Saturday, November 01, 2008

Happy Halloween!

In a fit of insanity I agreed to make my kids’ costumes this year. Yes, me, the 4-H flunkie, decided to tackle my children’s three unconventional and bizarre Halloween selections just two weeks before the 31st.

The Dreaded Question: What do you want to be for Halloween this year?

When you ask it in September you give children more than enough time to consider elaborate, ornate, and eBay-able costumes. You also give them nine weeks in which to change their minds. Over and over again. When you ask it on October 15th, you run the risk of not being able to find their selections at Wal-Mart, however, at that point there are no taksies backsies and you have a definitive choice.

Upon being asked the Dreaded Question, Sport and Spunk, with boyish resolution, supplied one-word answers.

Sport: Avatar

Spunk: RobotBoy

Decisive and to-the-point. Of course I had to Google them both later to find out exactly what they were, but no matter, I still had sixteen days to sort it all out.

Sis, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as concise. Upon being asked the Dreaded Question, she spun around in a circle and then, performing a deep plei, answered, “I want to be a ballerina princess riding a Pegasus unicorn.” What? This is Halloween, not Fantasy Island.

In seasons past they have all made more conventional, mass-produced selections like Tinkerbell, Elmo, and Spiderman. This year their imaginations had outrun Wal-Mart’s suppliers, and I was left to make a very difficult decision: to sew or not to sew. As mentioned previously, I chose crazy; I chose to sew.

The fifteen dollar costume is a beautiful thing, and only once before have I foregone the convenience of ready-made Halloween-wear. And that one time amounted to an entire week of late nights and pseudo swear words. This year would prove to be no different.

After 72 hours with a pile of fabric, two boxes of Rit dye, a beaded leotard, one iron-on, and a very tall stack of chick flicks, I emerged with three unique, hand-crafted, custom-made Halloween costumes. My children have never been more proud. Or more strangely dressed.

Which proves you can be whatever you want for Halloween.

Me? I’m Martha Stewart this year. Spooky, right?

left
Here's a picture of the "real" Avatar.


Here's a picture of the "Sport" Avatar. (Yes, we're the crazy parents who shaved our son's head for Halloween...)


Here is a picture of the "real" Robotboy (I know. I had never heard of him before either...)


Here is a picture of the "Spunk" Robotboy.

And because I don't have a picture of the "real" princess ballerina riding a Pegasus Unicorn, I present to you Sis riding a Pegasus Unicorn.



Ta-Da!

14 comments:

Rhonda Barnes said...

they look so AWESOME AND THEY SHOULD BE SO PROUD MOMMY DID A TERRIFIC JOB. WISH THEY CAME AND TRICK OR TREATED AT MY DOOR!! GREAT JOB AND HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT NIGHT. LOVE YA ALL GRANDMA BARNES

GustoBones said...

Quite impressive indeed!!! THey look great!!

Anonymous said...

I have been waiting since the scrapbook weekned to see the amazing costumes on your kids, checking your blog daily to seee if you posted the pictures & I have to say WOW!!! They look amazing! I love Kalebs costume he looks like the true avatar:) You did a great job!!! Love ya, Denise

Anonymous said...

Wow. What more can I say. That is fantastic. Crazy... but fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I'm so impressed, the costumes are great. Your children look so cute and happy in them. I hope they had a lot of fun treat or treating around the neighborhood. Way better than Walmart costumes, you rock!

XXXXX

Mrs. Smith said...

We're not worthy! Or in non 80's lingo, I bow to you!

Carrie Wilson Link said...

Wow - you are AMAZING! I'm in awe!

shauna said...

You're all too kind.

But lest anyone mistakenly believe I actually made the Pegasus Unicorn Leah is sporting, THAT did come from Wal-Mart...

jen said...

Great job on the costumes! The kids look like they really liked them! Watch out, they will want to make them costumes again next year.

Reverend Shawn said...

WONDERFUL !!!
The costumes are wonderful - you should be proud!!

As one who is bald AND who marks his Birthday on Halloween, I'm impressed by you effort to make the day incredibly special for your three!! YOU ROCK !!!

kristi said...

Wow...those are fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Wow. You get it!

Rachel said...

Ok if my kids had asked me for those I would have said forget it! I am impressed. Halloween always throws me for a loop. very impressive job...I will make sure that I have my kids tell you what they want to be next year!

Andrew and BreiAnne said...

Awesome Job! The costumes looked great! We love you guys!