The final choices have been made.

Yes, it is not even October yet, but we start talking about ideas for Halloween costumes about mid-summer.  Usually, the requests change several times before I can even get working on them, but I think we have our winners for this year!  Let me first explain that I don't really know how to sew.  I don't  know how to read a pattern that even calls itself  "Simplicity" to make me feel more stupid . I would love to be a great seamstress, but for now, I settle with a little sewing and a lot of hot glue sticks!
I get stressed out over it every year, but I love making my kids' costumes and seeing their excitement as they come to form.  I don't remember ever having a store-bought costume growing up.  Even if it was stuff from my own closet with a few added accessories, the creativity was the fun part.  So let the creativity begin!

Leo's choice this year is Green Lantern.  I think the final decision making point came when he asked if he would get his own light-up ring and I said yes.

Evan, as you may have guessed, decided to be Flash because he can run sooooo fast!  Although I would like to follow his blue-print, I think the final product will be an amped up version of this 2005 rendering I did for Jack's first Halloween.

Jack has started planning for about the next five Halloweens, but for this year he came out of the blue with Master Chief from Halo.  I feel a little guilty, like I am cheating.  I actually made a Master Chief costume for Leo two years ago.  It conveniently fits Jack now.  After a little touching up, it should be great. 

And Ollie... we talked about being Plex, or a Minion from Despicable me... some of his favorites...
He finally decided on Wolverine and is sticking to it. 

Of course when I make them, they always end up being versions that are much more kid friendly.  And usually padded and warm.... I hated wearing my coat over my costume.  Come on!!
So soon, I will be hitting thrift stores and craft stores to find just the right things to dye, cut, sew, glue, paint and ultimately bring smiles to my favorite little faces.
Wish me luck.

The Truth

The truth is that it has been a little over two years since I last posted on this blog. The truth is that a lot of things have happened (even some documented!), over those two years. The truth is that there is no way that I could possibly update this blog with all said events (especially at the rate I have been blogging!). The truth is - I am flawed. Yep, totally imperfect, and I am trying to let myself realize that just being me is okay. In an attempt at moving forward, I had this great idea to follow the progress of our annual Halloween costume creating. I am hoping that this will do two things for me:

1. Get me to blog again; and

2. Get me to make my kids' costumes in a timely manner instead of staying up all night on the 30th and burning at least four of my fingers with hot glue.

So to get started, I wanted to share the first rough draft of one of the costumes I will be making this year.

My 6-year-old kindly brought me this sketch tonight as a gentle urge to get working on it.

I only hope I can do it justice.

Happy Birthday Jack-Jack!

Everybody loves Jack! There's just something about him that reaches out and grabs a little piece of your heart... even when he is being naughty. Today he turned 3 years old! Or "really big" if you ask him. Not only did his daddy have the day off to spend with him, but Grandpa Rob got to come stay and we were lucky enough to spend the evening with Aunt Margaret, Uncle Dean and the lovely Five Fosters! Of course he also had many messages of love coming his way for his very special day. If you asked him what he wanted for his birthday he would reply without fail, "trucks and mud and rocks and water". Evan thought that maybe someone could buy him some dirt seeds so that we could grow him some dirt. Of course Grandpa delivered with the very thing his heart desired...

Remember the days when a robot shirt and Lightning McQueen underpants were all you needed to start your day? But, I digress. Here is Jack with his brand new sand and water table.

Here is everyone enjoying the new table. Ahh what could be better? Sand on one side, water on the other...

How about mud ALL OVER! And do you want to know something? It was his birthday dream come true.

This is the part where I try to take pictures of Jack opening some of his presents. (And no, Leo did not get into a fight... if you look closely you will see a tiny pin prick of a red mark made by one horrible and beastly mosquito and BAM his whole face swelled up.)

This is the part where Ollie decides to help me.

A couple of months ago, the plan was to make a robot cake. I have to admit though that "rocks and mud" was just about the easiest cake I have ever had one of them request! The kids all thought it was so cool to eat real-looking chocolate rocks.

Here is our "working guy" very happy about his new tools. You may have noticed him wearing this ensemble as he blew out his candles. For a boy who was very kindly told at every well-visit for his first 18 months that he just "wasn't the biggest guy" he has grown into quite a tank. He can take on both of his older brothers now. His hands are almost as big as Leo's and his feet are passing Evan's. We love every inch of him!

Happy Birthday Jack!!

Those Darn Commercials.

I'm not sure, but I think that retailers are out to get me. It seems like they are choosing to push their products during prime kid-watching-tv time on channels geared towards a young and impressionable audience. Advertising companies wouldn't do that, would they?


First let me say that most of the time my kids don't watch TV because they are too busy sculpting with organic play dough, eating sugar free snacks (or brussel sprouts), and helping me around the house. BUT, when they DO watch TV they have reached the tender age of wanting EVERYthing advertised between episodes of Sponge Bob and Dora. It's gotten so bad that they actually fight over who will get which color of each item for which holiday and IF they will share it or not. Jack has started laying claim early on in the commercial because he knows his birthday is coming up. It doesn't matter if it's a water gun, an action figure, or Gatorade... he wants it for his birthday.




Here's the one that kind of surprised me:







First of all, who knew that mid-day cartoons would be the prime spot for this. Apparently some one who knew my boys. Leo and Evan practically swoon every time this commercial comes on. They "NEED" it.

"But mom, all you have to do is give them $19.95 and we can have it!"

"See mom, you can even get toothpaste when you have a broken arm."

The funny thing is that I made a very similar contraption out of Avon boxes in elementary school for the Inventions fair. Too bad I didn't get the patent on this in the 4th grade.

Anyhow, I guess we know what to ask Santa for this year.

And by the way, if you've seen the commercial, Evan wants the RED toothpaste too!