girl will never know what a Reese PB cup tastes like if he gets his hands on her candy! Haha
michelle kim
Oh, dang! There’s a church called Abundant Life that did the trunk-or-treat, too!!
SHE LOOKS SOOOO CUTE!
And I bought a pair of Brooks PureFlow yesterday and I tried them out this morning and my ITB pain was GONE! So I have to thank you for recommending those shoes :D
Janae
Oh my goodness! That makes me so incredibly happy! They really are the best shoes ever!!!
Sharon
Your sister’s chocolate chip cookie recipe is the best!! I started making them a few weeks ago and now have people asking me to make more. They are perfection!
Janae
That makes me so happy! I might have to agree with you especially after tasting these ones I made ha! Hope you are having a great day!
Janell
Your cookies do look yummy- but I understand your embarrassment over flat ones. I’ve been there!!!
Cookie fixes:
So you got flat cookies? A couple of reasons this could have happened are…
1.Did you use a mixer? That can overly beat the dough and make it too soft. Try mixing with your hand. For realz….
2.Did you try shortening/Crisco? The sticks make it super easy and the shorting makes them a big fluffier..
3. Your butter or shortening could have been too warm. (hence, over mixing sort of warms it…) For whatever, crazy chemical reason I don’t understand if it’s too warm it flattens cookies.
4. Don’t shape them or anything when you put them on the tray. Just scoop a bit with a cereal spoon and then scrape it with another spoon onto the tray.
Try that nestle’s toll house recipe on the back of the chocolate chips package and replace the butter with Crisco.
Janae
Ahhh thank you!!! I messed up all of those rules hahahah!
Chelsie @ Balance, Not Scale
My Halloween evening will be spent running (and I wouldn’t have it any other way!!), but we’re bringing candy to our training group to exchange and wearing costumes and just doing a long, easy run, so it’ll be fun. :)
Long run this weekend is my first 10k race tomorrow!! Super nervous and the weather is supposed to be TERRIBLE!! My knee was sore, so I was worried I wouldn’t be able to push for my “hallelujah time”, but now it looks like I might just have it in me!!! Fingers crossed that I’ll break 40:30, but I would be super overjoyed with any time breaking 41:00. Wish me luck!!
Chelsie @ Balance, Not Scale
Ahhh! I hit enter before saying OHMYREDLOBTERGOODNESS BROOKE IS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE IN COSTUME!! She’s going to look at all those pictures when she’s 12 and think you were rotten parents for dressing her up like that … But just rest assured that the remaining 7 billion humans think you’re epic for doing it!!
My parents were sneaky about the candy tax. They “checked over” our bags first and I always thought I was missing large amounts of the good stuff when I got it back. But it’s okay, I “exchanged” from my brothers’ bags when they weren’t looking … I’m an awesome big sister. :)
Micheline
I just ran the Saints and Sinners Half Marathon and it was incredible!!! Thank you sooooo much for recommending it!(:
Janae
I am so happy you loved it!!! Way to go!!!
Cate
She is so flippin’ cute! My friend dressed her baby as a lobster and carried him around in a lobster pot!
I ran a 6.66 mile race this morning – the Devil’s Chase is Salem, MA. It was so much fun!
SkinnyRunner
I DIE. so adorable.
Ashley @ This Is The Place
Oh my god. The bibs you and billy are wearing make the family-costume. SO FREAKING CUTE.
Today’s workout was a triathlon – 10 mi run, brunch with my dad and husband, then an hour of hot yoga. What, eating brunch is totally a sport! ;)
Kathryn
The lobster costume is adorable!
I ran a 5k today with my sister in the Halloween Capital of the World. We ran dressed as Tinkerbell and Periwinkle.
Emily B.
My long run is going to be the Marine Corps Marathon!!! I am so nervous, as this is my first marathon ever! The weather is not looking too stellar either (Thanks hurricane Sandy :( grr). Any advice??!?!?
natalie@ southern fit foodie
So, I had to change my costume idea for tonight’s party since it is outside and our crazy TN weather decided to go from 82 on Thursday to 32 on Saturday. Insane. I am now going as a lumberjack. :)
Lora @ Crazy Running Girl
Her costume is SO cute! Adorbs. Ha, love the daddy tax!! I am running 20 miles tomorrow, last 20 miler before Brooklyn Marathon! woo!
Katie
OMG a LOBSTERRRRR! LOOOOVE it! And your and Billy’s bibs?! HILARIOUS. I’m dying of cuteness overload over here.
Jaclyn @Justjac
Ha, your little lobster!! Too cute and I love the bibs that you guys are wearing with it.
It looks like your church does so many cool events, love that! Where do you go?
emily
That’s SOOOO FUNNY! I was a lobster for my first halloween as well! I still have the costume my mom made me with oven mit claws and ping pong ball eyes on pipe cleaners!
Kelly
De-lurking to help your chocolate chip cookie mission! Alton Brown’s recipe is amazing (assuming you like them thick and chewy) http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-chewy-recipe/index.html
You have to use bread flour, not all purpose, and don’t skip chilling them or they won’t be as thick – but it’s worth the effort. If you don’t like them you can send them to me to take care of for you ;)
Ruth@FacetiousFarang
hahaha! I LOVE Brooke’s costume! That is hysterical. How wonderful to have a child that is too small to protest about your costume choices!
Kayla @ kp LOVING it
Worlds best chocolate chip cookie reciepe is on the back of a Butter Flavored Crisco can (I always use a few extra chocolate chips, semi sweet). Trust me. My grandmother shared this secret with me years ago, and she doesn’t mess around with baking. Everyone always wants to know how I make my cookies!!!
Kayla @ kp LOVING it
P.S. Love Booke’s costume. Did you take any pictures of her in a big pot??
robyn
very very cute. love the idea of trunk or treat. we are on holiday for Eid-normally work today-so did my long run on a sunday for a change-16km…feeling good.
Missy
That costume is super cute! Love it! Looks like yall had a fun time!
Michelle Smith
I have a wonderful tried and true chocolate chip cookie receipe. We put symphony bars in it. Let me know your email and I can email it to you.
Jacqueline
I love your little lobster!! That’s the perfect costume for little Brooke!
I did the Warrior Dash mud run, which was a lot of fun.
Kay
Love the costume, you all look great!!
Cindi B
I did the Great Turtle Half Marathon on Mackinac Island (Michigan)! It was a gorgeous race with a HILLY mixed trail course. The weather was in the 40’s (PERFECT!) and I ran faster than I’d planned. Oh, well. I hadn’t trained as much for this one and was going to take it easy and even try to get some pictures. I started out feeling easy, but once I saw my pace I felt sort of committed to it. It was my last official race of my 30’s (I turned 40 today!) and had a blast!
Lizzie
i LOVE the lobster dinner costumes!! makes me want to go on vacation to my grandparents’ cabin in maine. : ) i try to dress up every year, but it’s more fun when someone does it with you. and sadly, my husband hates dressing up. when we were at byu, he would always be a “student” so he would wear what he wore to school. BUT… i found the perfect solution, at least for this halloween. he is starting to go bald, so he shaves his head. i am going to bribe him to wear all white and a fake earing so he can be mr. clean. i am then going to be a cleaning house wife. ; ) with rubber gloves and a feather duster fo sho!
i am sure you have MORE than enough cookie recipes, but this one is TRIED and TRUE. everyone begs my husband to make them whenever we come visit. u should try these puppies sometime!! : )
http://lizzieandryan.blogspot.com/2012/09/cowboy-cookies.html
Courtney F
Daddy tax is hilarious! have to tell my husband. Brooke is the cutest lobster ever!!
Whitney
Love her little lobster costume. she is the cutest. Trunk or treat is such a great idea!
I ran the Monster Dash 10K on Saturday.
Emily D.
Hi Janae!
I’m Emily and my friend from CA just insisted that I a) try Yogurtland and
b) check out your blog :) It’s really great to find so many motivating and hilarious running blogs! I’m currently training for the Eugene Marathon and am always happy to find tips and stories that are so encouraging. Happy Halloween :)
Lizzy
I LOVE the Lobster costume!
Daddy Tax – I’m stealing that idea!
XLMIC
Love the lobster (were you and Billy wearing lobster-boiling-chef aprons?)! I was Darth Vader, my kids were: the king of hearts, a vampire girl, Darth Maul, and Alice in Wonderland. Love that Trunk or Treat idea…genius!