another lisa: Halloween Report from All Around

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Halloween Report from All Around

Well... I wasn't going to talk about Halloween. Alas, Owen is our only child who is legitimately permitted to go out trick or treating. (Oliver and Amelia did so, but basically faked being younger kids so they could get loot).

Poor Owen. We spent WEEKS planning and searching for the various components of his costume. He wanted to be Zorro. We did research at Zellers and decided the costume there totally sucked and it was expensive.

We tried on lots of stuff at Zellers in the boys, girls and womens' depts. In the end, the only thing we found there was a gold lame type sash which he felt could pass for a Zorro belt.

Our next stop was at Bouclair's where we got some black fabric so that we could make a cape and the special mask. Then we headed off to Malabar's - a costume type store - where we found a hat, whip and sword - all for under $15.

At home we sewed the cape, added gold ribbon to make it special and a golden chain at the neck, just like the "real" Zorro. Another day, dad took him to Value Village where they found a silky black shirt that would work really well. We also found some leather gloves that kind of fit him.
Owen got to wear his costume to a party at his day care on Friday but left school early Monday so that he could be part of an interview on CBC radio to talk about his cool costume. His interview went well and it was fun hearing him talk on the radio.

I think the problem was that the anticipation built up this immense expectation for him. Kind of like Christmas sometimes after you get your presents - it can fall flat. We had planned for his friends to come over to go out with him (with one of his sisters to chaperone) while the adults visited, had dinner etc. The kids did both sides of our long block and then came back home to check in. They were then heading around the block to see a special haunted house and something went wrong. Basically Owen seemed to have a costume malfunction and then he melted down - totally stomped his cool hat flat - and came home. He locked himself in his room and refused to come out. I accepted his choice and later that evening he told me that he never wants to go out for Halloween again. I gave him a hug and said - well maybe you might just change your mind after a while... don't worry about it.

Luckily, other people had better Halloween experiences this year. I finally got a chance to visit some of my favorite blogs tonite and I enjoyed hearing about how they celebrated Halloween this year.

Kim's kids dressed up as gypsies and mummies and went to a graveyard to take rubbings from gravestones! Cool. Check out the children's headstones.

Holly's little guy hit the streets as a turtle after suffering from another bite at day care that morning.

Valerie's Kids looked warm and cuddly in their unicorn and frog costumes.

Andrea had a sweet adventure into the night with Princess Emma, visiting neighbours and grandma, carrying the tired royalty home on her back.

You can see kids in Libya going to a Halloween party on Terri's blog.

Nina sounds like she had an experience a bit more like mine. Check out her Dr. Seus rendition of their crappy-assed "morning after" Halloween. Her son was a pirate.

# posted by another lisa : Wednesday, November 02, 2005