My little flying monkey...

For the last few years, I have really been wanting to make Brayden a Flying Monkey costume from the Wizard of Oz.  I wasn't quite sure how I would pull it off exactly, but knew I wanted to try making this for him.  This year, this Momma was on a mission to get it done.  I searched everywhere for grayish/blue furry fabric so I could match the monkey exactly to the old movie.  I could not find it anywhere.  {sigh}

I finally settled on some white furry fabric and decided it would still look cute even so!  Next, I searched for really cool feathers so I could hand make the wings for the costume.  I bought 6 bags of feathers, ended up only needing two of them...so I'll just hope that I need them for something else soon!!!

I started making his costume on Saturday, October 30th...yes I am a huge procrastinator.  I cut, and sewed and cut {ran and bought another yard of fur}, and continued sewing for most of the day!  I finished Halloween Day at about 2pm...phew!

I will add that although Brayden DID end up liking his costume, that on Saturday he was trying on the suit before it was finished and got fur in his mouth.  He immediately started dry heaving, and yelling "get it off me, I don't like it anymore...fur is not my favorite snack!"  I'm not even kidding...this dramatic little child of mine ;-)

Thankfully by Sunday, he was ready and raring to go putting his costume on.  He was so excited, and looked like such a soft little monkey, I just wanted to pet him!  ha!

I added some fishing wire to his tail so it would wag as he walked, and the wings turned out so cute...even if they did require me sitting gluing each one on one by one for over 4 hours!!! Gotta love hot glue gun burns though right?  Well...they were totally worth it, he looked adorable.  I am so happy with how this whole costume turned out!  Most importantly...he had a blast trick or treating.  He kept telling people "thank you" and "Happy Halloween", and even knocked on one door screaming "Hello, Lakewood Fire Department!!!"  He's a hoot!

Happy Halloween 2010 Brayden...or....Flying Monkey I should say!



Our little Drummer...

Brayden loves to drum, so it was only fitting he be a drummer for Halloween.  I made a trip to WalMart late late lastnight in search of items to make this little drummer costume happen.  Fur, buttons, some black pants, a red shirt, ribbon, fringe, glitter, polyfoam, and hot glue later....this is what Mommy made {until 3am I might add} the night before Halloween. 

When I got the costume on him tonight, he quickly looked down at the fur on his sleeves and pet it so lovingly.  He then looked at me and said "puppy"!  "Ah, no Bray, that's fur baby, not a puppy!".  I thought for sure after that comment that showing him the hat I made was really gonna freak him out!

Oh the hat.  I will admit that in making this costume, that hat was indeed the hardest part.  I was trying polyfoam on Brayden's head in his sleep to make sure I could make this thing fit.  Trying to cut its shape was not any easier, and the hot glue involved left me with three blisters on my poor fingers. 

It was so worth it though.
Brayden had so much fun marching around telling everyone that he was "a drummer".
 He said " hi-see" for trick or treat, and {elcome} and {ankyou} to almost everyone he saw.
  It was quite precious to watch.

At one point he boycotted walking any further until we gave him a "sticky" aka: sucker.
 He could not figure out why it was so important to get all of this candy, only to put it in his little drum container!
 He finally had enough with getting candy he wasn't eating.
Stinker.

He finally stood up long enough to make sure the candy was still there, and to help Daddy pick out just the right "sticky".

Once he found the right one, and we inspected it and handed it over....we got our happy little drummer back...
Sticky, red lips and all...
{Yes, we know...we are suckers!  No pun intended}

He soon ran out of his little sugar rush, and decided to take a rest...
on a strangers front porch...
while insisting we "wing" with him.

Finally a pooped out little peanut with Mommy at the end of the night. 
He fell asleep in almost record time this evening.

I had so much fun making your costume this year again Brayden.  It makes me feel like my Mom-she always used to make things/costumes for us.  I am proud that you walked so far tonight, and with so much zeal and excitement.  You were so polite and so happy. 

We love you little drummer.

 Happy Halloween Brayden!

Happy Halloween 2008!

Brayden had a great second Halloween evening! Mommy just decided on a costume today and whipped one up quickly this afternoon. I had planned on getting one together yesterday but ended up sick all day from a bug of some sort and in the E.R. until 11 pm last night so this is the only costume I had time to sew today...Baby Jack Jack from The Incredibles. I bought some red jammies, and felt and voila!

Brayden started out a bit apprehensive about "trick or treating" but we did go to a few houses. Soon he realized he could reach into the candy bowl all by himself and at that discovery...he was off! He soon then realized he could grab two pieces of candy at a time...and he mostly grabbed Reese's (mommys favorite)...so that was very funny.

We did not stay out long as Bray has had a slight cold this week and we did not want him getting any worse...but here is our little "Jack Jack" on Halloween 2008. More pics to come later this week as our computer is on the fritz right now. Hugs hugs and Happy Halloween everyone.

Most Imaginative Costume Award...

We took Brayden to the Lucille Ball Little Theatre for their annual Halloween Costume Party and Contest. Brayden got to go up on the very stage that I had spent many moments on myself as a child...and won the Halloween Award for the most imaginative costume! Daddy was tickled because it was his idea, and I was tickled because I made it...and Brayden was...well...asleep. It was a great night, we had so much fun walking around with him, and people seemed to get such a kick out of his costume, and that he was so tiny in this big huge glove. I can't wait to take more pics tomorrow night, but here he is...and here is his award. His very first costume contest and he won! We are just so excited!

Baseball Baby... Happy Halloween!!!

Sunday night I started working on Brayden's Halloween costume. Ron and I knew we wanted him to be a baseball glove, with his head being the ball coming out of the glove. Next was making it. I went to wal-mart Sunday evening, and got all the material and accessories I would need for it. Ron said he would be surprised if I could really pull this costume off. I do know how to sew, but have never made anything except curtains. This is Grandma's thing...sewing costumes. I decided to dive in last night, and drew a pattern from looking at Ron's baseball glove, and hoping that it would work. I was most nervous about cutting the fabric. I decided to just go for it! Here is the finished product...I got it done this afternoon. Beth came over and helped me make the baseball head bonnet because I could not figure out how to make it. She did such a great job on it, his little head looks just like a baseball.
I called mom and told her I pulled a Pat! I was able to get this thing done in less than 24 hours, and it actually turned out really well! It made me realize, and appreciate how much love and time goes into something you are making for your child...and I was touched when I thought back on all of the costumes mom always made for me. It was special. So...we will post pictures of him actually in it later this week...(with Daddy in his baseball uniform carrying him around)but for now...here is the finished costume. We will be going to Little Theater Tuesday night for a costume contest, and a chance for Brayden to "walk" across the stage in his costume for judging...fun stuff. Happy Halloween!