Halloween 2019: Firefighter Costume

Not the most fascinating Halloween costume, do you agree?

It's so generic, so common, so boring...

Pero syempre nabigyang justice nya naman haha! He's the cutest little firefighter ever! #proudmomhere

We saw this costume at Costco and he liked it. He was a police officer kasi the previous year (I haven't posted it yet) and he kinda decided that he'll be a fireman naman the following year. So nang makita namin yang outfit na yan (mind you, August pa lang noon ha), binili na namin. Plus it was cheap -- $33.59 lang, (tax included). Mas mahal ang bili namin sa mga previous costumes nya.

The costume came with complete accessories na. May hat, hammer, etc. It's a little big for him kaya tinupi pa namin. But it's ok, magagamit nya pa naman uli ang costume na yan sa school this year. May Halloween dress-up sila every year kaya he'll wear what he wore the previous year para twice naman magamit hehe.

 PS. Bawal palang labhan ang outfit na ito! Buti na lang ipinapatong lang. kaso naman, dudumi pa rin syempre.

Trick-or-Treat 2017 (1) -- Guildford Town Centre

It's almost December and I am still not done with my Halloween posts. Haha... please bear with me, oki?

Juris (my new friend here in BC) and I have agreed to do trick-or-treating in their neighborhood in Langley. At dahil medyo malayo ang place nila (around 30-minutes car ride or at least 1-hour public commute), Nathan and I had to wait for Daddy Ford pa after office hours para may masakyan kami.

So para hindi naman masayang ang araw at outfit ng bagets, sabi ko sa Guildford Town Centre muna kami magtrick-or-treat. We live just across this mall kaya naglakad lang kami. I wanted to get there by 3pm sana kaso nawala ang Captain America shield ni Tantan. Kaloka, kung kelan kailangan saka hindi mahanap! Halos one hour ko yatang hinanap, tapos nasa ilalim ng dining chair lang pala.

Past 4pm na kami nakarating sa mall. Hindi ko pa binihisan ng costume si Nathan kasi baka mairita at ayawan agad. Pero pagpasok na pagpasok namin sa mall, sangkatutak na batanag naka-outfit ang bumungad samin kaya naatat kami pareho. Haha, dali-dali ko siyang binihisan sa may couch, hindi na kami nagpunta sa washroom. Feeling ko late na late na kami lol. Medyo naloka lang ako nang parang ang sikip ng damit ng maisuot na. Parang gusto kong maiyak at tumakbo sa Walmart para bumili ng bago. We fitted that costume two weeks prior to Halloween at ayos naman ah. O siya, wala ng magagawa. Hindi naman nagreklamo si Nathan at feel na feel pa nga.

It's good that Nathan saw agad a lot of other kids na nabibigyan ng candy. Ang bilis ko siyang nabigyan ng instruction na lumapit sa nagbibigay.

This was his very first gig. Medyo shy pa siya.

But later on, ayun super enjoy na sa panghihingi ng candies! Kapag may tinuro ako sa kanya na store na nagbibigay ng treats, tatakbo siya agad papunta haha.

Ito yung first trick-or-treat niya na may muwang na talaga siya. Buti rin nakapanood siya sa youtube so may idea na talaga siya how it's being done.

Guildford Town Centre is the second biggest mall here in BC yata kaya marami ring tao. Pero hindi naman advertised ang trick-or-treat nila. According to one Pinay mom na nakausap ko last year, nagstop na sila maghold ng formal trick-or-treat. Kaya nga hindi kami dito nagpunta last year. Siguro nakagawian na rin lang ng mga stores na mamigay ng treats kaya meron pa rin kahit papano.

It's safe to go trick-or-treating sa mall kaso konti ang treats syempre. Paisa-isa lang ang bigay at syempre hingi gaanong bongga ang candies. Hindi rin lahat ng stores nagbibigay.

Haha, panalo sa costume ang pamilyang nasa upper right! Kinarir talaga nila ang Halloween!

This for me was the highlight of that afternoon. Captain America meets Spiderman! Hahaha!

Nathan is actually very scared of mascots. Duwag talaga yan. Pero nanaig ang excitement over fear, ayan at nagpapicture rin kay Spiderman.

Daddy Ford arrived at around 5pm. Medyo maaga kasi galing siyang site. After changing Nathan's nappy, konting lakad pa at picture-taking syempre.

We didn't get that many treats (half lang ng Chase basket) but it was fun. Nathan had a great time seeing other kids in different costumes. And when I told him we'll go to Zoey's (Juris' daughter) house para magtrick-or-treat uli, ayon lalong na-excite. More candies daw.

Nathan as Captain America (Halloween 2017)

I can't believe it's already November 23. One week to go na lang December na! Pasko na talaga!

But before November ends, let me post muna Nathan's outfit last Halloween. Isn't he the cutest little Captain America ever?!?! #biasedmomhere

But objectively, I think he really nailed this outfit (that I just bought at Walmart). Parang medyo maliit na nga pero keri lang. Yung next size kasi is way too big, pang 5 years and older na.

I was actually skeptic that he would wear this for even just an hour. Baka kako makatihan. He is also very picky rin sa clothes, gusto niya yung simple lang. Ni ayaw ngang magsuot ng jumper, ang gusto ay shirt at pants lang. Pero eto at feel na feel niya. He's worn it for at least five hours.

This is Captain America's fierce look daw haha. Sariling sikap yan, napulot sa youtube.

I am so happy! Sulit ang pinambili ko ng costume! I am so looking forward to next year. Si Chase of Paw Patrol naman daw ang isusuot niya. =)

#LatePost: Nathan's First Halloween (2015)

Halloween is just around the corner and I am so excited. Then I realized that I haven't posted Nathan's first and second Halloween experiences pa pala. Sobrang dami kong kailangang ipost, kailangan lang ng time haha. So please bear with my #LatePosts every now and then.

Anyway, we were in the Philippines on October 31, 2015 and I wasn't happy. Mas masaya kasi syempre ang Trick-or-Treating sa Canada, mas authentic kumbaga. Hindi naman kasi uso ang celebration ng halloween noong kapanahunan ko sa Pinas eh, medyo recent lang sine-celebrate due to western influence. Kung nasa Canada kami, we would have had a lot of fun because I have so many friends there with kids. Sama-sama kaming rarampa at mangongolekta ng M&Ms at Snickers.

I regretted din not getting a nice Halloween costume in Canada before we went home (on July 2015).  Konti lang kasi ang choices sa SM. I didn't look anywhere else kasi SM girl lang talaga ako.

I remember getting Nathan a cute french fries costume which was on sale but he refused to wear it. Nang makita pa lang, nagwala na. Nasayang tuloy, buti na lang Php150 lang. My son wasn't the type to wear anything "bulky" or "weird" so I had to look for something that has a 'normal feel' for him. When I saw this pumpkin outfit, sabi ko pwede na ito. Maiisip niya na sando at pajama lang ang suot niya. Di ko na maalala kung magkano ito pero basta namamahalan ako, parang Php600-700 yata. Eh very simple lang naman ang cut at tela.

No shoes or slippers because he was naiinitan. Mainitin si Canadian boy!

Objectively, Nathan wasn't looking at his best that time. His hair was too long na but we couldn't cut it yet because we were waiting until he turns one (his birthday is November 13). Alam nyo naman, wag daw papagupitan ang bata kapag wala pang isang taon. Sinunod na lang namin kahit hindi naman talaga  kami naniniwala.

Also, three weeks before his first birthday, sinimulan na siyang atakehin ng lamok. Ayan ang dami-dami niyang insect bite marks sa face hay. Talk about timing talaga.

To be honest, hindi ito ang na-envision kong first halloween ng anak ko. I wanted a very fancy costume for him that will match his cute flawless face. Oh well, things do not always go as planned. Pabayaan na nga lang.

We live in the province so we had very little choice on where to celebrate Halloween. In fact, sa SM Marilao nga lang talaga. I know that there are places in Manila that held fancier celebrations (like in hotels, for a price of course) but TanTan was too young then so naisip ko keri na sa SM na lang (saka super trapik pa noh at wala rin kaming kasamang ibang bata). Basta mairaos lang namin ang Halloween.

We were at SM na by the time it opened. Sobrang daming tao. Talagang kinakarir na rin ng Pinoy ang pagti-trick-or-treat.

Some shops were giving out candies. Syempre pinagkakaguluhan. My son was so serious the whole time, nakapa-oblivious sa paligid haha. Mas ako pa at si Ate Lani (our kasambahay who helped me take care of TanTan) ang na-excite haha. First trick-or-treat din kasi namin lol.

There were so many kids who were in costumes, pero marami ring hindi (and I could see envy in their eyes). How I wish all Filipino kids could be whatever they want to be during Halloween. Ang saya kasi nun sa pakiramdam di ba.

 The ambiance at the mall was very festive. Naisip ko, ba't nga ba walang ganito noong bata ako?

Nathan wasn't walking yet so he was in the stroller the whole time.

The lines to the stores that hand out treats were very long. Pinakamadaming tao sa Jollibee, as expected. Hindi na kami pumasok kasi siksikan talaga. Hindi ko na tuloy nalaman kung ano ang meron sa loob haha.

If only Nathan could already recognize candies that time, bibilhan ko na lang siya para mapuno ang basket niya haha.

SM Marilao isn't big at hindi lahat ng stores ay nagbibigay ng candies kaya ilang piraso lang talaga ang makukuha ng kids. Sobrang dami pang bata kaya talagang malaki ang demand sa maliit na supply kaloka.

I seriously had this thought pa nga -- sana bumili ako ng maraming candies tapos umupo ako sa may foodcourt at nagpapila ng mga bata. Pwede kaya yun?

After going to just a few stores, hindi na kami nakigulo. Nag-window shop na lang kami. 

Buti kasama namin si Ate Lani or else hindi ko kakayaning mag-isa.

We got hungry after 1 1/2 hours so we searched for a place to eat. Kaso sa sobrang dami ng tao, wala na halos kaming makainan. We ended up at Wendy's na lang.

Lalong dumami ang tao later that noon. I felt bad for kids who came in late, lalong wala na silang naabutan. If your are going to 'public places' like SM for trick-or-treating, dapat nandun ka na agad pagbukas pa lang.

change-outfit na :)

I know wala pang appreciation ang anak ko sa Halloween that time pero kaya nga may pictures naman. Someday, he will go through all these photographs and and learn that once in his life, he became a little pumpkin. :)

And if you are curious, here's what Nathan took home from his trick-or-treat adventure. Three candies, toink! Awang-awa tuloy ang daddy niya haha. Even his Ninang My felt bad for him that she promised to fill his bag/basket the next time they see each other haha.

Nathan's 2017 Halloween Costume

Yey, I was able to buy Nathan's outfit already! Ang aga ko nakabili ngayon unlike last year na October 30 na.

Nathan and I went to Walmart last Friday, September 15, to buy my medicines. While waiting for his dad to pick us up, ikot-ikot muna.

I love Walmart's halloween merchandise. Aliw na aliw talaga ako.

Nagawi kami sa may costumes. Hindi pa busy ang area kasi nga September pa lang. Nalibang si Nathan sa mga toy displays sa gilid so I was able to leisurely browse the outfits. Nakakatuwa. Ba't nga ba di uso ang mga ganito sa Pinas noong kapanahunan ko?

Objectively, mas cute damitan ang little girls. Ang daming options!

I instantly decided to buy from there. $19.95 lang ang usual price eh. Last year, pikit mata kaming nagbayad ng $39.19 (tax included) sa Spirit Halloween for a simple pirate costume. No choice na nga kasi it was almost halloween na at wala pang isusuot ang bagets. Natagalan akong bumili noon kasi nga we were busy with our move here in BC tapos nagreready pa kami sa upcoming wedding ng cousin ko. At isa pa, Nathan was so KJ pa that time. Ayaw magsuot ng mga ganyan (as in nagwawala talaga) kaya nakakatamad bilhan.

I guess costumes are really cheapest in Walmart - kumpara sa Toys R Us, Disney Store, Spirit Halloween, Party City, and other halloween specialty stores. Pero if you are in a budget, go to dollar stores like Dollarama. You can pick up some items na pwede mong i-DIY para maging full costume.

I remember na last year naghalungkat din ako sa Walmart pero wala na akong nakitang pang 2-year-old. A Pinay associate informed me na mabilis talagang maubos ang toddler costumes kaya dapat bumili ng maaga. I wondered why tuloy. Dahil ba super excited ang mommies na ayusan ang little kids nila? Dahil ba mas konti ang supply? I really do not know.

Nathan wants to wear a Chase (of Paw Patrol) outfit kasi nakita niya yun kay Ryan (a kid toy-reviewer in Youtube). Yun din talaga ang original plan kong bilhin (meron nun sa Toys R Us) pero naisip ko baka naman ma-over na siya sa kaka-Paw Patrol. May Paw Patrol party na nga siya sa November noh.

Glad I found this Captain America in Nathan's size. Nagpanic nga ako nung una kasi akala ko puro malalaki lang ang size eh.

Sa kakapanood ng Youtube, Tan already knows all the superhero characters - Superman, Batman, Spiderman, etc - pero si Captain America talaga ang palaging bukambibig niya. Lately, palagi nya ring ginagaya ang pose nito, with matching shield pa (yung circular yellow throw pillow namin). Kaya ayos na, I am sure he would like it. And when I asked him if he would wear it, yes daw.

I texted Ford and sent him this picture. Sabi ko bibilhin ko na.

FORD -- O akala ko ba si Chase ang gusto?
CES -- Eh wala namang Chase dito. Ok na ito, favorite naman din niya si Captain America. Saka ang mura oh!
FORD -- Eh si Chase nga ang gusto di ba?
CES -- Sabi niya isusuot daw niya eh. Di bale,  bibilhin ko na lang. Soli ko na lang pag nakakita tayo ng Chase.

Kaloka, naiiba na rin ang shopping mentality ko ah. Mukhang nahahawa na ako sa mga tagadito  na bibili tapos isosoli pag di type.

So there, Nathan will be Captain America this halloween. I just bought him a Chase pail (the one he's holding on the topmost picture) para may Chase pa rin siya. Plus magagamit ko pa yun sa party niya harharhar.

Oh, and we got him a shield na nga rin pala from Superstore para kumpleto na ang get-up. Excited na ako! Sana lang matagalan niyang isuot ang costume niya para masulit naman.

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There's a nicer and sossier Captain America in Disney Store pero mas mahal syempre.

It's around $50 minus 13-off (their current promotion) so $37 pa rin plus 12% tax. Salamat na lang lol.

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We were at Toys R Us yesterday and I saw a cheap Chase costume for only $30. I asked Ford if he wants it for Nathan.

FORD -- O di ba nakabili ka na ng Captain America? Move on ka na haler.
CES -- Fine!

To be honest, I was tempted na to buy it. But when I checked on their sizes, hindi sakto kay Nathan. Yung size niya sa age-bracket nya was too small, too big naman yung next size. Whew, buti na lang!

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I learned from experience na hindi magse-sale ang halloween costumes hanggang November 1 so better buy early na lang to have more options. Hindi rin advisable for me na bumili after halloween tapos gagamitin the following year kasi nagbabago naman ang preference ng kids di ba. I believe that kids be allowed to wear whatever their hearts fancy kasi self-expression yun. They'll be happier. =)