Frankenstein and Friends
All Hallows Eve! A holiday that comes with the chill of Fall, the crunch of leaves on the street, pumpkin patches, and pumpkin spiced lattes. But for us specifically, it comes with another stab at a classic monster costume. From last year, we traded in our fangs for this year’s monster: stitches and green paint. Jamie and Bronte were to both be Frankenstein’s Monster, whereas I played the iconic Frau Blucher (insert neigh).
Tuning my violin and creating a laboratory for my little monster was so much fun, and was happy the night ended with someone noticing who I was. A few people asked me if I was the doctor, and though a painful guess, I settled it by saying “an accomplice of his.” Or should I have said lover? All I know is, I should have carried around some Ovaltine.
Let us rightly understand, however, that Bronte was made for this role. While she has long mastered walking, she still has the appropriate toddler wobble and waddle. Her thick boots would catch a corner, and she looked appropriately like the Monster itself with her thick heavy foot falls. Her stitched hat was her main costume investment off of Etsy, as we were at a loss as to how to put bolts on her neck.
Jamie, with all her glamor, matched Bronte in most detail, down to the stitch placement. She taught Bronte how to walk with both arms out, and was the perfect role model for our little Monster. We walked Belvedere Street in Cole Valley, arriving later than planned due to the necessary photo shoot. While the street was crowded, and the night quickly came, Bronte was seen dancing in the driveways of ghostly DJs. She was mesmerized by the Jack Skellington performance, and boogied with Moana characters. She got cuddly with a ghost prop, and by the end of the night we had her successfully reaching her hand into bowls for candy (which was of course, for us).
A couple weeks before Halloween we had Meredith a Nora visit us! It was so cute seeing Nora and Bronte together, having naked baby time with two little butts running around, and reading books together before bed. We went to Half Moon Bay for the Pumpkin Festival, where we bought adorable knitted toddler hats and pumpkin flavored food and beer. Thankfully we lost Meredith for a time being, and as she had our phones and wallets, we would’ve bought more.
We walked to a block party nearby our home, and dressed up in old costumes. I pulled out Storm, who I wore last time close to 8yr ago, which has vindicated me for saving it this long. I definitely had to toss it afterwards, as much of the costume broke and fell apart - I felt like a very washed up version of the Marvel mistress. But alas! I saved it for a second life. Jamie also got to re-wear her Kill Bill outfit, and loved it so much she wants another in a larger size. Meredith was such a trooper, and her and Nora got to be pirates. We had fun playing in the street with the kids, playing with chalk and hula hoops, and did an adorable photo shoot in someone’s garden.
Bronte has become obsessed with ghosts, and while dressed up like one, she went up to people and said “Boo!”
Jane and Jim came to visit in early October for more festivities. We went to Lemos Farm for pumpkin picking, train rides, apple cider doughnuts, and some quality goat time. It was such a fun place, with so many activities for kids, and some that Bronte will grow into. We went into the goat pen a couple times, and by the second time, Bronte was so into kissing the goats right on the nose, brushing their coats, and playing in their water bowl.
Last but not least, HUZZAH! Renaissance Festival in Gilroy is always the start of the season for us. We went during pirate weekend, and Bronte had a blast. We walked in and were met with an array of characters, offering dried fish scales and plates of cheese curds. I was told I had the “most beautiful grin….full of sin” and knew right away I was transported to another time. Bronte didn’t know what to do with the wenches and washing women, but we however, were hooked in everything she interacted with. We bought her pirate treasure, and almost a leather satchel to put it in. We took photos in the fairy garden, watched a few performances, and hit another petting zoo. Her favorite part was finding the dragon statues throughout the vendors, and was enchanted with the ceramic bird whistles, which we also bought her. I regret not showing her the joust tournament, and will make that a priority for next year!
