Halloween is a favorite holiday of many because it’s super exciting. Halloween is a celebration where everyone can wear costumes and snap fun photos.
The Schmidt family is the same. Patti Schmidt, a New Jersey-based photographer, loves dressing up her four children each Halloween.
She has three grown sons—Larry, 28, Patrick, 26, Gavin, 22, and a daughter, Avery, 5—a bundle of joy who came into their lives unexpectedly.
Patti, 50, discovered she was pregnant again when she was 44. She gave birth to her youngest child nine months later.
“Initially they were as surprised as we first were, and that quickly turned to excitement,” she told TODAY Parents of her sons’ reaction to her pregnancy. “By the time I turned 40 I had given up hope for another baby, but there were other plans in store for us.”
Larry, Patrick, Gavin, and Gavin are all close in age so they share the same Halloween memories. However, Avery is so young, and Patti knew she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the same experience, so she started a new tradition: taking photos that include all four of her children wearing costumes!
It began in 2017 when the foursome depicted characters in “The Wizard of Oz.” In that photo, then one-year-old Avery was mid-air because Patti had a little photo series called #averyintheair at the time.
They did “Star Wars” the following year and “Game of Thrones” the next.
“My husband and I we were binge-watching (Game of Thrones), and I thought the boys as dragons would be so funny,” Patti said.
Last year, the siblings recreated “The Princess Bride,” which Patti revealed was her favorite through an Instagram post.
Patti recently shared a video compilation featuring their costumes from the past 4 years on Instagram and TikTok. It has been viewed over 4.8 Million times.
Luckily, her sons don’t mind the yearly tradition. They are great sports, and they love Avery. They are great family bonding moments and enjoy photoshoots.
“But there may or may not be a good-natured groan or two when I pull out the next theme,” Patti said. “They mostly laugh about it.”
While many have followed Patti on social media for her kids’ Halloween costumes, many end up staying because of their family’s beautiful relationship. They are very close and Avery clearly shares a special bond between her and her three big brothers.
“What I enjoy the most is that they genuinely look content and happy doing this with her,” one user noted.
“The absolute love that emanates from this… She is definitely going to have high standards for any man wanting her in the future, and I LOVE that they are playing a part,” commented another follower.
“They are close despite not only age differences but physical distance,” the proud mom said. “Our two oldest sons live in different states, but they’re within driving distance, and I try to get everyone together as much as possible.”
While Patti and her husband didn’t plan such a big age gap for their children, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Patti’s videos capture the special bond that her three sons share with their little sister. Although they have a unique gap, it doesn’t prevent them from loving each other.
The family has asked TikTok for suggestions for this year’s costume, and some great recommendations have come rolling in: Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls and the Professor, Merida and her three bear brothers—the possibilities are endless!
Patti hasn’t revealed their chosen theme yet, but we’re pretty sure it’s going to be epic!
Follow Patti on Instagram to see more of this beautiful family. InstagramAnd TikTok. You can also visit her blog Here.
