The Harper's Halloween Happenings

Halloween has been the topic of conversation in the Harper house for the last six weeks at least! Since the first day the kids realized the Back to School supplies had been taken down and replaced by Halloween decorations and costumes; the majority of our conversations have gone a little something like this.

"what should I be for Halloween?"

"whatever you want."

"when are we going to go get our costumes?"

"as soon as you make a decision."

"can I go on to Party City.com and look at costumes?"

"you were just on there yesterday, but yes you can."

Growing up, I remember Halloween as dressing up and going trick-or-treating with my cousins. It was one night, not a 2 month open ended conversation! This obsession is partially fueled by Amanda fanning the flames of their excitement. As the long awaited day drew closer and closer, the kids and Amanda got more and more anxious and excited.

I love that my kids get so excited about dressing up, and going out. Candy is an afterthought to them. Which is surprising given the fact that Rex is their father!

This was the first year Brody wanted to make his own costume, and he did a great job. He had his heart set on being a gross, bloody zombie. He came up the idea, found the clothes, and drew a picture of what he envisioned his face makeup to look like. After cutting holes in his clothes and walking all through the front yard rubbing them in dirt and wet grass we were ready. On the Friday before Halloween the boys' school let the kids dress up in their costumes and have a party. The only rules were no masks and no makeup. Brody came home from school that day completely crushed because no one in his class knew what he was suppose to be. I tried to explain to him that the costume just didn't play as well without the makeup; but there was no consoling him. After weeks and weeks of planning he was devastated that his costume had not gone off like he had hoped. His dismay lasted through the day on Saturday. As dusk approached, and the other kids were getting ready to go trick-or-treating, Brody sat on the couch with no desire to get dressed. We finally convinced him to get up, put his costume on and do his makeup. When the costume was complete, I let him look in the mirror. There is nothing better than watching the flood of relief and excitement drowned out the melancholy look of disappointment in those big blue eyes. He was so proud of the way that his vision come to life.

Wyatt searched endlessly through websites, magazines and store racks searching for that one costume. That one costume that will no doubt stop people in their tracks. That one costume that epitomizes all that he dreams of. With each new day came a new "final decision" about a costume. October crept closer and closer to a close with it's finale being Halloween and no definite decision. With 5 days to go Amanda was shopping at Target and came up with a solution. Bless her heart, she put an end to the whirlwind indecision. A Storm Trooper. One of the several options Wyatt had explored. It was cool, it was his size, and it was his! We were all a little nervous to break the news to Wyatt that he had had a costume chosen for him. As he ran to the house from the bus stop that drizzly afternoon Amanda and I both felt a twinge of nervousness. Would he be excited? Would be like the costume? Would he be angry that we had made the decision for him? It didn't matter. Time was running out and someone had to make a choice. As the front door burst open, the same way it does every weekday afternoon at 3:52 he saw it. There is was draped over the back of the brown leather couch beside the front door. He looked it; and then up at me with a glazed over look in his eyes. Immediately my stomach dropped. We had just demolished his creativity and enthusiasm. Finally the silence of what seemed a lifetime, but in reality was more like 3 or 4 seconds was shattered by a loud and energetic

"IS THAT FOR ME?!?"

Timidly I said "yes".

Wyatt carries his emotions on his sleeve, and he seemed to be elated! As stomach slowly crawled back up to where it belonged Amanda relayed the story of her shopping trip to Wyatt and told him she hoped he was happy.

Not waiting for her to finish her story, he began stripping down to his underwear. The front door was wide open and a few neighbor kids were in front of the house but he didn't seem to notice; and if he did he didn't care. He feverishly tore the pieces of his costume off of their hangers, and in no time transformed himself into his new alter ego- Captain Rex. Understand that this is just a run of the mill, everyday Storm Trooper costume, not specifically Captain Rex. But when your dads name is Rex you automatically become Captain Rex if you look remotely the same!

Wyatt spent Halloween night as happy as he could be! He used his animated gun to shoot all those traitors that had the misfortune to be in his way. Even though his mask made it hard for him to see, and was forced to eventually gave that part of his costume up, he pushed forward. After weeks and weeks of searching and indecision, Amanda saved the day. She became a superhero in our house; and she didn't even have to dress up!

Magnolia was a busy, busy bumble bee. The irony of that costume decision was not lost on the little girl named Magnolia! She thought it was "hi-warious". She is playing a bumble bee in the Stake Roadshow this Saturday, so it was a natural (and simple) choice for Halloween. Because she was going to be a bee, and bees don't generally wear makeup she was a tad concerned. What is Halloween for a little girl without putting makeup on? We reassured her that she would be able to wear makeup, and after the proverbial Pinkie Swear I was held to it. What kind of makeup does a bee wear? Well, simplicity was the theme. Mascara and red cheeks. Simple, not too distracting, and still complying with the all important pinkie swear. The mascara went on without a hitch. I thought it was advisable to start with what I perceived to be the hard part, but as is par-for-the-course in my life I was wrong. Maggie opened and closed her eyes just like a pro. She loves to dress up, and had no problem with a pointy mascara wand millimeters away from her brilliantly blue eyeballs. As the first coat dried I noticed how long her eyelashes had gotten since the last time I had let her wear makeup. As she slowly closed her eyes while I was applying the second and final coat I noticed that her eyelashes went well above her eyebrows. Not near her eyebrows, or to her eyebrows, but well passed them! I could not believe that her eyelashes were so long. I knew they were long, but Holy Cow! I am sure glad Rex owns a gun and knows how to use it because those poor boys better watch out. One bat of those puppies and she will get whatever she wants!

When I handed her the mirror and showed her how long they were a song popped into my head. It was a song that my grandma used to sing to me all the time. She was a great singer, and had a song for every occasion. The chorus went like this:

"Jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those peepers,

Jeepers, creepers, where'd ya get those eyes?"

The answer: her dad. Thank you Harper family for genetically beautiful long eyelashes, and thank you for blessing my daughter-not just my sons with them.

The red cheeks were the problem area. Somehow Maggie was able to smear the perfectly round, bright red circles onto the knees of her tights. She isn't sure how she did it, but it happened. As most things seem to be lately, this was a show stopping catastrophe. Black tights with red spots on them, and smeared cheeks were not going to do. With a little help from my makeup remover and Q-tips our problem was solved, all was right with the world again.

Maggie's little black dance leotard and tights were covered by a big black and yellow striped bodysuit. She wore a headband with yellow pipe cleaners topped by puffy black balls. As she ran from house to house her antennas bounced up and down, and side to side. She was elated to collect candy from each house she went to. Even though she was not a beautiful princess, or a ferry complete with Tinkerbell dustas she had been in years past, she was a bumble bee; the cutest bumble bee in town!

Finally Hudson. This is his second Halloween. On a babies first Halloween you find them something, cute and warm, but not something that fits their personality. He was 4 months old last year, so his personality consisted of three things eating, sleeping, and eating more. Somethings haven't changed. He will take a grown man down if he thinks there is even the slightest possibility that he will get food out of the deal. Hudson has grown into such a great little man. He is happy, loving, curious, but most of all strong. Both in will and physically. Most of you know that a few weeks ago as Rex and I were playing with him, he reared his head back and broke my nose. Now, up to this point we had been wavering over a couple of costume options for Hudson. Most of them revolving around his chubbiness, I am not going to lie; but no definite decision had been made.

Driving back from the urgent care the morning of the "incident", I made a definite decision. BAM BAM!!! There is nothing more suitable for a child that has the strength to break his own mothers nose at 16 months than BAM BAM. The search for a costume began. We found Fred, Wilma, Pebbles, Barney and Betty Rubble, but no BAM BAM. The only option was to make one. My sewing skills are sad at best; but armed with a new sewing machine, and a new found confidence in my limited skills (I made curtains for our living room bay window), I set out to Joann's to find a pattern. To my dismay there was not a pattern to be found. Plan B: make it up as I go. I have tried that before with not so great results, but I had my mind set, and I was going to do it! I bought faux-fur material, and vinyl for the strap and was on my way. I had a vision, and I was going to make it happen. While measuring Hudson over and over to get the size just right, and picturing in my head what was going to need to be done step by step I began to psych myself out. Finally, I decided enough was enough. I took his measurements, my scissors and the material and went to work. Within minutes I had the costume done! It was just as I had planned it to be. Could this really be right? Something had to be wrong. Nothing ever goes this smoothly when a sewing machine and I are in the same room! As I held the outfit up in front of me visions of projects passed flashed though my mind like a frustrating horror movie. I was apprehensive to try it on Hudson. I was fully aware that this new found confidence and sense of accomplishment could be fleeting. I bit the bullet and called for him from the kitchen. He waddled happily into me. As I slowly put each chubby little leg into the top, my heart began to beat faster and faster. It seems like it might actually fit. It was almost like being in a fitting room with unflattering lighting attempting to try on a pair of pants one size smaller than you wore before.

"please fit, please fit" was the mantra going though my mind as I slipped the outfit over the tubby, and the strap over the shoulder.

I took a step back. It fit, it really fit! I was caught up in the moment of sweet success. Only to be jarred out by the sight of my baby inching closer and closer to the edge of the kitchen table. I was so caught up in sheer amazement that I almost let him walk off the table. Explain that to the pediatrician!

On the days leading up to Halloween we taught Hudson to say "BAM BAM, BAM BAM!" I found a squeaky club at the Halloween store, and the costume was complete.

Of course we could not let him go out on Halloween night with no shirt on, so he wore a white turtle neck underneath, and was set to go. He did a great job. Our friend Nate carried him though most of the neighborhood, letting him stick his little hand out to each unsuspecting person answering their door. They all melted when they saw his chubby, rosey cheeks, and a little hand waiting for the all important candy.

Halloween is so much fun for the kids and parents alike. I love to watch their little imaginations go wild as they daydream about what they could become on Halloween. The one time of the year when people can express their creativity any way they please without being judged. The one night where a little boy can actually become the action figure that he plays with everyday in his room.

I hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween.

Here's to planning next year already!