Schembechler, Lindbergh and Einstein

Originally Peter planned to be Winston Churchill but decided he was too fat and didn't want to go around with a cigar in his mouth.  This enthusiastic Michigan Football fan decided to be Bo Schembechler because he said it would have been more fun to be a fan back in the day ....... "when Michigan use to win most its games". 

The costume was simple enough.  Just had to machine embroider a jacket we had on hand and a kind neighbor helped put the old school head set together.  

Here is William as Charles Lindbergh:

He was the most decisive about his costume and begged me to arrange it weeks ago.  He helped me pick out a men's leather jacket from the thrift store and I re sized it to fit him (leaving it a little big just in case he wanted to be a pilot again).  The baggy pilot pants were originally men's khakis from the thrift store and it was a simple transformation.  The helmet and goggles were ordered off amazon, boots from ebay and the belt was one I had on hand.  I think his costume looks the most authentic.  

When we assembled Henry's Thomas costume William suggested we construct The Spirit of St. Louis to complete his look.  Maybe next year. 

Here is James as Albert Einstein:

This was as simple as re-fashioning a vest from the thrift store and ordering the wig and moustache from amazon.  James is well into Einstein's biography and has spent the past couple of weeks reviewing all sorts of interesting facts and theories with me.  He plays the part well.

This Halloween season has proved to be fun, crafty and educational.  I think we've started a new tradition.

  

Maryanna as Sacagawea

At first Maryanna wanted to be princess from India complete with her arms and face painted with henna (she saw this in a yoga book for children).  I admit to being culturally ignorant and did not want to offend our Indian friends and neighbors.  I read the story of Sacagawea and she was instantly enthusiastic.

We used an old sheet with which she helped cut the fringe, paint the details, and sponge printed the belt.  Her favorite part was the knife and walking staff, my favorite detail was baby Becca as Jean Baptist (or "Pomp") on her back. 

Maryanna loved hearing of the heroine's bravery.  Here she is in character:

And after a long day and way too much candy here she is out of character:

Clara the Cat

I tried to convince Clara to be Clara Barton, I was Clara Barton one year for a school report and still remember the cute costume I wore.  She said maybe she'd be that in a few years after she was a flower, ballerina, bride, and fairy.  This year she wanted to be a purple princess.  I still have yards of purple sparkly fabric that were intended as dress ups for last Christmas.  I never got around to them last year and still haven't gotten around to them this year.  

At 8:00 pm Thursday night I decided I needed sleep more than Clara needed a princess costume.  Upon tucking her in bed I convinced her it would be fun to wear her new black leotard with sparkly glasses and whiskers as a cat.  She consented and we practiced her purrs and meows before falling as sleep.  As I fell asleep I envisioned a beautiful gown to be opened Christmas morning.

    

Parent Participation

Try to guess what I am.

I am a Monster Mom with 4 arms and eyes in the back of my head.  I wore running shoes, kept my hair in its regular unkempt state and also wore my most awkward "mom jeans".  There is a stuffed sock attached under each real arm and at the end are two stuffed gloves, one with a wooden spoon and the other a diaper (a clean one).  At the homeschool Halloween party one of my friends daughter threw up on her and I joked that that was what my costume was missing.  

I don't mean to mock motherhood.  Motherhood is a beautiful thing and I was reminded of that as we headed down the downtown block towards our van.  As awkward as I was in my costume an old bearded man passing by on his bike shouted out to me......"****! you are pretty". 

Henry didn't like my costume and kept saying....."Don't be a scary mommy,  please be a happy mommy".  And in the end the extra arms just got in the way and the girls decided it is more fun to wear creepy eye clips than bows.  

Here is Paul.  One of these years I'm going to get around to the Ben Franklin costume I've been promising him.  Until then the fish head is quick fix.

This fish head costume was made for William in 2007.  I used a pattern and 1" thick foam that almost busted my sewing machine.  That is why the bottom remains unfinished.  Either way it has held up to heavy use as Paul sometimes wears it while boxing with the boys.

Henry as Thomas

We tried to convince Henry to be Meriwether Lewis to go along with Maryanna's Sacagawea's costume.  We thought he would make a great Abraham Lincoln as well and even suggested Denard Robinson.  But the stubborn 2 year old only had one thing on his mind......Thomas.  So with the help of old boxes, glue, scraps from our trip to the Scrapbox and a lot of paint we made it.  It turned out better than I expected but also took more time than planned.    

The costume also doubled as a great toddler restraining device because he couldn't go too fast without falling over.  Albert Einstein to the rescue here.  Henry chugged around saying "bust my buffers" and sadly by the time we got to our ward party one of his buffers and funnel were already busted.  He still was happy to wear it, even if it did look like one of our worn out Thomas trains that had been played with for over 10 years.

George as Curious George

This costume was actually  made for James 10 years ago.  It is a little big for George but I knew it would be too big for him next year - he just had to be it.  

This was the first and last time I sewed with faux fur.  It is quite a mess to do so.  But I'm more than pleased with how many wears this costume has seen (I've lent it out a bunch) and how it has held up over the years.  That is why I like to make my own costumes.

Happy Halloween 2010

What a great week it has been of assembling costumes. 

Step 1.  Have each child decide on a costume (this year our theme was famous people)

Step 2.  Search around the house for what we already have

Step 3.  Take all the kids to three different thrift stores to pick up extra pieces

Step 4.  Order accessories on ebay or amazon

Step 5.  Go to the craft store for glue and paints

Step 6.  Let the basement get really messy allowing the children to participate in assembling

Step 7.  Take lots of pictures and allow them the opportunity to report on the person (or character) they represent

more details to come..........

11 Year Old Boy Makes Huge Bubbles

We celebrated another birthday this week.  James turned 11.  I told him not to but he did.

It was hard to know what to give an 11 year old.  This T-shirt from thinkgeek.com was an instant favorite.  The symbol is formed by 4,493 digits of pi, I often catching him reviewing it closely.

Also from thinkgeek.com, he opened a magnetic puzzle of the periodic table.  William and Peter are a bit jealous and James complains it distracts him from doing his math.

But the favorite gift was something random I picked up at the thrift store.  It was the Unbelievable Bubble Book and look at William's expression below - it was unbelievable!  This entertained them for hours with shouts of Ooooh and Awwww's so loud Paul had to come down from his office to check out the fun.  The challenge of this was resisting the urge to pop them. 

Can you guess what's below?

Another favorite gift in action - night football with a glow in the dark football.  The kids like how the pictures turned out all ghost like and magical - kind of Harry Potterish.  Here's James charging it.

Last but not least.........a puzzle from Oma and Opa - they know just what he likes.  As a treat James got to stay up to 11 pm to finish the puzzle.  I helped him and it was fun just the two of us.  As much as it pains me to see my babies grow up, it is a joy to see them develop into their unique selves.

  

James asked me at 11 pm before he went to bed........."Mom, what do you think we were doing 11 years ago right now?", I answered  "Well, we were just down the street at the U of M hospital and I was probably trying to figure out how to help you stop crying........the same thing I did for the next six months".   It is hard to believe how time has flown and how much this boy has grown in stature, spirit and brilliance (and cute geekiness) throughout the passing years.  What a joy it is to have an 11 year old boy! 

Doll Clothes

Clara has been caring for this cute little Corrolle doll (Baby Abby) since her first birthday.  But Baby Abby only had the choice of a sleeper and one dress until now.   

This outfit has been cut out since before last Christmas, I just never got around to putting it together.  I don't know why I put it off because to my surprise it took less than an hour.  The pattern was suppose to be for a 14" doll but again it proved to be oversized.  So I self drafted the little jacket made out of a felted hand dyed wool.

I thought this doll would be happy with what ever I sewed her.  But Clara has made it clear that "Baby Abby does not like to wear coats!".  Sound familiar?

Pretty Little Sweeper

Another little gift for Clara.  This broom was picked up at Honey Bee's Mexican market for $2 on our last trip to Detroit's Mexican village.  Clara shares the responsibility of sweeping floors with Peter but is not always so enthusiastic about the job.

I'm hoping this broom that we decorated with painted with purple flowers, polka dots and a bow (actually that was only added because it was impossible to remove the large Hecho en Mexico sticker) will make her job more fun. 

The broom is just her size so it is easy to handle.

She also got this song book for her birthday so we've been singing The Sweeping Song over and over as we sweep the floors.

Old broom, Sweep my floor old broom, sweep some more,

Old broom, Sweep my floor, old broom, sweep some more

Sweep-a-long, sweep-a-longSweep-a-long now,

Sweepin away al the dust on the floor

Sweep-a-way, sweep-a-way, sweep-a-way now

Sweep it on the dustpan on the floor

Sweepin my worries and cares away

'Gonna sweep 'em all up and toss 'em away

Fairies all love it when the floor shines bright

Then they dance and prance in the silver moonlight

Is she convinced?  Not yet.