Halloween. And sewing. Mostly sewing. In the name of Halloween.

I said to myself, "This will be simple. Each costume will just be something basic plus a few accessories." I could say "never again" here, but let's face it: it wouldn't be honest. I'll probably get myself into similar trouble again next year (I'm hoping my temporary sanity lasts that long--remind me if I start making grandiose sewing plans for Christmas).

Regardless: success (generally, anyway).

I whipped out Caleb's robe like it was nobody's business, but I put off making the tie because I was worried that the yellow ribbon stripes would be crooked (and I didn't want to put a ton of effort into a costume tie--ah, pride of craftsmanship...). They probably are crooked, but the cheap fabric I used to line the robe and to make the tie is faintly pinstriped, so the stripes are a lot straighter than I thought. (Yay.)

With his glasses and black hair, the kids in his kindergarten class didn't recognize him. When he went to get in line, the kids said, "Hey! Who are you?"

Caleb was a little outraged at their obtuseness. "I'm Harry Potter!"

"I know that," said a girl who sits at his table. "But who are you?"

"I'm Caleb!" He was delighted then (and he couldn't stop looking at his black hair in the mirror when we were home).

We thought of buying Paul wigs, but I couldn't find anything I liked (or was willing to spend money on), so I kind of just made up these ghetto yarn wigs.

At the trunk or treat, people thought he was Moses or Santa Claus. Moses? Santa Claus?

He said that when he took the kids trick-or-treating, people thought he was a Jewish rabbi, Jesus (?), or Gandalf. For pity's sake.

So, to clarify, Paul is Dumbledore. His hat has a tassle and everything. Gosh. Maybe I should've gone with the pointed hat instead.

And my sweet Little C. I wasn't sure she'd wear her hat or keep her wings on, but last week, Caleb spent a sick day home from school, watching Nacho Libre on repeat. Of course he had to have a Nacho mask, and somehow he ended up with what may in fact be the worst Nacho Libre mask on the earth.

Well, Cecily watched Caleb romping around in that mask and was thoroughly enchanted. She dumped the square tupperware container of blocks, plopped it over her head (her nose aligned with a corner of the container), and charged after him. Ever after she is happy to wear a hat.

That hat is a mash-up of a horrible Etsy pattern I purchased for $1 and some very helpful youtube videos (because I don't actually know how to crochet, in spite of the very sincere lessons I received in Mexico). Still, the hat CC has on is the third iteration. The first one ended up being a sleeping bag for Captain America (way too small). The second is now a hot pad (still too small). If the third one didn't turn out, I was going to turn to the professionals (my aunt). Anyway, the beauty of pictures is that you can't look too close, so you'll never know that one eye is a little wonky and differently sized than the other.