This year it seems Halloween materialized in our rearview mirror, out of nowhere, tailgated us at 90mph and then passed us on the right. By the time we realized what had hit us, it was Wednesday.
Our school doesn’t allow us to wear costumes to celebrate Halloween, which is worthy of an all out open letter to our principal Mr. Mayfield… if such a letter can be written in disguise? I’ve never been in trouble with a principal and I’m not about to break my perfect record. In any case, that means we have to pack a lot of hallow into the eve.
This year Jacob decided he wanted to be a Zombie Hunter. We’d seen the costume last year, but it wasn’t available in our size at the time. Apparently eight-years-old is the threshold for killing mythical monsters that eat brains. Fortunately, this year we had no problem getting a plastic bullet bandolier, bloody axe and mini zombie head holster. It seems zombie hunters are from the outback, as it also came with a nice Crocodile Dundee hat and duster.
Historically, Jake has been the kid open to costume repetition, but this year Nate got creative. He decided to follow in his brother’s stealth ninja footsteps and wear Jacob’s ninja costume from last year. Only this year, he was a zombie ninja. Of course I was game as I like little boys in matching outfits and families with costumes that “go together.”
We threw our kale salad together, barbecued our burgers and headed down to the Squire Canyon Halloween Headquarters at Matt and Jean’s house for our second annual neighborhood potluck and tractor ride trick-or-treating train.
After last year’s experience with Jake’s stealthy black ninja costume and his actual disappearance into the landscape come nightfall, I came prepared this year with a big tube of 50 premium glow-stick necklaces in various shades of cool and pretty. And got to meet every kid in the neighborhood. I wish I could say I’d strategically planned this as a friend-making tactic… but alas, I’m just a zombie mom with an overactive imagination. The necklaces were a runaway success. I’m two for two following the 2015 breakout hit of my witch fingers and noses.
As I gaze upon my zombies with their bloody axe and crooked tooth (perfectly timed for a mouthful of zombie… no make-up needed), I can’t help but feel nostalgic for Halloween’s past. The evolution has been so fast:
2009: It started with the softest, fattest giraffe on record.
2010: Followed by the girly ducky.
2011: Jake went with lion and Nate doubled the cute factor. Nate went with lion, too, opting for a wardrobe change to zebra.
2012: Encore of Jake the lion. Nate let me dress him as a sock monkey.
2013: All of my voting powers vanished. Superman and Supahman make their strength known.
2014: Hiccup and Toothless, brought to us courtesy of DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon.
2015: Weapons become the number one criterion in choosing a disguise. Swords dressed as identical ninjas hi-ya onto the scene.
2016: If it’s not broke… Jake is a ninja again. Nate is a Star Wars Storm Trooper. Both feature weapons.
This year the creep factor has creeped in. Although I have to say, there was one afternoon when Jakey and Nate conceived of the zombie ninja costume. They gathered up some Scotch tape and markers and then suspiciously shut the door to their room. All was quiet.
The door opens and Jacob has his arm wrapped protectively around his brother’s shoulder, ready to present their creation:
Nate as… Zombie Ninja… strategically covered in bits of colored tape cuts, scars and other various zombie wounds.
I have to admit, it was pretty dang cute.