Halloween 2014

I love Halloween! The costumes, the candy, the fun. LOVE it!

I've known for months what costumes I wanted to make for the boys. And I've had it in my head as to how I was going to make them. I even started buying the supplies a couple weeks ago. So why did I wait to start making them the day before our church Halloween carnival? I don't know if I'm just crazy and like to torture myself, or if I know that I thrive under pressure.

Oh well. Long story short the costumes were not complete in time for the church party. So Charlie went in the same costume he wore last year, and Emmett went in the "costume" Charlie had the year before last (a white t-shirt of mine and a white pillowcase--ghost costumes are so easy).

Ghost Emmett & Darth Vader Charlie

We had a good time. When in crowds and around new people, Emmett gets kind of clingy and shy, so he wasn't enthusiastic at all, but I think he had fun. Charlie had a blast. You can see his giraffe face paint. He wiggled a lot during the painting because the brush tickled, but it turned out pretty good considering. Emmett and I watched Charlie get his face painted, but he freaked out when I sat him in the chair. Emmett did not want to be painted.

The church carnival provided a few games and crafts and a trunk-or-treat. Walking around the parking lot, Emmett was more interested in the people than the candy. And being shy around strangers (and not much of a talker to begin with), he flat out refused to say trick-or-treat or thank you. We're working on it.

Now, when I say Emmett gets shy and clingy, around strangers . . . that typically means he glares at them and needs to be in physical contact with me. The glare is a pretty good one. I wish I had a good picture, because it is quite hilarious. He tilts his chin down and glares from beneath his brows as if to say, "Who are you? Why are we in the same vicinity? You're stupid. Leave me alone." Emmett is not one of those friendly kids. Frankly, I kind of love it about him.

I did finish the boys' costumes before Halloween, though, so they were able to wear them trick-or-treating.

Diddy Kong Emmett & Donkey Kong Charlie

I got two white long-sleeved t-shirts, removed the sleeves from Emmett's, and Rit dyed the various parts brown or red. I had been hoping to find plain sweatshirts in red and brown and detach the red sleeves and replace them with brown ones, but I had a hard time finding them and by the time I started looking it was a little late in the game to order them online. Oh well, this worked. Then I just fabric painted the stars and tie. I originally thought I'd do a fabric applique, but again I waited too long and didn't want my first fabric applique attempt to be rushed.

Then we put on our glow sticks for safety and headed out the door. One of the first homes we went to had tombstones in the yard, and I said, "Oh no! Someone died here!" Charlie stopped short and did not want to go up to the door. I'm a bad mom. It was hilarious. Then at later houses, he would ask if anyone had died there. At the end of the night we came home with an excellent haul of candy, and I don't think either kid was too traumatized.

I even threw together a costume for me! At the library where I work, costumes are encouraged, so I wore my costume to work and the rest of the day, too. I haven't dressed up for Halloween in a very long time. It was a lot of fun.

Scarecrow Katie

I put my costume together the day before Halloween. I crocheted a necklace and put tassels on it, and I took an old burlap sack that had dried beans in it and sewed wide yarn stitches in a circle around it so I could pull the yarn tight and make the hat. Add those items to a blue t-shirt, jeans tucked in boots, and a rope belt and wam-o! Scarecrow costume.

And here's one last picture of the three of us.

Unfortunately Chad had to work, so he wasn't able to join us. Maybe next year!