This is what I do when I stress

We are home from the hospital after Hudson's surgery. And I can't talk about it right now. It was a doozy and if I think about it too much I will go and wake him up just to cuddle him to death. He is comfortably resting on the couch.

Instead I will do what I have always done when stressed, eat. (Nom nom nom. Amen for Halloween candy) And write. I will tell you a story about our Halloween adventures 2013.

Researching our costume.

So, Hudson had told me he wanted to be a Poptart for dress up and I was not sure exactly how I was going to accomplish that. Two pieces of cardboard over his shoulders all decorated would have been just fine and cute, but-- alas-- I am never one to do anything the easy way. I complicated the situation with my dreams of sewing a soft brown fabric into a tart and adding felt embellishments to make the best darn Poptart you had ever seen. Now, I have not used a sewing machine since 8th grade. Just to do the math for you fine folks that still think I am 29, 8th grade was in 1988-89. Um, 24 years ago. (Expletive!) So, when I borrowed a friend's machine, I stupidly lived in the delusion that I would remember how to run one. Since I can not seem to remember my own kids' birthdates, I don't know why I trust myself at all.

Materials.

Plugging the 20 pound monstrosity in and pushing the pedal was not complicated. Threading the damn thing so it would actually make a seam was. On the given Saturday I had scheduled for the task, Josh was greatly amused to find me "Suzy Homemaker" with the glorious 1970s Kenmore sewing machine on the kitchen table, two curious little men staring at (and questioning) my every move, and a 2013 iPad set up like a tripod with a YouTube.com video of "how to thread a sewing machine" playing. Goodness it was hilarious. Hudson was NOT in the mood for the 1000 fittings I made him do and I quickly figured out that somehow if I sewed REALLY REALLY fast, I did not care if seams were straight. Only that this whole project was over. I did opt to make teeth marks and look as if his "stawberrie" jelly was oozing out.

Now, everyone thought Tucker should be a Toaster or Milk to compliment his brother and if I had planned accordingly and started this project in ...say June or so... it would have been ok. However, I did not and so Tucker was a pirate. Simply because we had everything for the costume here and he was  freaking cute. Plus, if Tucker was milk or something and trick or treating on his own people would be so confused. I mean who makes their 2 year old a toaster for Halloween?

Halloween was on a Thursday and since the storm of the century was scheduled to arrive between 3-8p.m., the day prior to the candy onslaught our sweet little town cancelled trick or treating. For real? I was very grumpy with this. We were going to David's cabin on Friday-Sunday, so we would miss all the fun!

In the end, I knew that Hudson and Tucker would be just fine with their candy stash when I heard that his class was going to "trick or treat" in the gym during school on Thursday. Parents could come in and set up themed tables to entertain the kiddos. My friend Jill coaxed me into creating a table. I suggested we do something other than a boring old Halloween table, and that is where our circus themed adventure began. People had Mickey themed tables and so on... I decided not to tell Hudson or Tucker I would be at school. Jill got REALLY into the event or at least the face painting and so I joined along.

Now I hear what you are thinking, so let me confirm.

YES, we scared the CRAP out of EVERY single kid. And no, our own children did not recognize us. Happy Halloween! :)