Halloween II!!!

So, there's all of the outside Halloween hubbub and then there's our party. I don't say that to be conceited, but because that's how I have to compartmentalize it if I want to accomplish anything. I want to do it all - Halloween time at Disneyland, the Haunted corn maze, trick-or-treating, the pumpkin patch, our shindig, and anything else Halloween-ish that comes along (that's not gory or bloody, of course!) We're more Haunted Mansion, less Haunted house.

So, this year, like every other we pulled out countless bins of Halloween decor, I purchased some items ( which I vow every year that i will NOT do because we have so much already!) and we deck our house from top to bottom, the front yard, the back yard and everywhere in between. There are ghosts and witches, poison pantries and mummy head centerpieces. Brains made of shrimp and even a roasted vulture to eat - it is out of control. I am the first to admit that and I don't even know how it happens every year.

This year because Halloween fell on a Saturday we did our party that day, which made the event even more other worldly. Some folks couldn't make it, but most did and even brought guests! To add to it all, we had a steady stream of trick or treaters ringing the door bell begging for sweets.

Anyway, when you have the best intentions of blogging, life happens and so I m really late getting some of these pics posted, forgive me. Every year we try to do something fun and unique for our party costumes and this year was no different! On October 31, 2009 we stopped being Karlyn, Eugene and Langston and magically transformed into Eric and Melissa In-n-Out workers with their creation, a life size double double. We were a hit!

I collected all of the in-n-out uniform components including some ebay stalking to find the right female burger worker's hat (that only associates who work there can get) along with authentic name tags (again, not available for purchase). I bought red fabric for the aprons and made the trek to In-n-Out's headquarters and hamburger U for shirts and their famous oversized safety pins. I also made several trips to the burger stand for props and research - hey somebody's gotta do it!



For Langston's costume, I handmade everything. I used fleece to make hamburger bun "pillows" that I sewed and stuffed. The "bun" even had browned tops and lighter undersides, with sesame seeds on the top for effect! In between the two pillows I added cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and onions made of felt to two hamburger patties that I also made. All of this was then glued and sewed to a little bodice that i created and fitted to Langston. It had shoulder straps and fit around the waist. He wore a long sleeved red onesie underneath. I found a ketchup packet treat bag to complete the look! Perfect!


Isn't he just the cutest little double-double you've ever seen?

He was really the hit of the party. he waddled around just as content in his little burger get-up. It was amazing how much stamina and balance he had. Not that he didn't ever fall - he did. Quite a few times...getting tripped up by the bun or reaching for something and losing his balance a bit. Then he would flail about just a little like an overturned turtle. But, with minimal fuss. Each time he got himself upright or looked around with sad little puppy dog eyes and someone would come to his rescue. He really was a trooper and quite the entertainment! He not once tried to take off the burger buns, in fact he very much knew that was his outfit and would go to it, look at it and reach for it to be put on before the party (I think all of the fittings ahead of time helped).






Anyway - lest you think all we did was make fun of my child all not, we didn't! He enjoyed himself, too...walking around all night like a little bird - opening his mouth to anyone and everyone who would pop something inside. I think he thought it was great - "Hey, all of these people will feed me?! Awesome!" Eventually we took off the burger and he went to work playing and traipsing through the house with the other children (and ghouls!)
The evening was a success. Langston was a hit with his brown chunky legs (hamburger patty color, no less) marching around underneath two burger buns, Gene taking out the trash and looking oddly In-n-Out appropriate and me trying to keep an eye on everything - the food on the table, the guests, the fog machines, the children in the yard, the trick or treat candy, the spooky Halloween sounds. It was a lot! Thank goodness we had some dear friends (the Fab Four!) come early to help set up the food and light candles so we could take Langston on a short trick-or treating jaunt in his turtle halloween costume. Then it was back home to change into our burger stand get-up and enjoy our party. All of the partygoers chipped in handing out candy when the doorbell rang. Overall, the evening was a success! Time to start thinking about what we're going to do next year!