ghosts of Halloween past
When I was a kid, Halloween was never about the costume. I was focused on was the bag of candy ahead. I would usually find something left over from my brothers that could be a costume- like a too small (for them) football uniform. That is one I remember.
It got more fun when it was my kids dressing up although we started out very casually. I went on a little nostalgia trip today…
This was the first year with costumes- construction paper circles, cut out and attached to shirts= clowns!
We skipped a year- I seem to remember croup.
Second costume year- sweatshirts with ears and tails= cats. Except Eleanor also wore a frilly skirt and wings, so she was a kitty fairy.
next was one of my favorite Eleanor costume memories- little Indian girl. Julian was a boy in armor. The armor lasted about 4 houses before he came back home and took it off. It was way too uncomfortable.
And then there were 3.
I put a paint brush in Peter’s hand and, being 6 months old, he held onto it… add a beret and tada- he was an artist! Eleanor was a fairy again, although more traditional this time in a pink tutu. And Julian… well, he found that yellow mask and he really wanted to wear it. He put it together with some other dress-ups and told us he was “Love Man”, the most powerful force in the universe. Gotta love that 4 year old brain!
Okay, enough of that. So much fun though!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
This was so much fun to see! I met you after your children were all grown up, but I am home with little children, making Halloween costumes this week, and we have talked about our kids so much! It is great to get a glimpse at you as a mom of toddlers! Thanks!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Four-year-old brains really are the best. Love ‘em, and gotta love “Love Man.”
October 28th, 2009 at 12:45 am
great memories!!!
happy hallowen!
October 28th, 2009 at 5:28 am
Thanks, Mimi. I enjoyed these so much.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:52 am
But this was so much fun–this creating costumes out of what was found around the house. Every once in a while, you’d get the fabulous get-up like the Indian girl, but you’re right: Halloween was about the trick or treating and generally the whole she-bang only lasted about a week, instead of the current month-long extravaganza.
I see my daughter/daughters in law stressing about the whole costume thing, and one of them makes elaborate costumes every year. I can’t believe the hoops they jump through when I would wish they could just have an easy, relaxing time scouting through the house, coming up with something to wear while they all go trick or treating.
I think the holiday has become way too much–too much build-up, too much emphasis on costume, too much adult input (do the kids care as much as the Moms? I don’t honestly know.). Boy, do I sound like an old curmudgeon, but your lovely pictures with these sweet children reminded me. Thanks for these!
October 28th, 2009 at 6:26 am
They were sooooo cute! Thanks for sharing these pictures. So precious!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Homemade costumes are the BEST! And even BETTER when the kids supply the creativity! Love the “Love Man”!!
November 5th, 2009 at 5:26 am
loved these photos! halloween should be easier than it is now-a-days. I kept trying to convince my 10 year old boy to be a hobo/bum but he wouldn’t have any of that. we waited until the last minute deciding and he ended up wearing and old costume from a few years ago and he wasn’t happy. Thanks for sharing these — very sweet!
November 8th, 2009 at 5:22 am
Just precious!