Magic Pumpkins

As a mom, I love the idea of creating wonderful memories during the holidays. Right now the kids are at the perfect age. Everything is magical and beautiful and amazing. Holidays are exciting and fun.

For the last couple years I haven't been able to really build the kind of holiday memories that I have dreamed about. Last year we were moving Halloween night, the year before we were running circles around ourselves being parents of two.

This year, we are settled in our new house and I am so excited to roll out the holiday red carpet for the kids. Decorations. Parties. Trick or Treating. Thomas the Elf. Baking. Thanksgiving feast at our house. Hold onto your comfort zone Handy Man, we are going to do it ALL this year!

My Brown Eyed Girl helped me with the fall decorations.

The kids taped jack-o-lantern cut outs on the windows. 

Last weekend, we went shopping for pumpkins.

As a child, I loved drawing and decorating pumpkin faces. But secretly, I always wished my parents would buy those fancy cut out kits from the stores. While shopping for our pumpkins, I felt the kid in me leap at the sight of those little kits by the Halloween costumes and found myself reaching for one. Those cool pre-drawn faces, witches and cats. Tiny orange carving kits. I was getting so excited!

We got home and after lunch I laid out news paper on the table. I took out the old metal, hand-me-down serving spoons that I have no doubt my parents used while we were scooping out our pumpkins when Rah Rah and I were kids.

In order to avoid a trip to the ER, Handy Man cut out the pumpkin tops. 

Mr Blue Eyes was not really quite sure what to think about the inside of his pumpkin.

I told him to scoop out all the seeds with his hands. 

I wish I could say he cleaned out his pumpkin with excitement. But he was not impressed with the feel and texture of the pumpkin insides. Me either buddy. But no fear, daddy is here!

Unfortunately, Handy Man and I were not on the same page for pumpkin carving. Or maybe we were on the same side of the page. Neither one of us likes to scoop out the pumpkins. We both only like the carving part. Shoot!

So what does every Wonder Mother have to do in a situation like this? Hand the wimpy daddy the camera and grab that spoon and scoop. 

Scoop, while both kids watch.

Once the dirty part was over, Handy Man swooped back in for the carving part. Of course!

A ghost, a kitty, and a Boo later and our pumpkins were done. 

When it got dark, I put a tea light candle in each one. 

The kids were amazed when I turned off the porch light and our pumpkins glowed. My Brown Eyed Girl thought our pumpkins were magical. They are pretty magical. They made a great day of picking, scooping and carving magical for our family.

Slimer

After a month of waiting for our Brown Eyed Girl to change her mind about being a Ghostbuster for Halloween, I went ahead an ordered her the "girl Ghostbuster costume, you know, the one with the skirt."

When you are a mom with young children, who can still be manipulated and forced to wear what you buy them being able to coordinate outfits adds a little something special to an event, holiday, or special occasion. Having a boy and a girl, I accepted a long time ago that they would never wear cute matching dresses. However, I live for coordinating outfit opportunities.

For instance, in 2011 I dressed the kids as a Cowgirl and a cow for Halloween. 

I am proud to say that this year's costumes were chosen with out the influence of Handy Man or myself. Unless you count allowing them to watch and become obsessed with the movie Ghostbusters in which case I blame Handy Man and Peter Venkman.

One day, Mr Blue Eyes said he wanted to be Slimer for Halloween. I asked him again to be sure and he smiled from ear to ear, nodded his head and said again with glee, "Simer ween!" Wahoooo coordinating costumes!!!

I consulted my good friend Google first and these were my options.

Pretty sure this would just scare him to death.

This was actually a child Slimer costume I could purchase. Maybe for a 10 year old but I had serious doubts about getting my 2 year old to want to wear this.

I was getting no where with Google and started talking to Pinterest.

Now I was getting some where!

I am always truly amazed at what some parents can make with felt, cloth, and even an old green sleeping bag.

Unfortunately, I am not handy with a sewing machine. I can rock a glue gun. However, I was afraid my costume would end up as a Pinterest Fail and poor Mr Blue Eyes would end up looking more like a green booger by the time my glue gun and I were done with him.

Time to call in for reinforcements!!! And I know just the lady who is handy with a sewing machine.

Grandma Joan!

 

She is also an accomplished fisherman. 

After a few text messages and after sending a few examples from Pinterest, Grandma Joan had the basic idea of what I was trying to accomplish and was more than happy to help with the challenge. 

To say she was excited is an understatement. She got right to work before our scheduled visit the middle of October. This was the costume model we were running with.

Using her sweatshirt as a template, she started creating her pattern. 

Once she had her pattern, the master construction began.

Slimer was taking form.

Unfortunately, our seamstress lives in Iowa. So when she needed a model to try on Slimer to see if she was on the right track, Grandma Joan had to hire the neighbor boy for a fitting.

I was so excited how Slimer was turning out. Grandma Joan really is amazing. She completed all of this on a Sunday.

A week later and a fourteen hour car ride and Mr Blue Eyes was able to see and try on his new costume himself.

His excitement was building.

He was all smiles when he was able to see himself in the mirror. My cheeks were aching from smiling. This was going to be an epic Halloween!

A few last minute tweaks to the costume and it was ready. Unfortunately, Mr Blue Eyes refused to try on the costume again. Don't panic! I decided it was best not to force the issue otherwise we might never get him in it for Halloween.

Yesterday was our Brown Eyed Girl's Halloween party at school. As soon as Mr Blue Eyes saw Sissy getting dressed up as a Ghostbuster, he ran to his room and grabbed his Slimer costume. Success!

Thank you Grandma Joan for all of your hard work on making Slimer for Mr Blue Eyes! We love you! XOXO

Jammies

Dear Mr Blue Eyes,

I want you to know that Mommy loves you very much. I believe I was placed on this earth to give you and your sister everything that I am, possess and dream of. I am proud to be your Mommy. I live to provide for you and to make sure that there is not a day that goes by that you do not smile. I promise you will always lay your head down each night with a full belly and wrapped in warmth. 

Please remember this when you are 18 and you find these pictures.....

I fully realize that you are wearing your sister's pink, pony, footy jammies. I also realize that you might initially think this was just a joke. Perhaps you and your Sissy were playing dress-up?!?

Unfortunately son, it was not a joke. You simply grew too big, too fast, and I had to fulfill my promise to you. I made sure you had a good dinner tonight and I made sure you would be warm all through the night.

I also admit that these were probably one of my favorite footy jammies that your sister ever owned. I felt a little nostalgic dressing you in them tonight.

Pink, blue, purple, green, yellow... you are still cute no matter what I dressed you in tonight.

And see...

You were smiling.
Another promise fulfilled.

I also like Sissy's frog jammies... They are more-ish blue and green... than pink. 

Why are footy jammies so stinking cute on little kids???