You know that clicking sound that a roller coaster makes right as you’re getting to the top? As if staring down the face of a 70 foot drop isn’t terrifying enough? That sound is ringing in my ears, its almost Halloween, and once Halloween hits it will be a breakneck speed through Nov. and Dec. and the baby will be here!
I think I’m going to throw up.
Today is a DIY of a different sort. Its the kind of DIY that seems maybe a little unnecessary but in my book is one of the most important projects that I can do. Halloween costumes. One of the biggest blessing that I have doing what I do, is that my kids get to see me be creative. They get to see things from start to finish and all the hairy fails along the way. They get to see the excitement of a new idea, and the frustration when it doesn’t turn out the way I was planning, and (most importantly) they get to see me work through it.
Soapbox time.
Creativity is often confused with artistic ability. Being a creative thinker, and having the courage to manifest what you have in your mind is one of the best assets a person can have. Its a skill that has to be used and shouldn’t just be brushed off. How often do we say (or hear) “I cant do that because I’m not creative?” Guess what? I cant do pull-ups.
At. All.
Like never in my life have I been able to do a single one. Does that mean that I am actually not able to? Nopers. It means that I haven’t done the work to condition my upper body to be able to pull my weight up. Some things come naturally to certain people and others have to work really hard, but just because something might not come naturally doesn’t mean that its just not in the cards. Rant over.
Teaching my girls to think creatively is huuuuuge for me. I try a lot of different things to give them the chance to flex their creative muscles. But hands down, everyone’s favorite is the Halloween costume.
Every year instead of spending a crazy amount of money on a store bought costume, I let my girls design their own. Instead of an answer like “a fairy” they draw (in full color) exactly what they want their costume to look like. And then together we try to make it. The best part is that the costumes only have to last a day, so there is a lot of um….rigging. But it works and everyone ends up happy.
Last year Dyl was a Royal Unicorn.
A long flowing mane was the most important part, so I put her hair in a stacked ponytail (is that what you’d call it?) and tied yarn in between.
Ivie wanted to be Cotton Candy. Then she was too embarrassed to wear it to school. But she did wear it trick or treating, so all was not lost. Tweenagers, am I right?
The year before Dylan was a Dog Ballerina (that was a fun one!)
Ivie was the Mad Hatter. We made her skirt out of cellophane and duct tape. Cellophane skirts are my fave. They are huge and puffy and CHEAP.
2012 was my favorite, they were both Candy Shoppe Girls. (Ivie designed both of their costumes)
Crazy costumes are sort of our jam, if you’ve ever seen our family Christmas card you know this to be gospel truth.
Even the dogs get into it.
Are you a costume maker or a costume buyer? Also, fellow mamas who are still procrastinating, I’ll see you at Joann’s?
Just about died seeing this first picture because I dressed up as a princess unicorn when I was about that age. My mom was… not entirely sure what a princess unicorn was, but she fully supported me and helped me with the costume. Rock on Dyl, and way to help encourage creativity!
Fantastic!
Beautiful post! My mom & dad always indulged my crazy- I mean, er, creative- ideas for pretty much any attire. The creativity is still there, but along the way I’ve kinda lost the confidence/motivation/etc to carry them out… But you’re so right. To have an ideas & follow them through is such a great life skill. Kudos to you, mama!
You “let” them create their own?! Major mom envy going on right now. I have to BEG my kids to come up with something creative. We’re all past that 🙁 the 11 year old, and youngest, has not worn a legit costume since he was 9ish. Must be cool (ahem BORING) like older siblings, who are now teens and no longer participate in Halloween except to walk around the neighborhood. But I always tell them “don’t you DARE go asking for candy! You have to have a COSTUME to do that. And you DON’T.” So hubs and I dress up we’ve been deemed best costume past 2 years at a local party and look to take a 3rd next year. Love that unicorn costume!
#1 I am soooo glad there is someone out there that also has never managed a single pull-up in her life!
#2 I am madly jealous of your girls. Growing up I’d tell my mom what I wanted to be and she’d make something. Your girls put my childhood costumes to shame! (although I’m also a Midwesterner so we had to factor in A LOT of insulation for our below freezing Halloweens).
I’m definitely a costume maker! Halloween is my fav holiday because of that. One year my friends did a “high school stereotypes” theme and I was the goth girl. Another year I was a 50’s pinup. 2 years ago I got my geek on and did a Doctor Who (Matt Smith) costume and this years the hubs and I are dressing up as the queen of hearts (me) and the white rabbit (hubs).
Your girls are so lucky to have someone to encourage their creativity! Also, that cotton candy costume is adorable. Can’t wait till I have kids and get to do these kind of things with them!
I love it, those cellophane skirts look so fun! And I’m dying over the dog picture, gotta love those tight pants. We usually do homemade Halloween costumes, too, it’s been fun as my girls have gotten older to see what kinds of ideas they come up with. Lots of combo outfits like zombie ballerinas or kitty cat mermaids. I was due with a baby the first week of October this year so I told my kids they had to do store bought instead. While I’m glad to have skipped the stress of home made this year it was a little sad, too.
You have such a beautiful family! Their costumes look absolutely beautiful, so creative 🙂 xx
How have I never thought of letting my kids DESIGN their own costume? Definitely have to start doing that. Love this post — the cotton candy costume is my favorite 🙂 Looks real!!
So fun to let them design their costume instead of just picking it out! Can’t wait until my little man is old enough to decide what he wants to be!
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I love that she was not just a ballerina, but a puppy ballerina! What creativity. My 4 year old son kept asking to be a goblin (or gob-a-lin haha). I am a giant nerd and love Lord of the Rings, Legend, etc so he has seen many versions of a goblin. I kept asking him what does a goblin look like and he would say “gob-a-lins look like gob-a-lins”. Not helpful in anyway kid. I knew if I did not make the costume to his secret specifications he would not wear it . I finally got desperate and took him to Target and he was Wolverine for Halloween haha.