Tuesday, September 25, 2007

'Halloween Memories', or 'The Day I Lost My Mind in Wal-Mart'

Three years ago, Tommy was in the middle of a two-year obsession with Toy Story 2. I had been thinking of getting him a Woody costume, but didn't want to commit $49.95 or so to the endeavor at the Disney Store. Then one day in mid-September, I was walking through the fabric department at Wal-Mart, and saw a McCall's pattern for Woody and Jessie. What could be cuter? Little matching costumes! And so economical! And I think I can sew this, it says 'Easy' right here on the pattern! Surely they wouldn't lie to me about this difficulty of such a simple project!

Six weeks, 80 bucks, and 17 angry outbursts at the sewing machine later, my children looked like this for Halloween:
I proudly dressed them up and took them to the church carnival, where no one recognized what characters they were supposed to be. I emphasized to everyone that they were Woody and Jessie from Toy Story 2, and that I had MADE THE COSTUMES MYSELF. I don't know if the teenagers running the fishing pond booth were impressed, but I made sure they knew anyway.

Believe me when I say that I will never ever do this again. I had these visions of being Martha Stewart and the children always having happy memories of how their mom cared enough about them to slave over their costumes. I'm over that now.

The good thing about these costumes, though, is that my kids wore them for about a year and a half afterwards. Tommy wore his hat from the time he woke up to the time he went to sleep until it wore completely out. He was known around the playground as 'the boy in the cowboy hat'. We have pictures of him at every event for the next year wearing that same hat.

I really do hope they have happy memories of Mom loving them enough to make these costumes. And just in case they don't, I'm going to keep showing them these pictures and reminding them. Because I will never ever sew their costumes again. Ever.


6 comments:

  1. Oh but those pictures! Surely it had to be worth it just for those adorable pictures! That last one turns my heart to butter.

    Ben's in the middle of a Toy Story phase right now. One & Two. We watch one of them almost every day.

    Ahem. I mean we would, if I was the kind of mom that let their kid watch a movie every day. If I was THAT kind of mom.

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  2. Oh, and I see you used your corner rounder. Good job Chrissy. :)

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  3. LOL! Kudos to you for doing it ONCE! My kids are out of luck in that department. I was not born with a crafty gene in my body.

    But they turned out great and you'll always have those adorable photos. Plus, you can "remind" them of it down the line when they claim you NEVER do anything for them. ;)

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  4. Did someone say...Corner Rounder??
    Chrissy, those are the CUTEST pics and costumes ever!! I made Faith a little puppy costume once - but it didn't take any sewing. You are brave!!

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  5. Two years ago, I made my daughter a fairy costume with some tulle and a hot glue gun. My baby is wearing it this year so let's hope the glue holds up!
    And I also found out that making costumes is not at all economical!!
    But that picture is priceless!!!

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  6. i loved the dalmation costume we made last year. here is the pattern - take one white tshirt. Paint on black spots. Take some paper. Make a strip for around the head. Cut out two ear shaped pieces of paper. Glue to around head strip. Have child make their own black dots. Wear these with a pair of black pants, and you are good to go.

    (by the way, the costumes you made were awesome!)

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