Halloween '11

This (like many of my posts) is a toot my own horn kind of post. I figure if you can't brag about yourself on your own blog where can you? Every year I have this insane desire to make the kids' costumes.  I am admittedly a Martha Stewart wannabe.  This year I finally got on it.  I made two and a half of the costumes. (All five would have killed me).  Lucy said at the end of August (yes, that's when I start asking) that she wanted to be a mermaid.  I wasn't quite sure how to pursue that one so I used my favorite new site Pinterest  to give me some inspiration.  At first her costume consisted of just the skirt and top.  I actually made another top with some satin-ny material but it was an epic sewing failure.  When I finished it, it ended up looking like my dear little five year old had developed some voluptuous assets.  Needless to say that was promptly put in the scrap pile!!! Anyways, we went to a trick-or-treating event at our local zoo and everyone kept calling her a princess.  It didn't bug her, but it bugged me so I whipped up her mermaid tail to make things a little more clear Although I'm still not entirely pleased with how it came out, it got the point across. 

Kate's pink owl costume was influenced by me and Pinterest (again).  I kept seeing these cute little bird and owl costumes and decided it would be a great costume for her.  Her costume I constructed by using some tutorials online to make the lined (yes, lined!!) hooded cape.  I stayed up till two in the morning one night finishing up her costume, but it was so worth it.  I was soooo happy with how it turned out!! 

By the time I got to Eli I was running out of time so I just whipped up a little bat cape and sewed some ears on a black wool hat that we had laying around.  I had to keep telling people what he was, but he's not even one yet so I figured it wouldn't matter too much.  (Eli, if you're reading this as an adult, sorry!!!  I do love you!!! ha ha) 

Cy wanted to be a Vietnam veteran.  He's really into learning about history and wars right now.  Kaleb created his costume (Thank goodness for a creative husband!) out of a t-shirt and pants that Cy already had in his closet.  Kaleb rolled up his sleeves and drew on the tattoo and marks on his face.  He also found a belt in Cy's closet and strapped it on like an ammo belt.  Then he topped the costume with a beret we had in our halloween stuff.

Abe is getting a little older so he donned an old black trench coat of Kaleb's and a hockey mask.  I know. Lovely.  The peaceable mother in me cringed.  Thankfully I don't think he has a clue of what character(s) his costume references.  The highest rated movie he's ever seen is the last installment of Harry Potter. (He was helping at an orchestra sponsored kids carnival when I took pictures so I didn't get a picture.)

All the kids came home with their buckets full of candy and smiles on their faces, ready to get on the sugar roller coaster, so I suppose it was a successful Halloween.