Speaking of obscure costumes. On Thursday, DD12's new school had a Halloween party. She was excited to go, but did not want to dress up. When we picked her up afterward she said: "Guess who won best homemade costume?" Seems it was awarded by applause volume and she made an impassioned plea for having made a costume of a "regular person" by growing the cotton and spinning the thread and weaving the fabric... and so on. She basically charmed her way into a bag of m&ms (the prize).

In years past, when I was struggling with the sewing machine trying to make her some outfit, I used to dream of a time when she'd be able to handle her costume herself. Guess we are there.