Thursday, October 25, 2012

Obama Rally in Richmond Virginia - a Photolog {10.25.2012}

Waiting in the long line to get in the gates which opened at 9 AM.

Thanks Anita for making me go even though it was my idea and I tried to back out!

Finally we got to the security line!  Metal detectors and handbag exams.

The eager, patient crowd.  Speeches didn't start until 12:00!  We waited over 3 hours in the hot sun.

The long view to the stage.

The view below when I took a seated breather!  They passed out the water bottles and am sure they cleaned up afterwards... there was nowhere else to put them!

People on the edge were trying to pass water to those in the center of the crowd.  I heard several people passed out!  I felt dizzy a few times... the people... the sun.... the thirst! 

We made friends with those around us and helped with their babies!  Anita is a natural.

The view behind us.  An impressive sea of people.  I never heard or saw an unkind thing and felt a great vibe.

FINALLY!  Can you see President Obama!!!  He's the little white speck waving his hand on the stage!  It exhilerated us all to finally see and hear him!

A blurry shot that captures the spirit after he spoke.

Me in my new presto-change-o Women for Obama $5 shirt!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

How To Make a Tractor Costume {Tutorial}

My son is 2 1/2 and only loves his mom, dad and sister more than he loves tractors.  Specifically, John Deere tractors.  He was just born that way, baby.  It was a no-brainer to try to make him a tractor costume!  Here's how we did it!

What you'll need:
-2 medium sized rectangular shaped boxes.
-Scissors
-Serrated knife
-Marker/ Pencil
-Tractor-colored paint of your choice
-Black paint
-Paint brush or sponge brush
-Duct tape or packing tape


Difficulty level:  Not easy, Not hard                  
Time Commitment:  Over the course of several hours and drying overnight
Can kids help?  A little bit

Instructions:
1) Choose your boxes and arrange them the way you want them to be for your tractor.

2) Cut holes in the top and bottom of the larger upright box where the child will stand.  Then, connect the boxes together.  For our tractor, I used the top end flap on the touching end of the shorter box and stuck into the larger box through a cut slot, and taped it inside.  Then I did the same with the bottom end flap like this:





3) Secure all seams with more duct tape!
{Step 3.5:  Have fun with kids playing with the other boxes!}

Step 4) Break out the paint!  We chose to do a fancy stripe.
Step 5) Make the wheels!  I used a dinner plate to make templates.  For the 'small' front wheels, I used the actual plate size.  For the 'large' wheels, I cut a larger circle around the template.



Step 6) Add the wheels and embellish how you like!  We glued on the wheels but I wanted to use brads so they would roll around.  Oh well.  We used duct tape to make fake windows and headlights.  We've also since added shoulder straps by connecting some ribbon to the front and back of the body opening...  but baby boy doesn't like them.  


Step 7) ENJOY!  {And hope and pray the costume makes it to Halloween!  Have a backup plan :).}