dual personalities

Contributors to this blog, I think it is safe to say, are not here for large lawn decor and overly-ghoulish Halloween festivities. That said, I (daughter #2) am all for adorable toddler costumes, ranging from baby pumpkins…

to more advanced character ‘fits. This year, Katie will dress as Madeline:

This was the clearest picture we could get, with my production assistant (DN) assisting with hat placement and book distraction.

I really can’t blame Katie for being anti-costume after a long day at school (and probably feeling hangry for dinner). Regardless, she makes a very adorable Parisian girl.

There will be no daycare parade or anything like that, but Katie is attending a Halloween playdate where the children will be in their costumes. (The invitation said, “parent costumes optional!” as if “required” might have been an alternative — no thank you.)

I am rather proud of this DIY costume. (Or is it semi-DIY, like “semi-homemade cooking”? I am certainly not at the skill-level of daughter #3, who routinely sews head-to-toe outfits. See twin dinosaurs from 2019 below!) I followed directions online to cut out felt pieces and glue them together into something approximating the hat and bow for Madeline’s outerwear. But I am happy to have only purchased a dress (to replicate Madeline’s coat) that Katie can wear again, and shoes that she will wear for the holidays. (She will wear sneakers to the playdate.)

As you might guess, having children reveals to you all of the things your own mother did for you, and all of the time and effort and emotion she spend doing those things. Here I am wearing a DIY Power Rangers costume in the 1990s:

Well, I seem to recall that I said something insulting like, “So-and-so had a real Power Rangers costume.” I cringe now to think of it. Sunrise, sunset. If you hadn’t guessed, I am finding all of this felt to be very touching.

Happy Halloween!