Monster Mash

I've started to think our family is more of a cold season group.  Not to say we ski or anything of the sort, but we seem to enjoy the process of coming together and creating things as the air gets cooler.  We are a family of baking and extravagant art projects that we accomplish together.  Everything does seem more fun when you have a partner in crime!

The cooler breezes are sweeping through the city and all the little monsters are getting ready for that one glorious night, Halloween.  The excitement of choosing a new costume, collecting candy around the neighborhood, and, in our house at least, a cookie decorating party is on the horizon.  Decorating the home seems to be a family event that is taken a little serious in our house.  One year our daughter even asked for a Halloween themed birthday party, at the end of September, just because we love decorating so much.  These past few years we have been a little slack on the decorating though because a lot of our possessions reside 2600 miles away from us.  And as most of you home decorating enthusiasts know, going big, isn't always cheap.  We have been slowly building up our decorations again.

This year, as many of you have, I searched Pinterest to find exciting and good ideas for cheap ways to liven up our home this October season.  I found an seriously cheap, we are talking less than a dollar, idea for the front door.  Granted, I had all the supplies laying around my house in random spots, but this door idea was simple.  I was super excited to get the kids involved as well.  As it turned out only the youngest monster was truly excited to help get this project done.  And in his own way, Boots, made this door project his own.

Over at Honey & Fitz there is a super easy tutorial for creating a Mummy Door.  It's cute, cheap, easy, and all the things this mom loves!  When Boots decided to help me we went on a hunt for white streamers.  Unfortunately we did not have any in our house and he refused to make a trip to the store with me.  So in the wake of feeling like my cheap decorating idea was being blown out of the water, he suggests we use black streamers.  Of course to this I said "But Mummies aren't black" and his simple response was "But Monsters are".  The 9 year old wins.  He is true and correct in the sentiment that some monsters are black and in this statement he also saved the day.

We gathered our double sided sticky tape, lined the door, and then began stretching the steamers back and forth.  Boots was rather bothered that he couldn't reach the top, and thus instructed that it was my area to complete.  I would have liked having more streamers, we only had 2 rolls, I would suggest picking up maybe 4 for this project if you don't already have some.  But then I do tend to attempt at overachieving at the most random of things.  Boots believes that once we added the eyeballs, that he made from paper plates, and the mouth, that we cut and colored on a large poster board, it would all come together.  Man he was Right!  I think that our Monster front door is the perfect addition to our other random decorations.  But you can be the judge of that.

Family is Love

I have one sibling. Only one brother. And though some people may think this is normal, I know plenty who find it odd because they come from huge extended families. In fact, it seems more normal these days to meet people with 2+ siblings. Even in my family, that I've had, there are 5 kids (6 really but that's for another time).  And I know they have their differences but they seem to love being from a large family filled with love.

For me, one brother is enough though. He's so awesome I couldn't imagine having to share him with anyone else but my parents. I am the first born. Seemingly I would be the protector, the leader, the one that saves the day and makes everything good. But it is not so. My brother is my hero. He stands strong against the test of time. He has weathered the harshest of conditions and yet he still has kind words for people and always makes me know that everything, in the end will be ok. 

We did not have the most conventional of upbringings. Our father died when I was only 7 and he a mere 4. It has been a hard thing for us. Being raised by a single mother whom did nothing but teach us acceptance and love for others despite anything. She is a powerful woman, our mother. She always let us make our own decisions no matter how rash always reminding us that it is our own choices that lead us down paths in life we have to live with. I think my brother listened to these words more than I though. 

Being the eldest child I always ran free, not really having a care in the world and always doing whatever seemed fun and exciting. Not to say my brother hasn't had his own fair share of adventures, but

his lifelong dream was to be a husband and a father. 

He used to always tell me how he was going to work hard, raise a bunch of kids and just be a dad. A happy go lucky fun dad (similar to the way our own father was before his death). And this is what he has become. It has taken 30+ years of trials and tribulations, but I think he has achieved his ultimate goal. He's the father. He takes care of everyone around him (not without his faults of course. I'm not trying to say he's perfect).  He is always worried about tomorrow and what we are all going to do. He tries to have this cool aloof exterior when I know inside it's eating him alive, but he always says "It's going to be ok. No matter what". And he's always right. Every time. No matter what. It all works out, and he makes me feel better in the course of it all. 

When we were small our mom saw a psychic, this woman told my mom she had one child, a boy. But in her description of this child, it was a mix of my brother and I. Some people think we're twins when they meet us. We are very close and look strikingly similar (more so than most siblings). I think this says a lot about how I feel towards him. He's my better half. The less wild (which is saying a lot about me because he's an animal), and the kinder, more nurturing side. 

He's quick with hugs, always there with the laughter and has kind words for the worst of situations. All things I struggle with in life. My best friend (someone I've known since birth once told me she was afraid to hug me because I have that standoffish vibe I give off), but my brother, he always has his arms stretched wide open for those in need. 

I on the other hand am harsh, demanding, angry, quick with the words that cut and attempt to protect everyone. I'm possessive, he's just not. He lets everything be mine.  Probably because he knows I'm going to share with him in the end. He always wins. Everything. And he always makes me feel better when I'm at a loss. There's never a time when he doesn't make me see where I was wrong, and still accept me for being myself. He's never judging me. 

All of these rambling words come to one thing; I am most grateful for my brother. For all the times we fought and for all the times we've cried and laughed, I wouldn't trade him for the entire world and I'm thankful there's just him. No one else I have to share my love or him with. And of course, he's always making me feel safe and well loved despite all my downfalls.