September Extended, Halloween, Digi, Sleepless

So, apparently September decided to extend itself several more days. It’s threatening to take over Halloween, which we really can’t let happen, because Rowen decided to be something EASY this year (Tinker Bell) and we already have her costume.

However, if it wants to delay Halloween just a bit, until I can figure out how to accomplish Ele’s request (that’d be, you guessed it, the planet Saturn), that would be fine.

How does a kid who is four want to be A PLANET for Halloween? Not an astronaut, (he didn’t want to be an astronaut last year, but we convinced him), he wants to be the planet. And of course he wants to be the ringed one. Thoughts?

Also, it’s 3:30 in the morning. TypeWriter 2 is keeping me up late these days. It’s tougher than I thought it would be in my head, getting it together enough to teach a class and live my life right now. There’s just so much .. life, I guess.

• Rowen is still loving school. Struggling a bit with getting up early and trying to adjust to how demanding a full day of kindergarten can be on a 5-year-old. And so are we.
• Ele, is our planet guy as always, and it is so much fun to hang out with him when Rowen is at school. Something neither of us have ever had before. 
• Struggling getting my sleeping back in order - maybe after being in Utah for a week? Maybe after being sick? Maybe after having Liv here, who does not need sleep, only coffee? Who knows? But I am certainly wider awake right now than I will be at 9 a.m., which is fine if I were a moth. As a mother, though, not so much.

Oh, and by the way, I am going to be teaching an introduction to digital scrapbooking class locally (I get asked this all the time), at the Family History Conference on Saturday morning, at the Apex NC LDS Stake Center.

You don’t need to register, just arrive (it’s free), and you’ll get three different family history related classes between 9-noon. I think it’ll be fun to talk about digital scrapbooking with an emphasis on the history part of family history. :)

Also, I think we might be winning the battle against the sickness AND the fleas of September. Cautiously optimistic. And thanks to Terminix, we got to spend 5 quality hours away from home yesterday, mainly shopping, while our house was treated. Just what I needed right now, right? But actually, it kind of was. And got some super cute pillows from Restoration Hardware. :)

Now if I can only get to sleep before 4 a.m., I might have a shot at some daylight hours tomorrow without feeling like I’ve been hit by a large vehicle. Wish me luck!

Comments

[Debbie]

Saturn, huh? I love creative kids, until it comes to the Halloween costumes. Can't they just be happy with the pick of the Target costume aisle? Come on, anything, price is no object! It never works.
I am thinking a huge bouncy ball (you know, the ones your kids alway seem to find and throw around Wal-Mart) as a mold for a paper mache ball. That way you can cut out holes for the head, arms and legs and paint it what ever color you want. The rings are gonna be the tough part. Hula hoops, maybe? Or you could go the easy route and email Lady Gaga and ask to borrow her outfit from SNL!

[Debbie]

Oh, did you see this picture on the web?
http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/coolest-saturn-costume.html

[Lesley]

Hi Jessica,

How about buying a solid colored bean bag and taking out the beans and stuff it with something like plastic sacks? I thought about the hula hoop idea too for the rings. Can't wait to see pictures. My daughter decided that she wants to be Poison Ivy (yeah, from the Batman movies). So I am sewing 200 leaves to a leotard and searching for red hair (yes red, not orange). Best of luck!

[Jana]

I love the one on the website mentioned by Debbie. I was thinking about a large ring cut from styrofoam. My students use that often for their Saturn projects (smaller scale but it would work!)
Good luck & let us know what you end up with (photo I'm sure!)

[Jana]

I love the one on the website mentioned by Debbie. I was thinking about a large ring cut from styrofoam. My students use that often for their Saturn projects (smaller scale but it would work!)
Good luck & let us know what you end up with (photo I'm sure!)

[Jana]

Oh, forgot to add..........as far as your sleep pattern, maybe you should set a bedtime for yourself for a week or 2 until you get back to "normal."

[Kari Holt]

You know, if you were on the West Coast (say, Phoenix, for instance) your sleep pattern would be just fine!! Then again, I'm usually up at 3:30 A.M., too ;) How very cool for you to be a part of the Family History Conference ... so rewarding!! SO wish I could be there to T.A. for you - especially since I only got to be in one of your classes at DSE!! Hope life slows down here pretty quick for you :)

[Jen]

Thank you for helping me put my week into perspective. We have had a rough week but as of now it looks like just that, a week. I hope you are all feeling better and that October is smoother. I can't wait to see the Saturn pictures, I have no doubt the costume will be fantastic!!
Good luck.

[Meg]

Jess - have we told you lately that you are awesome? I had no idea about your grandmother - and I am deeply sorry for your loss. I have one remaining grandparent - and I am named for her. She is 90 Dec 25 this year and I so dread that phone call that I know will come one day.

But - I am SO glad that you are feeling better. You were such trooper in Utah - still don't know how you managed to make so many people happy to be around you when you were feeling miserable - truly a gift.

Take care, hugs to you all and prayers for some quiet family down time very soon...you deserve it!

[fergie]

Hi Jessica, hope your October is going better than September did! I know what you mean about fleas, we brought home a sad little kitten once (it was January in Winnipeg and there was no way he was going to survive the night outside). Needless to say we got more than one new family member. I remember feeling dirty...because it's fleas, right?!? Who gets fleas? I hope all is better and good luck with the Saturn thing. I'm feeling a trip to the local home improvement store might provide something for the rings. Good luck (I also know what you mean about the class...I'm taking it right now and having a hard time keeping up...I'm hoping tonight is the night to catch up).

[shell (shmoop)]

Ummmmm unfortunately my kids have learned if it can't be purchased, it can't be a halloween costume! bwahahahahaha!!! good luck..... he's such a doll!!!

As far as the sleep thing goes, sometimes you need a readjustment of your "clock"... and if you take a pm something (tylenol pm, advil pm or just plain pm which is benadryl) for a couple nites it straightens out and you are back on track. I'm also a believer in melatonin. But if worse comes to worse, I recommend drugs (pill pusher that i am!!! :D) so an ambien for a few nites is ok too!!!

Now for the kindergarten chaotic mornings! I tell you, BOTH of my kids had trouble. I struggled and fought with Sam; by the time Anna started we learned! Lay the clothes out the nite before, have an idea on breakfast......make it a game for her..... maybe even use a reward system she thinks is fun? One of my friends who is a seasoned mom lets her child sleep in her clothes that she'll wear the next day! LOL!!!! And.....it won't kill them to miss brushing their teeth now and then...gotta choose those battles! Good luck....

[Monda]

Could you modify this to look like the planet then make a bigger hula hoop as the rings? This is such a great price: http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/tacky-tourist-adult-costume/

What about the whoopie cushion costume as a model, make it out of felt, insert a hoop to make it 'globe like' and not flat, then back to the hula hoop for the rings.

Don't they make metallic hula hoops - they'd make cool rings or cover a regular one with mylar.

Always loved this time of year, making Parker's costume - the year that almost killed me was her Scarlett O'Hara phase with 20 yards of eyelet lace - can you say OCD - but it was gorgeous, she was beaming and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything! Now she's 16 - but I've got all those costumes, photos, journaling and memories!

Celebrate the challenge of planet Ele!

~Monda

[Monda]

Whoopie Cushion idea Link:
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/woopie-cushion-child-costume/

[kd]

Jessica,
Don't over think the costume. I instantly thought of your son walking around in a giant ball with a ring and not being able to walk thru doorways (ask me about the Sponge Bob box of 2001) lol Just take a good, roundish picture of Saturn to Kinkos and have it blown up and two copies made, adhere to cardboard (middle of one of those tri-fold science fair fold outs you can get at W-mart etc) and hang it over his shoulders front and back. He obviously can recognize Saturn and will surely love it!! Way cool imagination your son has!! Relax and enjoy the ride- this is just the beginning :)