Super Produce! to the Rescue!

It's hard to swear off store-bought costumes. I certainly don't feel like I can commit to making Halloween and Mardi Gras duds for the duration of parenthood. But the pearls that have come from "making" Ana's costume are a true joy.

She will be a superhero (in the morning, Cleopatra by night). We were all supposed to be superheroes, ala Incredibles style. I don't know if I can pull it off. But Elliot has a pre-made superman costume, complete with cape. That's as good as we could do.

We asked Ana's talented teacher Merry to convert an old princess gown into a superhero top (OK, so I didn't make it. Asking counts for something, right?). She met with Ana to talk about her ideas, and created a top with a butterfly logo, and a head wrap with the matching butterfly on it.

So tonight we searched for accoutremont to make it all work. Party City was brimming with families, and gaggles of teen-aged girls looking for some inspiration. I didn't think I'd have Ana's interest when I pointed out some plastic silver cups.

M: These would be great for your arm bands.
A: Yes! I can show you just how these would work, mama.

Then we cruised the stickers for some extra pizzazz. I was thinking STARS. Then saw UNICORNS (the irridescent kind. Didn't you have those in your sticker collection?). When Ana looked at the wall o' adhesion, she only saw ONE THING. FRUIT.

A: Mama, I want the fruit.
M: (disuasively) Ana, are you sure? What about these stars here? (Why do we do this?)
A: No mama. The fruit. (eagerly) Yeah. Yeah.
M: OKAY, Ana. Here you go.

And so, at home, at 10 pm, we're cutting plastic cups and tucking back the sharp bits for arm and ankle cuffs. She's bedazzling them with shimmery grapes and oranges and lemons. I can't resist the urge to have her put on the whole get up...this after melting from the Cleopatra cuteness.

Once the cuffs come on, she is transformed.

A: (pointing in my face, with a scowl) Are you a bad guy?
M: No way. I'm straightening up my act right now.
A: (to Dad) And you?
D: Yeah.
A: (shooting sound effects) I'll get you with my oranges. BOOM BOOM. And bananas. pshew. Pshew. Gotcha! Take that.

My little hero. Changing the world. One fruit at a time.