Halloween in Neverland

This year for Halloween we went with a Peter Pan motif, despite Steve's request to all be sports stars, as he requests every year. I started making costumes at the end of August and worked on them off and on until last weekend which was our debut at the ward trunk-or-treat. I ditched the last few minor items I had planned to make due to costume burnout. I love making costumes, but I'm glad Halloween comes but once a year. I'm also very glad Steve plays along and lets me dress him up however I please. mostly. His costume took the longest by far but it was well worth it! 

Clark was really getting into his role as Peter Pan. I borrowed a copy of the cartoon movie from the library to watch with him and he was particulary impressed with Peter's ability to fly. Lana played Tink well, getting nervous when Pan and Hook went head to head.

Here is what I used to make the costumes:

PETER PAN: McCalls M4952 as a starting point. Lengthened it and modified the sleeves to make them not puffy. Hat using this pattern and shoe covers using this tutorial. Tights from eBay.

TINKERBELL: Simplicity 2559, this diaper cover pattern, and wings that velcro on the back using a youtube tutorial. wand from a birthday party.

CAPTAIN HOOK: Simplicity 2333 for the jacket, wrist ruffles, jabot, and hat. Hook from Hobby Lobby Christmas decor

WENDY: Simplicity 4055 

Gems from the Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday I told Steve I wanted to go to a pumpkin patch to take some pictures of the kids so he found us one five minutes away. The kids had fun looking at all the pumpkins and scarecrows and choosing some to take home. It was quite a cute little patch! I had the kids sport some homemade clothes: Clark in a button-up shirt I made a few months ago, and Lana in a self-drafted romper and fur vest I just finished. They looked so cute running around the pumpkins. Pictures from the pumpkin patch are always such a treasure!

Celebrating Daddy

Steve recently had a birthday. When I consulted him about what he'd like to do to celebrate this year he told me what he tells me every year: [shrug] "I don't know." I overheard him tell one of his brothers that he might have everyone out for a birthday dinner. I interpreted that as "I'm hoping my wife will throw me a surprise family party." So I got to work planning the surprise, and keeping it a surprise. I went to great effort to plan a reason for him to get out of the house, then he was quite stubborn about going along with my plan. Very stubborn, actually. But things all worked out, all our family arrived, and Steve was in fact surprised. I'm so glad everyone could make it and go along with my scheme!

Labor Day + Birthdays

We hosted a family swim/BBQ/party over the Labor Day weekend to celebrate the holiday and Clark and Phil's birthdays. Since it usually rains when we plan to take people to the pool we thought we'd be clever and swim before the festivities. It worked! The pool was practically empty and it didn't rain! We took the party back home where the men built a kids' bike wash out of PVC. It was fun for all ages and provided at least an hour and a half of entertainment. Then the party moved indoors where Clark opened a few presents from his aunt and cousins and we had a BBQ. And dance party. And Frozen sing-along. And an incredible game of duck, duck, goose. Clark requested a pie for his birthday treat so I made him a peach raspberry pie, knowing he probably wouldn't eat it. And he didn't, hence the small pie. 

I had to have a picture of all the kids together since Clark adores his cousins. And not pictured, sadly, is Aunt Katie who we're so pleased could come stay with us to party and endure the chaos! 

Clark is 4!

Clark turned 4 this month! We had some celebrations with family over the Labor Day weekend, but we had fun on his actual birthday too. Steve and I inflated about 75 balloons on his birthday eve and snuck them into his room. We tried to get up early to watch his reaction to the birthday surprise but just after my alarm went off he appeared in our room, appearing put out, and said, "who put all the balloons in my room?! They were in my way getting to my bathroom." We laughed, then he asked us if Santa put the balloons in there. Funny boy! Both kids enjoyed the balloons all day and Lana got a kick out of running through them. Clark started gymnastics class on his birthday and wanted to wear his gymnastics clothes all day. After dinner he got to open presents and we sang to him and ate his favorite cupcakes: chocolate! (Now that he is no longer allergic to wheat the quality of baked goods I can make for him has improved tremendously.) It was a fun little party for a special little boy. We love our little Clarkie man!