A Brief Account of Our Recent Transformations

Autumn is my favorite season and Halloween is my holiday! Something about the last burst of colors, apple cinnamon smells, withering of nature, the symbols of dead and dying fill me up with beautiful melancholy which, if needed, can be shaken off with a handful of butterfingers and peanut butter cups.

This year, 5,000 miles away from the Party Land store, we had to welcome fall holidays and create our version of Halloween with whatever we had left from the previous years. Which, by the way, was not much. Lots of things have either vanished in the process of our move or are well-hidden in many unreachable boxes of our basement. It's also hard to feel Halloweenish since Germans don't really decorate for it. Up until last night I was sure they had no idea about Halloween, when, on the way home from Church, we saw German trick-or-treaters raiding the streets of Munich. Immediately, we felt the excitement and, despite the fact that it was Sunday night, we rushed home, changing into our costumes, to get ready for Trick-or-Treating on Post. Since appartment buildings are where the majority of our folk resides, it was actually a "trunk-or-treat" to spare kids from falling and breaking bones and Moms from carrying babies up and down stairs, and, possibly, falling and breaking bones too.

Trick-or-treat night became a culmination of our Halloween festivities, the time when I let my kids and myself stuff our tummies with candy feeling no remorse. It is an official beginning of a new season of gluttony. I really don't mean to be so sinful, but yummy food is about the only sure thing that helps me survive this cold and dreary time of year. And I love it this way!

This is what we looked like this past weekend:

Ethan and Levi were the sock monkeys. This Halloween they've discovered lollipops. I think it wise buying some more tomorrow and keeping them in my purse for emergency situatuions like meltdowns at the Sacrament meeting or at the Deutsche Museum.

Nadia is still a devout Harry Potter fan, and Hermione is a character that she looks up to. At age 8, Nadia has completed all 7 Harry Potter books and that makes me very proud of her! (and a bit embarassed, since I've just started the fourth book, trying to catch up with her. Hopelessly.) She is definately the brains of our family!   

We bought David a Ninja costume. But after wearing it just once, he lost a part of it. The thing I've learned about David is that the word "compromise" does not exist in his world. He refused all my attempts to substitute the original lost parts and improvise a little. "I just won't dress up for the school party tomorrow!"- he said with the pouty face. "I'll wear normal clothes and be..... a "no, David!" (it's the character of the same name book by David Shannon.) If David could think up such a genius idea, it meant that there still was a chance that he'd have a costume for the coming Monster Math Bash at school. Though I really could not picture what I'd need to put together a "No, David!" costume, I thought, a bright idea would probably visit me between now and the next Halloween. That could be a very unique and fun costume. Meantime, I dug out a cowboy hat and a vest I made for Nadia 4 years ago (when she was in love with horses) and David seemed to accept this unplanned "plan B" costume. Thank goodness!  

My transformation was fairly easy. I only had to shop online forever to find the right wig for my Professor Trelawney look.

After the Monster Math Bash on Friday we had a party to attend at the Pete Burke Community Center. And I really wanted to have my girl in a costume that would be different from the last year's. While babies were napping I ran to the basement and pulled out Scott's mission box with Russian shawls and other souvenir junk. The idea was brewing in my head, I could see what I wanted, but I did not know how. I did not have much time or supplies. The internet tutorials were too complicated... But it finally came to me - a yoga mat! I have one, sturdy enough, but pliable. I folded it in half, cut out the shape and decorated it with fabric. The other 2 Matryoshkas were also yoga mat born and covered with fabric and paper faces. It took me exactly 2 hours. I finished it right when the party started. I think, it turned out pretty cute. The best mark for my stress-driven intense handwork was given by Nadia. She LOVED it! She was eager to change from her old Hermione costme and reincarnate as Matryoshka. She also took pride enlightening those unfamiliar with Russian stacking dolls about Matryoshkas. But most people on our Post are Russian FAOs and could appreciate this piece of walking Russian culture - my cute matryoshka Nadia! 

Halloween Party at the Pete Burke!

Nadia and her best friend Kira (as Corpse Bride) are out trick-or-treating

David, in his final appearance - a Knight - with his little friend and princess Anya. Anya's and Kira's Mom actually made this outfit for Dave. He was so excited and happy about it! 

After a long night in quest for candy, our 

Knight got tired, cold, and hungry. Plus, he lost his princess on the way. His Mom had to rescue him and bring him safely home. What a HaPpy and eXhauStiNg HaLlowEen!

P.S. Our Dad is still in Russia, probably dressed up as American Tourist.