Photo by Wish upon a Cupcake

My first novel, Saints and Spies, will be published by Covenant Communications in 2013!!!

The book is about an LDS (Mormon) FBI agent who has to go undercover as a Catholic priest to root out the mob in the parish. Falling for the parish secretary? That’s just the beginning of his problems.

I got the email Friday morning while working away at a writers’ retreat (where I pounded out 27,000 words on a new novel that I’m very excited about, too!). It was fantastic to share that with other writers face to face, especially when those writers are some really good friends.

I’ve answered a bunch of pertinent questions at the end of the post—with a link to the first chapter of the book—so I suggest you head on over and take a look! Thank you!

Halloween is coming up and we love to dress up as a family (since the kids are still young enough to agree!). We haven’t settled on this year’s costume, so I’m coming up with as many ideas as possible. We always make our own costumes (and I’ve included pictures of every year here) in a family theme. Please note that I’m not saying that I think these ideas are good/creative/funny, nor that you should buy these costumes; they’re just everything I found. Also note: the links below are Amazon affiliate links; I earn a small percentage of any purchase you might make after following the links. (Thanks!)

Most of these use “babies” to mean toddler or infant, and “kids” to mean grade schoolers (since, let’s face it, how many teens do family-themed costumes?).

Hope this helps!

Contents:
Disney | Other movies | Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes | Classics | Food & Candy

Disney movies

Aladdin

Daddies: Aladdin (Prince Ali Ababwa or red fez), Jafar (Hat), the Sultan, the Genie (and lamp)
Mommies: Jasmine, the Genie
Sons: Abu, Aladdin
Daughters: Jasmine (purple wedding outfit, blue outfit, or modest blue outfit)
Babies: Jasmine (modest purple wedding outfit), Abu, Rajah

Alice in Wonderland

Daddies: Mad Hatter, King of Hearts (simple [just add a heart sash], deluxe, Playing Card style or actual playing card), Tweedle Dee/Dum, Caterpillar
Mommies: Alice (newer kind-of live action version or Classic animated version), Queen of Hearts/Red Queen (recent version plus wig/hat & crown), White Queen
Sons: Mad Hatter (classic animated version), March Hare (Tim Burton version), White Rabbit (top hat + ears), Tweedle Dee/Tweedle Dum (Tim Burton), Caterpillar
Daughters: Alice, Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit (top hat + ears), Cheshire Cat
Babies: Cheshire Cat, face card

Beauty & the Beast

Daddies: Beast (Prince costume + Wolf Gloves), Lumiere
Mommies: Sorceress, Belle, Mrs. Potts (if you have $500 to spend)
Sons: Beast, Cogsworth, Chip, Lumiere
Daughters: Belle, feather duster
Babies: Belle, Chip

Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty

Daddies: Prince (or another prince), King
Mommies: Princess (Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty), Queen, Maleficent
Sons: Prince, Horse, Mouse, Forest creatures
Daughters: Princess (Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty), Fairy, Mouse, Forest creatures
Babies: Lucifer (the cat in Cinderella), Fairy

Incredibles

Daddies: Mr. Incredible
Mommies: Mrs. Incredible
Sons: Dash
Daughters: Violet
Babies: Jack Jack

Mickey Mouse

Men: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy
Women: Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck
Babies: Goofy, Pluto, Huey, Dewey & Louie, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse

Peter Pan

Daddies: Captain Hook, Father (wear suit or tux), Peter Pan
Mommies: Wendy, Mother (wear gown)
Sons: Peter Pan, John and Michael (wear nightgowns and Top Hats), Lost Boys, Captain Hook
Daughters: Tinker Bell, Mermaid (modest!)
Babies: Crocodile, Lost Boy, Fairy, Mermaid

Phineas & Ferb

Daddies: Lawrence Fletcher (white polo with red cuffs & hem and green shield/pocket on chest, blue pants or jeans, glasses), Dr. Doofenshmirtz (black turtleneck, gray pants, lab coat, large “inator” [water gun]), Major Monogram (olive drab with purple MM monogram)
Mommies: Linda Flynn-Fletcher (white collared shirt, yellow sweater vest, green capris, red hair) (or Lindana: pink tube top, gold hoop earrings, jean jacket, green hairbow with pink polkadots, TOY belt buckle, green miniskirt, grey tights, pink? leggings), Candace (coral shirt, white skirt with red ribbon/belt, coral socks, white shoes, orange hair)
Sons: Phineas (orange and white striped shirt, blue shorts, red hair), Ferb (white shirt, high-waisted purple shorts with gray ribbon/belt, green hair), Buford (black skull shirt, olive drab shorts, wallet chain), Baljeet (white shirt, jean shortalls)
Daughters: Candace, Isabella (white shirt, pink jumper dress, pink hairbow)
Babies: Perry the Platypus (Agent P) (green onesie, green tights, tail, bill, flippers and fedora)

Princess & the Frog

Daddies: Big Daddy, Shadow Man/Dr. Facilier, Prince
Mommies: Lottie, Eudora (Tiana’s mom)
Sons: Prince Naveen, Ray (the firefly), Louis (the alligator)
Daughters: Princess Tiana, Lottie
Babies: A Frog!

Robin Hood

Men: Robin Hood (adult, child, child option 2), Prince John (adult or child), Little John (adult or child), Sheriff of Nottingham (adult)
Women: Maid Marian (adult, teen?, children), Lady in waiting (adult, adult option 2, child)
Babies (Disney animal version): Baby bunny, Allan-a-dale (Rooster toddler sewing pattern)

Snow White

Daddies: Prince, Dwarf (hat)
Mommies: Snow White, Evil Queen
Sons: Dwarf, Prince
Daughters: Snow White
Babies: Forest animal, Dopey, Snow White

Tangled

Daddies: Flynn Rider, King
Mommies: RapunzelMother Gothel (cloak), Queen
Sons: Flynn Rider (close the vest and lose the hat—seriously, why aren’t they selling these on Amazon?)
Daughters: Rapunzel (and wig)
Babies: Pascal

Toy Story

Daddies: Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Rex, Ken, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm
Mommies: Jessie, Barbie, Mrs. Potato Head
Sons: Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Rex, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head
Daughters: Jessie, Barbie, Mrs. Potato Head
Babies: Alien, Lotso, Slinky dog?, Buzz, Hamm, Woody

Disney | Other movies | Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes | Classics | Food & Candy
Back to top

Other movies & TV shows

Addams Family

Daddies: Gomez (wig & mustache), Uncle Fester, Morticia
Mommies: Morticia (and wig), Grandmama
Sons: Pugsley, Uncle Fester
Daughters: Wednesday, Morticia, Grandmama
Babies: Baby, Cousin Itt

Alvin & the Chipmunks

Daddies: Dave
Mommies: Chipmunk, Chipette, Beatrice Miller (Chipettes’ “mom”)
Sons: Alvin the Chipmunk (or Simon or Theodore)
Daughters: Chipettes or Chipmunks
Babies: Chipmunk/Chipette

Barney

Barney (adult or child), Baby Bop (Child), B.J., Riff (child), kids

Blue’s Clues

Daddies: Steve, Blue, Mr. Salt
Mommies: Magenta, Periwinkle, Mrs. Pepper
Sons: Blue, Green Puppy, Steve
Daughters: Blue (she’s a girl, you know), Magenta, Periwinkle
Babies: Green puppy, Blue (crawling/walking or in arms), Cinnamon, Paprika

The Brady Bunch

Daddies: Mike Brady
Mommies: Carol Brady (wig), Alice (wig)
Sons (for some reason, all the Brady kids costumes are adult sized, but you can get some inspiration from the pictures): Greg Brady (wig), Peter Brady, Bobby Brady (wig), or Sunshine Day version
Daughters: Marcia Brady (wig), Jan Brady (wig), Cindy Brady (wig)
Babies: Tiger (the first season dog)

Charlie Brown

Men: Charlie (adult or child), Linus (adult or child), Schroeder, Snoopy (child), Woodstock (adult)
Women: Sally (adult or child), Lucy (adult or child)
Babies: Snoopy, Woodstock, Blankie!, PigPen

Flintstones

Daddies: Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Dino
Mommies: Wilma Flintstone, Betty Rubble
Sons: Fred Flintstone, Barney, Bamm-Bamm, Dino
Daughters: Wilma Flintstone, Betty, Pebbles, Dino
Babies: Bamm-Bamm, Pebbles, Dino, Baby Puss (saber-toothed tiger)

Grease

Boys: Danny (adult or child), T-bird (jacket)
Girls: Sandy (adult or modest child), Rizzo (adult), Frenchie, Pink Ladies Child, Rydell Cheerleader, poodle skirt

Harry Potter

Daddies: Dumbledore, Slytherin (you know, for Snape), Lupin, Sirius Black, Harry Potter, James Potter, Lucius Malfoy, Voldemort
Mommies: Professor Hooch, Professor McGonagall, Professor Trelawney, Lily Potter
Sons: Harry or Ron, Draco, Professors, Dementor
Daughters: Hermoine, Professors, Bellatrix
Babies: Golden Snitch, Crookshanks, Scabbers

Scooby Doo

Daddies: Shaggy, Fred, Scooby Doo
Mommies: Velma, Daphne
Sons: Shaggy, Fred, Scooby or Scrappy Doo
Daughters: Velma, Daphne
Babies: Scooby Doo or Scooby-Doo (in arms) (or Scrappy Doo)

Sesame Street

Daddies: Elmo, Big Bird, Snuffy, Cookie Monster, The Count, Bert, Ernie
Mommies: Maria, Rosita
Sons: Elmo, Telly, Barkley, SuperGrover, Cookie Monster, Big Bird
Daughters: Abby, Frilly Big Bird,Zoe
Babies: Alien!

Shrek

Daddies: Shrek, King, Prince Charming, Gingerbread Man, other Fairy Tale Character
Mommies: Princess Fiona, Queen, Fairy Godmother
Sons: Shrek, Donkey, Gingerbread Man, Puss ‘N Boots
Daughters: Fiona (ogre warrior) or Princess Fiona, Fairy Godmother,
Babies: Puss N Boots, Donkey, Baby Shrek (or in arms)

Simpsons

Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Bart Simpson mask, Bartman, Mr Burns

Smurfs

Adult Smurf, Smurfette Adult, Smurf child, Smurfette child

Star Trek

Uniform: adult The Next Generation (’90s) Men, The Next Generation (’90s) Women, Classic Dress, Classic Shirt, Classic children outfit, Baby Kirk, Baby Spock, Vulcan Ears, etc.

Star Wars

Daddies: Vader, Emperor (Robe), Stormtrooper, Jar Jar Binks, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Luke, Han Solo (or, if you want to go by this listing, “Hans.” Must be his Scandinavian cousin.), X-Wing Fighter Pilot, Darth Maul, Boba Fett, Chewbacca
Mommies: Leia (all right, all right, here’s the golden bikini), Padmé Amidala (red gown or white jumpsuit)
Sons: Luke, Clone Trooper Captain Rex, Boba Fett, Jedi Robe, Anakin, General Grievous, Vader, X-Wing Pilot, Darth Maul, Stormtrooper
Daughters: Princess Leia (no golden bikinis here), Padme Amidala
Babies: Yoda! R2-D2! C-3PO! X-Wing Fighter Pilot, Queen Amidala, Luke/Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon, Vader, Ewok, Leia

Superheroes

Daddies: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Wolverine, Green Lantern T-Shirt, Thor, Captain America
Mommies: Wonder Woman, Catwoman (I know, right up there with Leia’s gold bikini), Supergirl, The Flash
Sons: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Robin, Green Lantern, Iron Man
Daughters: Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl
Babies: Robin, Superman (in arms), Superman (walking/crawling), Batman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, just wear a cape

Willy Wonka

Daddies: Willy Wonka (hat), Mr. Bucket, Grandpa Joe
Mommies: Grandma Josephine, Mrs. Bucket, any of the mothers or girls
Sons: Charlie, Oompa Loompa (Green wig or black wig)
Daughters: Violet, Veruca, Oompa Loompa
Babies: Oompa Loompa

Winnie the Pooh

Daddies: Tigger (ears and tail), Rabbit, Owl, Eeyore (ears and tail), Pooh (ears)
Mommies: Kanga
Kids: Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh (or Winnie the Pooh baby/toddler), Roo, Piglet (and Piglet baby), Tigger or Tigger (baby), Owl (baby), Eeyore (and Eeyore baby)

Wizard of Oz

Daddies: Wizard, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Flying Monkey
Mommies: Dororthy, Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West
Sons: Wizard, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Munchkin (Lollipop Guild?)
Daughters: Dorothy (plus Toto in a Basket), Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West, Munchkin (Lollipop Guild?)
Babies: Cowardly Lion, Wicked Witch of the West, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Tinman, Flying Monkey, Munchkin (Lollipop Guild?)

Disney | Other movies | Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes | Classics | Food & Candy
Back to top

Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes

Goldilocks & the Three Bears

Daddies: Papa Bear (or ears and paws)
Mommies: Mama Bear, Goldilocks
Sons: Baby bear (toddler) or Baby bear (infant)
Daughters: Goldilocks (Child) or Goldilocks (toddler)

Little Red Riding Hood

Daddies: Big Bad Wolf, Woodcutter (axe)
Mommies: Little Red Riding Hood, Grandmother (wig)
Sons: Big Bad Wolf, Woodcutter (axe)
Daughters: Lil’ Red Riding Hood

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Daddies: Teacher, Farmer
Mommies: Mary
Babies: pink lamb or blue lamb or Little Bo Peep

Three Blind Mice

Plus butcher/farmer & wife: mouse ears and tail or baby mouse

Three Little Pigs

With Big Bad Wolf (child), and Pig Nose, Ears & Tail (and building materials)

Three men in a tub

Possibly for three children or a family of three: butcher (make your own unless you’re going for terrifying), baker kids or adults, candlestick maker (ummm . . . ?)

Disney | Other movies | Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes | Classics | Food & Candy
Back to top

(Modern) Classics

Angry Birds (& pigs)

Barbie & Ken

Daddies: Ken
Mommies: Barbie
Kids: Barbie-style kids, pets

The Beatles

Candy Land characters

Daddies: King Kandy, Lord Licorice
Mommies: Grandma Nutt/Gooey, Mamma Ginger Tree, Queen Frostine
Sons: Mr. Mint, Gingerbread man
Daughters: (Princess) Lolly, Princess Frostine
Babies: Gloppy

Circus

Daddies: Ringmaster
Mommies: Ringmaster/lion tamer
Kids: lion, clown

Claw game & stuffed animals

Make your own

Clowns (Mom, Dad, kids & baby)

Clue

Men: Mr. Body (Dr. Black outside of North America), Col. Mustard, Mr./Rev. Green, Professor Plum
Women: Mrs. White, Miss Scarlet(t), Mrs. Peacock
Kids: as above, dice, murder weapons

Cowboy & Cowgirl (and little cowboy & cowgirl)

Crayons

Make one
Parents, Kids & Baby, Whole box

Elvis impersonators: (Dad, Mom, child, baby)

Farm

Parents: Farmers, cow, horse
Kids: Horse, cow
Babies: the Cheese (you know, it stands alone?), Farmer, horse, cow

Hippies/groovy family

Doctors & nurses (& patient)

Nintendo

Daddies: Mario, Luigi, Waluigi, Wario, Donkey Kong
Mommies: Princess Peach, Yoshi
Sons: Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Toadstool, Ash (Pokemon Trainer)
Daughters: Princess Peach, Yoshi, Pikachu
Babies: Jigglypuff, Toadstool

Pac-Man

Daddies: Pac-Man, Ghost
Mommies: Ms. Pac-Man (add a bow), Ghost
Kids: Pac-Man, Ghost, fruit

Pirates

Poker hand

Politicians

Adults: suits and best smiles
Kids: Uncle Sam, Statue of Liberty

President & Secret Service Agents

Suits, sunglasses and earbuds

Prisoners

Maybe with warden/guards/Policeman (or Policekid)

Queen Bee

Daddies: Bee keeper (veil for hat), bear
Mommies: Queen Bee
Kids: flower (baby flower), honey bear (baby honey bear), bee baby bee

Roaring Twenties

Men: Gangsters (Kids and even women)
Women: Flappers (Kids)

Royal Family

King, queen, prince, princess

Safari

Daddies: Safari Man (pith helmet & binoculars)
Mommies: Safari Mom (you could always wear your own khakis)
Kids: safari kid, elephant, leopard, giraffe, lion, hippo

Dr. Seuss

Daddies: Cat in the Hat or hat & gloves), Sneetch, Pants with no one in them (now that’s scary), Thing 1 or 2, Horton, Grinch
Mommies: Sneetch, Thing 1 or 2
Sons: Sneetch, Thing 1 or 2, Cat in the Hat, Horton
Daughters: Sneetch, Thing 1 or 2, Cat in the Hat, Horton
Babies: Sneetch, Lorax

Teletubbies (Adult or Baby)

Three musketeers

Daddies: King, Cardinal Richelieu, musketeer
Mommies: Queen, Constance, Milady DeWinter, musketeer
Kids: Musketeers (child, Toddler or candy bar), Constance

Vampires

The Village People

Construction Worker, biker, Indian (you know, Native American), Policeman, Cowboy, G.I.

Zombies (probably too scary for little kids)

Zookeeper (kids) & animals

Disney | Other movies | Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes | Classics | Food & Candy
Back to top

Food and candy

Fruit of the Loom guys

Fruits!

The food groups/a balanced meal

M&Ms

Tootsie Rolls or Pops

Sugar Daddy candies

Daddies: Sugar Daddy
Mommies: Sugar Mama
Kids: Sugar Babies Child or Sugar Babies Baby

Hot dog

Parents: Mustard or Ketchup bottle, Hot dog
Kids: Hot Dog Child, Hot Dog Baby, Ketchup

Disney | Other movies | Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes | Classics | Food & Candy
Back to top

Sources:

• http://www.mamablogga.com/family-costume-ideas-1/
• http://andrewaudra.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-costume-ideas.html
• http://www.tipjunkie.com/family-halloween-costume-ideas/
• http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/family-halloween-costumes#slide_9#ixzz1VnFUOeix
• http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/halloween/l/blhalcgroups.htm

Disney | Other movies | Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes | Classics | Food & Candy
Back to top

Photo by Eric Lynch

(I made this free printable on our craft blog!)

The Fifth Blogoversaryfestathon will continue this week with giveaways, but we’re dealing with a situation in my extended family and I’ll be offline for part of the week.

And of course:

Was Sesame Street this clever when I was little? If so, I totally missed it. Then again, so do my kids. Kind of the point, isn’t it?

What are your favorite kids’ show jokes for parents?

Today, I found out it’s the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man. Neither of us knew this yesterday, but I think they should totally give us an award now:

(Last year, there was only one entry. This year, more than a dozen. Plus, Ryan was judging, so we weren’t even expecting to be eligible—just wanted to make sure there wasn’t just one cake again!)

It took three bottles of blue food coloring to get the frosting that color, and it’s still not dark enough. I guess that’s just what color blue food coloring is.

Or should I just open with “Hi,” since that’s how you usually address me, no name, no reference to my website, no indication you have any idea who I am or that you even actually meant to email me?

I know you think Mother’s day is a great time to celebrate motherhood. I do, too. But I don’t consider telling my readers (mostly moms) how to buy gifts for Mother’s day “celebrating motherhood.”

Maybe celebrating commercialism.

No, I will not cut-and-paste your press release onto my blog. No, I will not be telling my readers how they can spend $600 on a purse to show the mother in their lives how truly special she is. (It won’t work.) No, I will not promote your overpriced, completely-unrelated-to-motherhood-in-any-way-shape-or-form crap.

I know you’ll never read this, since I know I don’t have a name or a face to you and that you’ve never bothered to even look at my blog except to harvest my email address and pretend like your commercial email is solicited.

(The government has, like, laws about all that, you know. And I report you.)

But just as a reminder—seriously. I’m reporting you to the government.

If you happen to have a product that might actually help moms feel better about themselves (or just feel better), and you’d like to send me a sample or sponsor a giveaway, then I’m ready to listen.

Until then, stop spamming me.

No love,
Jordan

Sad, sad screenshot by Matthew Maber

That’s a little like what Flat Daddy is about—the Flat Daddy project helps military families maintain unity even while their father (or mother, I’m sure!) is deployed. A life-size standup photograph of their loved one helps families to remember their dad and husband (like you could ever forget, but for little kids, it helps), and helps to make them an active part of their lives.

Here’s one family’s story about their Flat Daddy, as shared with their local news, which explains it so much better than I can:

(Okay, I’m crying just thinking about this.)

Elaine Dumler, the “Flat Daddy Lady,” is working to provide families with free Flat Daddies. You can help support our military families with donations of any size.

In fact, Annette’s book launch for Band of Sisters is tonight. Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden (author of Courting Miss Lancaster), and Julie Coulter Bellon (author of Dangerous Connections) are all celebrating a book launch at the Orem Deseret Book (by University Mall) from 6-8PM.

If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by for tons of fun and door prizes!