Trick AND Treat

I sewed SmallDaughter's halloween costume today--and, may I humbly state that I am a costume genius! It really turned out super cute! It's Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. which is her favorite movie (Mike is her second favorite character, but I can't figure out how to sew Roz!).


In early September, I was called in for a meeting at her school, because, basically the fact that she is taped into all of her clothes was freaking them out. Now, I have been trying to deal with "CSP" (Compulsive Skin Picking) for years now. When I say I have tried everything, I am very serious--everything. Trust me when I say gloves and tape are the most livable solution. Anyway. I told them that they could untape her during school--sometimes she doesn't pick when she is busy and having fun. However, when she is bored or frustrated--oh my!

Last Friday, I got a note home from her teacher. She has informed the nurse that the tape is truly important to SmallGirl's health and safety. They have tried velcro. They have tried sweat bands. They have tried other stuff. They give up.

Huh. Told you so!

Halloween Costumes, part 1

Here are (finally) a few of our Halloween Costumes (and by "our", I mean that I helped think of, sew, create, etc.!) For those of you who got costumes and haven't sent me pictures yet...(sound of throat clearing) Well, we will just say there are more costumes out there!

And so, for your enjoyment (drumroll, please)...

Halloween 2009!


A Medieval Lady and Her Knight?



Zeus & Athena (with Athena's "Mini-Me"!)



A Goth Doll

Now for those poor souls who haven't had the chance to watch the WONDERFUL movie "My Neighbor Totoro" (Our family prefers the 1994 Fox Version, better dubbing), you won't recognize the next costumes. So, as a reference, HERE is a picture of the 3 Totoros, with their human friends Mei and Satsuki.




Now, here is our version:

The Blue Totoro and The White Totoro


I ran out of time before I solved the problem of getting their cute pointy ears to stand up, so they spent the night explaining that they weren't penguins. Oh well.

Halloween-ish

The kiddoodles are out begging for candy from the neighbors tonight. Yes, I know that it is days until Halloween, but the powers that be in our town have declared that Trick or Treating will always be on the Tuesday before Halloween.

Not to be sexist, but this decision was obviously made by a group of men for reasons like "that is the best day for the police force" or something like that. The decision makers were obviously not the parents or school teachers of any of the small, exhausted, wound up, sugar-buzzed kids WHO HAVE SCHOOL THE NEXT MORNING.

Whoa! Adventure! (albeit minor adventure)

This morning I have been alone in the house--quite, quite glorious!

However, while I was upstairs, I kept hearing little noises--but old houses make noise, so it didn't really bother me. However, after I came downstairs and started working on the computer, I noticed that the birds were being very noisy today. And possibly bonking into the windows again.

Our doves seem to lack all brain cells, and routinely fly into the windows, which are a) curtained and b) COVERED in crayon, paint marker, toothpaste, lotion, etc--(thanks to SmallDaughter, we have very few opaque windows!).

However, when I slowly went into the dining room to see which window was causing all the fuss, I found a bird (sparrow, I think, but a bit large, so maybe something else) IN MY KITCHEN. Poor thing. It was trying desperately to get out, and I opened the door and a window, and (fortunately) it didn't take it long!

I'm not blogging much because I am sewing for halloween. Last week I hooked people up with a gorgeous renaissance purple velvet with white and gold trim gown, outfits for Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad and a Goomba, and parts of other costumes. This week it continues.

I just love it!


I want to blog about autumn, but I never seem to get around to it. I used to hate fall, but now I think it is my favorite (of course, I have LOTS of favorites--the kids always tease me that every single option is my favorite--except crickets!!!)