I was thinking about Halloween costumes and all the pictures of the kids we've taken over the past 20 years. I am pretty sure we have pictures of every Halloween since Nichelle was a baby. Some were taken by traditional 35mm cameras before we went to digital. We have a lot of Halloween pictures, from the kid's costumes, to their pumpkins and craft projects.
It made me realize that I don't have any Halloween pictures of myself as a child. I know I dressed up, often as a black cat, a nurse, or sometimes even a vampire. For whatever reason, out of all the pictures I've collected over the years, I only have the one above. There might have been others, but I don't have them. My mom got into photography as I entered my teen years, so maybe that had something to do with it.
This picture is of me and a friend named Mary Sue. That year we both decided to be clowns. This was taken at a nursing home my mom worked at. I remember going there and walking around to say hello to the patients before we went trick-or-treating. I can't even tell you how old we were -- 12, 13, maybe? I do remember that I made this clown outfit. I sewed the entire thing myself and even made the pom-poms. That would explain why the sleeves are so long. I think Mary Sue's mom sewed her outfit and I remember being jealous of it. She had a stay-at-home mom and I was always envious of her because my mom worked 40+ hours each week. She had the type of mom that had warm, fresh baked cookies waiting for her after school.
Anyway, I remember being satisfied, in some silly way, that I had made the outfit myself. Things were simple back in the 1970s. Of course, there is no way a pre-teen would wear a costume like this today, more or less make it by hand. I looked up clown costumes and they're a lot different these days. Click here to see what I mean. Ummm, yeah, I don't think my mom would have wanted me to walk around the nursing home like that. Fortunately for us, my boys don't mind wearing old costumes if they still fit. This year Nathan is going to be OB1 and Neil is going to be Indiana Jones -- again.
What are your kids dressing up as, if anything?
I love your clown costumes! It's a shame more kids don't make their own and/or have moms who can make them.
ReplyDeleteMy mother made all of mine. Like you I have no pictures. Among my favorites, a mermaid (with trailing tail) and Raggedy Ann (yarn wig and all.)
Cool costumes Rena!
ReplyDeleteThis year Ryan is all set to be Batman and very excited about trick or treating! Jess on the other hand is against everything to do with Halloween, costumes and dressing up. She has a great imagination but she does not like to pretend she is anyone else. (Even when you call her Princess she says 'No, I am Jessie!") So she has advised us that she will not be dressing up this year. When hubby told her she could not trick or treat and get candy unless she dressed up, she said 'Fine.' Yep, she is strong willed! :) So she will probably hand out candy this year with me and Ryan and his dad can go around the block. OR in case of a last minute change of mind, I have her dress up box cape ready and she can be Super Jessie! :)
Emily doesn't know yet what she's going to be. I haven't gotten in to Halloweed much this year. I decoraged sparsly. Your clown costumes were cute, you did a great job!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Ellie is going to be a friendly ghost. Out of all of the cool costumes that are out there for kids these days, you'd think she would want something else! But no, she insisted on a ghost, so ghost it is. :)
ReplyDeleteMaddie said she wanted to be a "Butterfly ballerina". So I found some fairy costumes online that fit her description and had her pick the one she wanted. Basically, a cute fairy dress with wings. When it came, she was eager to try it on. We put the dress on her and she freaked out. Wanted it off right then & there. We may have to wait another year before she's ready to go T&Ting. :(
Gale
Great job on the costume! I remember my mom made me a clown costume one year. And yeah, things sure have changed!
ReplyDeleteThis year my son's going as Two Face from Batman, and my daughter wants to be Cleopatra.
Great job on the costume! I remember my mom made me a clown costume one year. And yeah, things sure have changed!
ReplyDeleteThis year my son's going as Two Face from Batman, and my daughter wants to be Cleopatra.
We don't have any young children in the house, but we do have a furbaby...grin...I've been thinking about dressing Koda up, but not sure as what yet...I'm going tomorrow to see if I can find something...might even take him trick or treat...grin...
ReplyDeleteMy kids used to dress up for school plays etc and it was fun getting them all ready for their part. Once, I dressed my daughter as a scarecrow and then, a post box! Such good memories. !
ReplyDeleteDo visit my blog to vote for me in this competition. Thanks so much :)
Hi. First time here. Very cool that you are a children's book author.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I have photos of me at Christmas as a child, but none in Halloween costumes.
Love those clowns. Funny, 'cuz I pulled out an old photo from one Halloween about 20 years ago and posted the pic of my son on Facebook :) A fun trip down memory lane.
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