A long time ago in a far away land Halloween was one of the best times of the year.
As a child growing up my sisters and I would trounce around the neighbourhood with pillowcases filling them to the brim with candy booty. We would walk through our neighbourhood without a care in the world and our parents never had to accompany us. We all knew each other and kept an eye on each other.
As a young adult I use to make costumes and try to fool people into not even knowing it was me. I went to elaborate Halloween parties and had a great time. When the parties stopped my favourite thing was to costume up and hand out candy to the little ones that came to the door. The kids were adorable and I could answer that door all night. Of course there was always an adult at the bottom of my driveway waiting for their return with a smile and a wave. When we moved I stocked up on treats and turned all the lights on and sat patiently by the door. No one came. All night … no one came. He-Who finally convinced me to turn out the lights and join him in front of the TV. Of course I brought the candy with me. I had lost Halloween.
Today a blog post arrived in my inbox that reminded me that I still have some Halloween left in me. This post from Sweet Mother reminded me of some of the reasons I always enjoyed Halloween and that I still had some of those “moments” in my life.
A little more than a quarter of a century ago I fell in love with this adorable little boy. He was my baby sister’s first born and I doted on him. When Halloween rolled around I decided I was gong to make him the best Halloween costume ever. I am not very good at sewing and really only know the basics. I worked on his costume for a very long time. I don’t remember ever putting that much of myself into anything. What kid wouldn’t want to be a dinosaur? (Not the big purple one. No one wants to be the big purple one.) Well, he hated it! He cried and cried as we dressed him in it. You can see how angry he was in the picture on the left. I’m not sure how we finally got him to smile in the picture on the right.
Angry Dinosaur
The good news was that I had built that suit like a tank and there was nothing he could do to it to harm it. It was also warm so he didn’t have to cover it up. These were things he did not appreciate. The suit did indeed last. After his little sister was born it wasn’t long before she was swinging down the sidewalk in the dinosaur costume. She was much happier about wearing it and so were the kids who wore it after her. I still laugh until I cry every time I see these pictures.
One day last week I got a Skype call from his little sister. She’s a Mom now and she and her little one spend a lot of time with me on skype. In fact, little Ellee thinks I live in the computer. Other people tell me whenever she sees a computer she walks up to it and calls my name. (Is that not the most adorable thing you have ever heard?) It seems Ellee wanted to be Peter Pan for Halloween and there were no Peter Pan outfits to be found. She could be Tinker Bell, no problem but, not Peter Pan. I spent the afternoon scouring the shops in our area and they were right. I did not find one Peter Pan costume for a toddler. It had been a long time since I had sewn anything and I didn’t have a pattern or measurements, but I gave it a shot and managed to put together my version of a Peter Pan outfit. I drove the costume to Lewiston, NY on Sunday. When Ellee sees me in person it is always awkward at first. I think she is trying to figure out how I got out of the computer. I took the cover off the costume and showed her. Her big eyes got bigger and lit up as she said, “Peter Pan”. Well, this old girl just melted.
The Cutest Peter Pan Ever!
When I returned home I couldn’t wait to tell He-Who about Ellee’s reaction. Before I had a chance to say anything he asked me if I had seen the picture of the newest member of our family, my Grandnephew, baby Logan.
Baby Logan’s First Halloween
Today as I was reading Sweet Mother’s post I received a picture via message on my phone. One of my older sisters is the “Queen of Costume” and dresses for every Holiday and theme you can think of. She had someone at work take this and sent it to me.
The Costume Queen As A Baby Carrot
Halloween is alive and well as long as there are people around who still embrace the spirit of the thing and the fun of it all.
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Oh, I am laughing and crying at this. What a wonderful aunt you are!
When he was 2 my son insisted he wanted to be a teapot. I am not craftsy. I cannot sew. I have no imagination. I tried to talk him into any one of a dozen pre-made costumes. Nope. He wanted to be a teapot. Short and stout.
I ended up making a sandwich sign, covering posterboard cut out like a teapot and covered with tin foil. He wore a pot top for the top of the teapot. He was adorable. I still have the costume hanging in my closet. But I can’t find the damn pictures!
Thanks for giving me this excuse to reminisce. Nobody comes to my house, to trick or treat, either. Sniff.
Thanks Elyse. It’s awesome that you still have the tea pot costume. I have no idea where the dinosaur one is. I think it just kept getting passed along.You could probably tell I was scrambling to find pictures too. I scanned these ones that had been scrapbooked. It really is sad there are no trick or treaters.
I love homemade costumes and really missed when my kids wanted store bought ones like everyone else…..It was a sad sad day. Elle is rocking her costume and I think it’s just the best thing ever that you live in the computer.
Ellee kind of rocks everything she puts on. She is a real ham/performer. I think it will be really sad when she figures out I am not living in the computer. They do grow up so fast.
AWESOME, Michelle. So you, and so much fun.
But, you’ve labeled the picture “Robin Hood” instead of “Peter Pan”, methinks…. ?
I was confused initially, and you know that doesn’t take much!!
Thanks Lauren and nice catch! The pics were labelled that way on the computer and I didn’t notice! I’ve fixed it.
Would you consider being my Editor? 😉
Wow, your niece is beautiful and definately the cutest Peter Pan! The little shark is adorable too! You are so great in making costumes! Much better than what I would have been able to do. Our Halloween has been postponed to next Monday because of the Hurricane. Some towns went ahead and had theirs, but around my area, it was quiet. Adventure Boy still got candy going to and from school from the bus drivers. So, he was munching away on that after school. What a lovely post, thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
Thank you Java Girl. I have to agree with you Ellee and Logan are the two most beautiful children in the world! They are quite brilliant, too. As their Grandaunt I don’t think I am the least bit biased. 😉
I’m glad they are trying to keep with tradition and just rescheduling for the kids (not cancelling). It will be a Halloween to remember no matter what happens.
Yup. I remember the pillow case days. And we’d unload and go back for more! It was a team effort, with two or more of us together all the time. Great fun for a pre-teen. My mom used to make my costumes and she went to extraordinary lengths. She was a great seamstress way back when. Terrific post, Michelle!
He-Who, I had no idea. I knew your Mom was an unappreciated gourmet cook but knew nothing of her seamstress talents. I would like to see some pictures of you in those costumes.
I can relate. For many years, we’ve had a whopping 0 trick-or-treaters, but I still love the idea of Halloween (mostly the candy parts). 🙂
It’s meant to be fun for everyone. It’s the little ones in their costumes looking so cute that make it for me. Until they get into the candy and then it is all bouncing of the walls time. 😉
I hear you. I have 3 young nieces who bring a whole new meaning to “bouncing off the walls!”
I’m confused: kids now dress up but don’t trick or treat? I thought that was the point of it? Then again, your marvellous sister in her baby carrot costume proves that even temporarily becoming something else is magic enough! 🙂
It is a sign of the times I guess. It seems a lot of people feel it is no longer safe to “Trick or Treat” so they plan parties and special events so they can dress up and get some goodies in a well supervised atmosphere.
Yeah, my sister is pretty magic and we like her that way. 😉
I’ll bet you do – so refreshing to be around people who don’t edit themselves too much 🙂
Oh, Ellee is adorable! She’s a wonderful Peter Pan. Isn’t that true how we can work so hard on something for a child and they just want to throw it in the garbage. What you think is perfect they could care less about. I thought about that when you talked about the dinosaur! And then, it was used for years to come…so you never know and it was ALL worth it. Halloween is definitely different for my own kids as I had experienced it, but it was alive and well, and for that, I was happy!
Kids are funny that way. It’s like them playing for hours with the box the present comes in and not even paying attention to the gift. Little Logan’s Mommy has already asked to use the Peter Pan costume so it may get a couple of uses out of it as well. It won’t last as long as that dinosaur, though! 😉
Great stuff Michelle. May the Great pumpkin smile on you & yours. 🙂
We are presently enriched with costumes. My daughter loves to dress-up and play out roles. Elizabeth has been making costumes for Tasha and others in the new puppet & theatre troop she is running for Tasha’s school.
Oh, that sounds like great fun. I use to make puppets for the kids when they were younger. I think I enjoyed them more than the kids did.
I am beyond impressed, Ms. G! I couldn’t thread a needle if I had a million years to practice! If I were in your shoes there would have been some very ‘interesting’ duct tape dinosaurs and Peter Pan’s roaming about on Halloween!
🙂
Oh, if I could have found green duct tape that would have been the way to go. You can do anything with duct tape.
Totally agree with the cute Peter Pan. I love the creativity of Halloween. And if I had been going to party, I would have opted for a really scary costume by going as our economy. LOL.
Oh, that would be scary!
I think there is more freedom for being creative at Halloween. People don’t care if you make mistakes or mess it up. Sometimes being creative can get messed up with perfection.
Yes, Ellee is indeed adorable as Peter Pan. And such great memories of Halloween. I am glad you have found an outlet for your joy the the holiday. And I really enjoyed reading this post. Thanks, Michelle.
Thank you Otto. It’s great that you continue to stop by. I enjoy sharing my stories and Ellee with you. 😉
Halloween brings out that old devil, creativity, in the best of us….just can’t resist dressing up the dog or the challenge of making yet another costume…preferably with some kind of weapon. Peter Pan looks pleased.
Toni
Toni,
Peter Pan was very pleased. I think we all lose our inhibitions at Halloween.
Such cuties! I love Halloween – the history, the atmosphere…
It really is just plain fun!
You rock! I can’t sew worth a damn, but I’m too lazy to try. we get creative with whatever we can find though.
Your costumes are great. I wish I had an aunt like you.
Thank you. I am probably old enough to be your aunt. You can just call me Aunty M. 😉
Saying it outloud makes me feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
🙂
I’m behind on reading and just got around to this. You’re quite talented for a talking computer with vegetable DNA. 🙂 Great pictures!
Heheheh … vegetable DNA. You have no idea.
It is hard to keep up on the reading. Every once in awhile I think I might wean out some of the blogs I read as it seems to get out of hand. Then I stop and read something and I just can’t.
Thanks for taking the time.
These pics are too cute for words!
You have been busy today. I appreciate you having a look around. I have to agree, too cute.
I came over from Susie’s party and I’m so glad I did. Best aunt ever! I just had to laugh at the dino-tears story.
It seems we have the same taste in costumes. I just stopped by your place. Hysterical!
What a fabulous story. I love your dragon costume! My son went as Danny Dragonbreath last year and your costume would have been so much better than the one we came up with.
Susie sent me!
Thanks, Cassandra.
It was actually a dinosaur, but either way, it didn’t go over well. Maybe I should have told him it was a dragon. No. I think it would have been the same results.
You didn’t leave a link but I stopped by anyway. I enjoyed every word. I’ll be back.
And you can always count on me for Halloween shenanigans! I live in my computer too…
I made that very same dinosaur costume. I used to sew them for my kids. Luckily, we still get trick-or-treaters, but not as many as when my kids lived at home.
Thanks for bringing this to the party! Have fun clicking on links! Tell them, “Susie sent me,” and they should click back here.
It’s been fun today, Susie. I’ve met knew folks and laughed a lot. Thanks for the party.
Funny as hell. The kid pictures are amazing. Susie was responsible for this visit.
Too bad the kids didn’t think they were so funny. Thanks for stopping by. Susie throws a great party, doesn’t she?
Ohh yes she does!! .Thanks for the visit.
SQUEALS with delight over your costumes!!! Susie sent me 🙂 Hello my new friend. XOXO – Bacon