This past weekend was big-time party weekend in my family. Friday night was our annual Halloween party, only this year we had a hidden agenda. My sister Karen turned 50 over the weekend and we really wanted to surprise her with a big party. But we also knew there was NO way we’d be able to really catch her off guard. So we pretended that Friday night’s Halloween party was the big surprise, then sprung the real one on her Saturday.
But that’s too much partying for one blog. 
So I thought I’d just share a few images from the Halloween party.
This year, we had a theme. The invitations asked everyone to come as a “famous group or couple, real or fictional.” And, well, people got reallllly creative…
Alice in Wonderland
Dog & Beth the Bounty Hunters
3 Muskateers
We weren’t a terribly mean king and queen of hearts. BTW…I made both of our costumes!
My witchy sister and tin man brother!
I really liked some of these pictures of me and Bruce!
Birthday girl Karen…Cher to Kenny’s Sonny!
And more of us…didn’t our costumes turn out great!?!
Napoleon Dynamite & my pretty niece!
We’re off to see the Wizard…all members of my family (my Dad was the scarecrow)
My oldest & her b.f. Sweeney Todd & Mrs. Lovett!
Even the doggies got into the act…
As you can imagine, a great time was had by all! It was a crazy, late night, followed by a very long outdoor party on Saturday. My big sis had a wonderful time and I absolutely loved being able to help make her big five-oh as wonderful, wild and outrageous as she is.
Happy Birthday again Karen. (And you, too, Donna & Lynn…can you believe I have THREE sisters with birthdays THIS WEEK!?!)
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Sounds like a fabulous, fun-filled weekend, Les. Love the pictures! Happy birthday to your sisters!!!
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What an awesome family! And great party!!! Happy Birthday to your sisters!
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It looks like you guys had a wonderful time. Love all the terrific costumes!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOUR SISTERS!!
I love the pic of you guys on the sofa. So cute!
Cher
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Three birthdays?? Was February that cold and boring where you grew up????
Looks like you had a great party :pumpkin:
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Looks like y’all had a wonderful party! Love all the pictures. Happy Birthday to your sisters.
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Sounds like a fun party! Love all of those costumes.
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lol Ev…Bruce we always said my parents must have reeaaaallly liked to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
And actually, the four little girls are all my older sisters. I hadn’t even been born yet.
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All together now…AWWWWWWWW!! Great
Leslie! What a terrific and fun family! 
to all your sisters!
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Those costumes are great!!!! I think it is so fun that all of your family dresses up and enjoys the party.
And that is pretty crazy that you have 3 sisters with birthdays in the same week. I’ve heard of other familys with 2 birthdays in the same week, but not 3!
to all of them!!!!
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Dude! I just saw the :jiveturkey: !!!
Okay…for the Halloweenies, too: :pumpkin: :vampire: :arrr:
OMG! Look at all the CUTE icons!!!!! *madly clicks on them all!*
:trickboo :devilbanana :ghosty1 :mummy :mummy2 :bat: :ghost:
LOVE ‘EM!
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Boo!
\
:trickboo
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Cute costumes looks like you all had a great time. Hope your sister have a
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Hey everyone! Our fabulous web guy, Walt, uploaded all the new emoticons, a lot of them just in time for Halloween. Have fun!!! :devilbanana
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Oh my gosh I love them!!!!!!
:trickboo :ghosty1 :mummy :mummy2
:pumpkin:
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Happy Halloween!!! :halskel :angelbanana :trickbatman :trickboo :devilbanana :ghosty1 :mummy :mummy2 :halpump :trickspider :halltaz :hallwitchy
This is what it looks like in Oregon: :jumpleaf
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Julie, this one’s for you: :mickey
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:mickey :mickey :mickey :mickey
Thanks, Janelle!
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Thanks for sharing all the pictures with us Leslie. The costumes you made are great. Looks like a good time was had by all.
Look at all the new icons I can have fun with the rest of the week!! Because, you all know Halloween is coming!! :giggler
:ghosty1 :biggroan :trickboo :halpump :hallwitchy :trickspider
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Great Halloween/Birthday photos. Seeing your pictures makes more excited for our Halloween party this Friday. :mummy2 I can’t wait!! :trickboo
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I’ve been to this party and IT REALLY ROCKS!!! Leslie, thanks for sharing the pictures – of course, you all look fantastic. (Even the dogs!) I am so sorry you moved away and took all the fun out of Halloween and Fourth of July. Great memories with your family and mine (and Miss Cami Dalton’s, too). You and Bruce sure like to kiss. Just sayin’. :halpump
xoxo
Rocki
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I love the pictures, Leslie. I may have to look back through them to get some inspiration for friday. It looks like everyone had a great time.
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OMG, love the :mickey!!! I love the other ones, too, but I :heart1: the mouse!
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I have to come play too!!! :bat: :halskel :angelbanana :trickbatman :trickboo :devilbanana :ghosty1 :mummy :mummy2 :halpump :trickspider :halltaz :hallwitchy :danmonk
:arrr: :pumpkin:
And what is it doing here, right now??? :freezin :freezin :freezin
Yes we have snow. grrr….. :biggroan
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i bought costumes for the short and stubbies today (that’s what I call the doxies). They are going as :arrr: and a pirate wench. We need a wench icon.
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Leslie,
Thanks for sharing the pictures great job on the costumes you made, but poor doggies I feel bad when people dress up their doggies
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love the new icons
:ghost: :ghosty1 :mummy :mummy2 :halpump :trickspider :hallwitchy :trickboo :vampire:
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Thanks for sharing the terrific photos, Leslie! You have a great family, and you’re clearly a great sister! Glad a good time was had by all! And a very happy birthday to all your sisters!
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Your party looks like it was a lot of fun. My hubbie doesn’t do costumes so adult parties are out of the question as a couple, but my daughter had her party on Friday night. It was wonderfully smooth, but after a week spent in bed with the flu 75 teenagers had me anxiously watching the clock for pick up. LOL
I love all of the new emoticons, I can’t wait to use them.
:grouphug :boxer :freezeman :hairpull I told you I couldn’t wait.
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OMG what awesome costumes! Thanks for sharing the pictures!