Mega Halloween Post

These first three pirate pictures were taken by my talented friend Cecilia when we did our fall photo shoot.

The sky was amazing this night. This is actually our house. For real this time (click HERE to see the house I tried to claim, ha!)

Alexander and I decided to make haunted houses out of milk cartons. I admit, I still love to play with scissors and glue, just like I did as a kid. We used supplies I had on hand, including; aluminum foil, black-and-white scrapbook paper, ribbons, halloween stickers, etc. I bought a few extra battery operated tea light candles to light them from within.

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On Saturday Alexander's whole class was invited to Max's house for a birthday party. Costumes were required. It was a wonderful party.

Last night we carved our pumpkins. We have kept them indoors so far because the squirrels are relentless. I carved a more traditional face with a bat for the mouth. Mark carved Milo from the band the Descendents (see his t-shirt), and Alexander special ordered Thomas the Tank Engine. The girls colored pictures and The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown kept them entertained, as did the candy. The girls have discovered lolly pops and Helena even bit through a wrapper to get to a Butterfinger. Alexander, Mark, and I were up until midnight finishing up Thomas and taking pictures, but it was well worth it.

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Happy Halloween Everybody!

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Going for a Walk

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Alexander the Friendly Ghost

He decided to be a ghost for his school party and parade, so we went shopping for material.

We used two different gauzy materials and four separate layers. Since I knew he wouldn't tolerate material on his head for more than 30 seconds, we made a hole for his head.

I cut holes for his arms, rolled the holes under and used fabric glue to keep it from fraying.

I painted his hair white outside and had him wear a garbage bag to keep his clothes clean.

I painted his face and neck glow-in-the-dark white. There was black paint for his eyes, but Alexander vetoed that.

Add the gloves and he was set!

Spooky!

BOO!!!

The girls and I went up to Alexander's school to watch the Halloween Parade.

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Violence Against Women and People with Disabilities

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Taken from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) here are a few facts.

"Women with developmental disabilities have among the highest rates of physical, sexual, and emotional violence perpetrated by intimate partners and family members. Individuals with disabilities are at a greater risk of severe physical and sexual violence than people without disabilities. Many people with disabilities who are victims of violence experience multiple assaults. Domestic abuse victims with disabilities are often more dependent on their caretakers than victims without disabilities, and face many barriers to reporting abuse and seeking services. Victims who do report abuse or seek services often do not find adequate help, since many programs that serve Domestic Violence victims are not equipped or trained to offer proper care to victims with disabilities." Women with disabilities are three times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women without disabilities.

President Obama and Vice President Biden spoke about the unprecedented efforts across the Federal Government to protect victims of domestic and sexual violence in an event marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is definitely worth viewing in its entirety, regardless of your political affiliation.

"When a victim of abuse leaves a violent relationship it is often a particularly vulnerable time. We need to make sure that we are doing everything that we can for victims in this critical period to ensure that folks who are seeking help and protection get that help and get that protection. That's our responsibility. So these are just a few of the steps that we are taking but this bottom line is this; nobody in America should live in fear because they are unsafe in their own home. No adult, no child. No one who is a victim of abuse should ever feel that they have no way to get out. We need to make sure that every victim of domestic violence knows that they are not alone, that there are resources available to them in their moment of greatest need. As a society we need to make sure that if a victim of abuse reaches out for help, we are there to lend a hand. This is not just the job for government. It's a job for all of us." (President Obama)

And now, more information to think (or puke) about...

•Studies estimate that 80% of women with disabilities have been sexually assaulted.
•One study showed that 47% of sexually abused women with disabilities reported assaults on more than ten occasions.
•Children with disabilities are more than twice as likely as children without disabilities to be physically abused, and almost twice as likely to be sexually abused.
•Studies estimate that between 70% and 85% of cases of abuse against adults with disabilities go unreported.
•One study found that only 5% of reported crimes against people with disabilities were prosecuted, compared to 70% for serious crimes committed against people with no disabilities.
Taken from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

All you need to do is spend a few minutes at the International Coalition on Abuse and Disability (icad) to see just how prevalent this is.

For more information or to get help, please contact:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE

Our Haunted Yard

We went all out in decorating for Halloween this year. Every day for weeks we added to the front yard. The end result is pretty amazing, doncha think?

This is obviously not our home, but is on Mark's route to work. My point and shoot camera really doesn't do this justice, especially the night shots. This is a family that embraces Halloween and I totally dig it. (click the pictures to enlarge)

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Our Own Monster Mash

Our Own Monster Mash video embedded below

Having trouble seeing the video? click HERE and no I don't have a clue as to why Helena's head is so small, ha!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!


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Fall Photo Shoot, Pt. 1

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Pinocchio Cell

Mark found the Pinocchio film cell that I wrote about yesterday that we found in the garbage!

This is the back with a note from the previous owner.

This says:

This is an original painting on celluloid, actually used in the Walt Disney Production of PINOCCHIO.

It is one of a select few that have been releasd to art collectors. The remainder have been destroyed.

Copyright 1939

For each slight movement in the action of a character in a Walt Disney animated picture, a celluloid painting must be made. These celluloid paintings are then photographed in succession over master backgrounds producing, on the motion picture film, numerous pictures, each with its minute change in movement. These, when projected on the screen in rapid succession, create the illusion of movement.

Celluloid paintings are the final step in the creation of a Walt Disney animated picture. They are preceded by story sketches wherein the artists express their first creative ideas, by the animation drawings which give life and movement to the characters.

Walt Disney originals are included in many important Museums and Private collections. Notable among these are: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Cleveland Museum of Art; Toledo Museum of Art; William Rockhill Nelson Gallery, Kansas City, Mo.; Phillips Memorial Gallery, Washington, D.C.; San Francisco Museum of Art; Honolulu Academy of Arts; etc.

COURVOISIER GALLERIES 133 GEARY ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.


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