Happy All Hallows' Eve
Zane was a dog in a big cardboard dog house. I put some straps in, anchored to the bottom and the sides, with a tie around the waist, to keep it steady. It was steady enough to wear, but awesomely top-heavy, and Zane's not a big guy, so he tottered and wobbled all over the place in the doghouse. We all laughed a lot. I'm so glad Zane also thought it was funny and was laughing too, because even if he'd gotten all sad that we were laughing at him, i don't think i would have been able to stop. It was awesome.
Katrina was a delicate flower. Karen made that costume, and it is cute and robust. It was also cumbersome, so she walked about the one party wearing a simple green outfit (green for the stem). And then she overheard somebody complimenting another kid on their costume, and she gazed up at Karen: "Can you go to the car and get my flower costume?" We ladle positive affirmations on that girl (and our sons) and she accepts it with natural ease, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love and crave it. "Notice me! Adore me!" Of course, i can't imagine not adoring her.
Houston was a bird in a bird cage. I made the cage out of straightened-out coat hangers (pro tip: free at any laundromat). Then he had wings and a hat i kind of made without planning, and they worked out great. I winged it. Har. Har. Houston originally said he wanted to be a bird in a bird house, but "bird house" in my brain got translated to "bird cage" every time i heard it. Thus, the bird cage. He was somewhat frustrated by his costume, especially the cage, so he only wore that while actually trick-or-treating. But people liked it.
Karen was someone who'd been dumped. A pint of ice cream. Bathrobe. Running mascara (except i don't think you can buy tear-soluble mascara anymore) and messy hair. It was cute.
I didn't notice many dads wearing costumes. When a father was dressed up, they'd always be something manly, like a cowboy or a hockey player. I didn't see a single adult male dressed as a nine year old girl. I didn't even see any nine year old girls dressed as nine year old girls. They were all fairies or princesses or soldiers or somehow affiliated with sports teams. Or a superhero -- young Ella was Superman. But i was bold and courageous, and carpe'd the diem, and dressed up like a nine year old girl. I was Pippi Longstocking, but since i'm a thirty seven year old dude, i was just Creepy Longstocking. Witness the power.