Happy Halloween 2009

There has been sooooo much going on and I just couldn't blog because I have been sick sick sick. NOT the swine flu, however, just a respiratory infection. We have been hugely blessed by great friends during this past week or so - wonderful families who came in while I was out of commission and kept us fed and took kids and were just in general wonderful!

The usual Halloween drill is that I and the kids get dressed up and I pick a fight with Byron to get him to come with us as we go to the little Trunk or Treat at the church and around our local neighborhood. Last year, the kids really didn't get into the spirit of things (but I had fun). This year, I am still just not feeling up to heading outside - or picking a fight. So, much to Byron's relief, he is off the hook. Our good friends have some teenage kids who desperately want to be allowed to go trick-or-treating, so they are taking (along with their mother) our kids out to the festivities. There are three teens (including Robert) and three babies ... perfect!

The kids, thanks to TV and school, have been practicing all day for the big event. I had already decided to put Joshua into the Jedi costume I made for Robert back in Oregon. It fits him perfectly and he wore it to school yesterday.

For Ben, I didn't really have a costume. He picked out a dinosaur pattern, but when I got sick - that pretty much ended any dinosaur ideas. I was looking through my box and thought I could fit him into Robert old CSA uniform. I was just worried about what he might think he was supposed to be. Since we don't do any Civil War stuff. He solved my problem, however, by getting into a fight with Joshua. He kept insisting that he was a pirate (how random is that?). So, I put a handkerchief on his head and he said "Aargh, I'm a pirate!" Problem solved. With the wool pants (which are pretty scruffy), his old sandals, and the shirt that is so big it exposes his entire chest and balloons the sleeves ... he looks perfect! I really just wish I had some clip on earrings (not that he'd keep them on). I decided to take eye liner and give him a beard and a mustache ... and chest hair! He keeps opening his shirt to show it off ... I thought Josh was going to be my ham, but Ben takes the cake this year! Who's the man!

Ginny loves Tinker Bell and I had found a pattern that had all of the fairies from the movie on it and allowed her to choose which color "Tinker Bell" she wanted to be. Of course, she chose the pink one. All told, her costume cost $6 ... that's my kind of costume. Huge thank you to my friend Leslie who came over and actually finished the costume this week because I couldn't focus enough to sew! As with Ben, I decided to add a little make up. I wish I had taken video of her trying to hold still for the lip stick ... when I finally convinced her to stop licking her lips before I could get it on her! She did pretty well for 2 and a half. The only disappointment was that I did not get her wings stiff enough. I tried adding wire after the fact, but it didn't really work ... I'll have to make a new set another time.

Robert wanted to be a marine, so I called to get a set of my brother-in-law's fatigues. He's in the Army, but I figured it was close enough ;-) At any rate, that fell through, so I told Robert he needed to be creative. This is what he came up with... he is a Secret Agent. Byron tried to get him to take his shoe off and talk into it, but he didn't go for it. This is his best Secret Agent look ... what more can I say?

Byron and I are going to hang out and study (and watch college football) this year. I can't wait to hear what fun the kids have! I am so not getting sick next year ...

Kids say the darndest things ... and what was I thinking?

Last night, while I was showering all three little ones, Josh looks and me and asks "Mom, where is Ginny's penis?" Without missing a beat (and rather proud of my not choking) I told him that only boys have penises (sp?). He said "oh" and I really thought that was the end of it. But no, after thinking things over for a minute, he said, "but Mom, if Ginny doesn't have a penis, how does she go pee?" Realizing this was not going to end easily, I resorted to being flippant (huge tactical error) and told him that "for girls, it just falls out." My analitical little boy then told me that if the pee just fell out, how did Ginny not pee her pants. Deciding that he would just find out for himself, he told Ginny to go potty so he could watch (a command I countered fairly immediately). I finally resorted to the age-old diversion of "go ask Daddy." I wonder if he will ... it really is Daddy's turn for some of these moments. One thing is for sure, no more co-ed showers!

In other news, I have finally come to the conclusion that I will never again fit into my costumes - and that is not a bad thing. I don't really weigh much more than I did then, but having 3 children in 4 years seems to have permanently altered my frame. So, I asked a couple of teens who were sitting for me if they wanted any of them. I was surprised at how enthusiastically they started going through the boxes. Unfortunately, since both of the girls actually have figures (meaning upstairs), they could not fit into any of my Civil War dresses (since, as my sister has often pointed out, walls are jealous of my figure). They were soooo disappointed, I offered to make a couple of dresses for them (if they bought the fabric and came over and helped with kids, etc.) I know, I know ... I do this to myself. Seriously, though, I really planned this time and my house was very clean when they came over (this was even with a sick kid for a couple of days). It was a fun night! After the kids went down, we went to work ... the girls cut most of the dresses out (which made for some creative piecing). There was lots of giggling, chips & dip, and peanut M&Ms. As usual, I grossly underestimated the amount of time it would take. I made a couple of mistakes which I had the girls pick out as I moved along. At one point, one of the girls actually fell asleep while picking out a seam ... it was soooo funny because she didn't actually stop moving her hand, she just didn't actually make contact between the dress and the seam ripper. I finally let them go to bed at about 3:45 this morning (kind of impressed that I could outlast a couple of 15 yr-olds). By the time they left this morning, we had done enough to ensure that the dresses will fit - I'll have to finish them myself this week. I also finished all of the laundry and ironing and kept the house clean throughout the project! A service project first! On the downside, 7am came way too fast and I am envying those girls the freedom to nap. I will post pics when the dresses are finished. They plan to wear them to school for Halloween and are going to spend the night here the day before so I can help them get dressed and get their hair right (and take them to school so that they do not experience hoop skirts on the bus).
All in all, I think tonight is an excellent night for cold cereal and Daddy time!