Spirit Week 2011 begins

Nate as Noah during Spirit Week 2008

Oh how I love Spirit Week! I love it so much, if it were up to me, every school would have an additional Spirit Week just for parents. 


There was no Spirit Week when I was in middle school or high school so I live through the SW of my OS. Yes, according them, I'm kind of like a stage mom when it comes to Spirit Week. 

onesie pj example

With Aaron's medical struggles, there was less parental involvement in Ike's SW this year. This resulted in my orange hair, freckle face OS wearing a pair of store-bought pajamas on Pajama Day. We had even picked out special material six months ago for me to make just for him. Alas, Ike decided he wanted to show off these pajamas. He won a gift certificate because of his footed sleepwear. 

Check out this video to see the pajamas in action. 


But now that my middle OS is feeling so much better, nearly all of my parental energy pours into Spirit Week 2011.

sea turtle pajamas on a smart guy!

Monday morning, Aaron pranced into school wearing his designer-made sea turtle pajama pants. I wanted to create a sea turtle applique for the t-shirt but he sternly spurned my suggestion.

a beautiful moment of brother and pupa

Pooh and pupa

Tuesday was Animal Kingdom Day. Last year my middle OS was a pupa. We twirled yards of brown toile around Aaron to encase him. It was truly hilarious to see the perplexed looks of students and teachers. They asked Aaron what he was and he confidently stated "a chrysalis in a cocoon." 

let the changes begin! 

Then in the middle of Mrs. Davis' Spanish Class, Aaron asked if he could go to the restroom. 

Interesting fact about butterflies...they are easily irritated when you take too many pictures of them. It's true!

When Aaron returned he had metamorphosed into a beautiful, extremely large butterfly~ He wore his grandpa's really yellow golf pants and custom-made wings. Truly breathtaking! We thought this was an apt description of adolescence and doesn't every teenager want to be reminded of puberty on Animal Kingdom Day? I thought so!

So how do you top being a pupa?

personally, I think my carpenter ant is much cuter

Well, we're not sure but staying in the insect world, this year Aaron was a carpenter ant. My middle OS donned a hard hat with antennae, an electric drill and drill bit along with a tool belt. He also "grew" an extra pair of legs which I sewed last night. 

proof that I am a great mother - making carpenter ant legs just before bedtime

Aaron's friend shaking his tail feathers!

Those two spindly legs are proof that I'm the best mom in the world! 


There were many creative animal costumes. For example, Zack,  Aaron's best friend was a swan complete with a feathery behind that wiggled back and forth as he walked. 

some awesome members of the animal kingdom

Aaron will be a senior in high school next year. I'm already thinking of ideas. Just wait, the rest of the week is quite creative and unique also! 

I'm not just the mama of three oliveshoots, I'm the mama of a carpenter ant! 

PS. I just learned that Aaron and the science teacher were the only invertebrates in the school today! Wow, I'm even prouder now!