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We celebrated our first Halloween (All Hallows Eve, Samhain, etc...) in our new town tonight, and a great time was had by all. Here's a picture of my family, minus the eldest daughter who, at 16, is apparently "too cool" to dress up anymore :P
Legolas, a shark, and a "blue ninja."
My son, who will be 11 in about a week, has been growing his hair out for about 3 years now, with the goal of being Legolas the elf for Halloween. The good news is that, now that he's reached his goal, he has no intention of cutting his hair :)
You can never go wrong with LOTR. I'm 34 and I from time to time am know to dress in the garb of the characters. Glad to see it looks as though a good time was had by all.
Regards,
Jeremy
Hell yeah, Jeremy! Life is too short - and you are never too old - so have fun with it!!! :) :)
Exactly! Plus when you're dressed like Gimli and carry a big axe people tend not to make fun of you.
Thanks, Jeremy. We certainly did have a good time. You're right about LOTR... you're never too old to enjoy the classics!
Take care,
Val
Wow your son has done really well! And isn't it cool how we longhairs can lend ourselves so naturally to Lotr fancy dress? And come to think about it, extras casting for just about any fantasy or medieval movie!
Thank you, Sorted... long time no "see!" Having long hair really does place men (and boys) in something of an exclusive class. Like you said, it's a natural fit for the LOTR / fantasy aesthetic.
Take care, my friend... hope to keep seeing you around the MLHH!
--Val
He started growing his hair at eight years old? Incredible!
I started in sixth grade, and even then, it was only due to laziness. I was raised as an old-fashioned guy, so when I was brought in to shave the mop off, I decided to just shave it all off. (It was more dreadlock than hair at that point anyway; I did not maintain it very well.)
Minus some trims, I've been growing it since then and have no regrets. Too bad your kid's hair is healthier than mine!
Thanks, Pug. Yes, he's certainly a determined young chap... Glad to hear you've stuck to the long-haired path, too!
Cheers,
Val
Validus,
Your son has such beautiful hair! And I must remark upon how impressive eyr costume is! All of your family whom had dressed up were very impressive. ^_^
Sincerest (belated) Samhain blessings,
Vεnyα
I'm so jealous, that's like the hair/hairstyle I've always wanted as a kid haha but with my parents back then that would have been quite impossible.
My wife braided his hair for the occassion.
Wow, how cool! Some kids would have to get a wig to try to achieve this look.
Thanks, Jason... I figured you'd appreciate the braided half-tail :) Of course, I might be biased, but I don't think a wig could look quite this cool.
--Val
Hi Val,
I just love this pic as your son looks awesome in his costume and to think he can use his natural hair as part of it:)Sure wish I looked that good at his age but I was kind of a homely kid!LOL.Thanks for the cool picture post and congrats on the new job:)Cheers
Mark
Thanks, Mark. Your sense of humor never fails to make me smile, even when it's self-deprecating. I don't know what you looked like as a kid, but you're definitely a strikingly cool-looking man. I sure am proud of the way my son has stuck with growing his hair to its present length. He has a pretty laid-back personality, which I'm sure has helped. He's basically just let his hair do what it's going to do (with some good maintenance tips from Dad, many of which I learned from the MLHH), and wouldn't you know it... after a few years... voila!
Looks like you had a Happy Halloween, as well... you're "goth" picture was awesome.
Take care,
Val
I meant "your" goth picture, not "you're." Nit-picky, sure, but it's tough to supress my inner editor ;)
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I am sure your son was the envy of the neighborhood with such a cool costume. And to think, that is his REAL HAIR, not a wig.
Scott
Thank you, Scott. He did get a fair number of compliments, though I suppose some people may have assumed that he was wearing a wig.
Take care :)
--Val
Sorry to reply to an old thread, but I just HAVE to say:
HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best. Halloween costume. Ever.
...apologies, just had to get that off my chest ;)
This is one happy little elf!
This is one tired little elf!
Since this is already an "image-heavy" post, I figured I'd put up one more. It hasn't taken long for this little Victorian-style house to feel like home. It was built nearly 150 years ago, just a few years after the founding of this little fishing village, and I can only imagine the stories it has to tell. Well, it IS Halloween... maybe if the veil grows thin enough tonight, the spirits will see fit to tell me a tale or two... Sweet dreams, everyone! ;)
--Val
Hi Val, Great photos of a fantastic looking house, fantastic looking family dressed up well for Halloween and a fantastic taste in books. Glad your found your dream job working in an area for a native tribe who probably approve of long hair on anybody. your sons hair does look awesome and he does indeed look like an handsome Elf out of Lord of the Rings.cheers, Duncan
Right on Duncan - Lord of the Rings - how we are designed to look!
Thanks for your kind words, Duncan. I truly am enjoying the new job (and everything else you mentioned!), and it's certainly a nice added "bonus" that long hair on men is actually regarded as a positive physical trait in the community in which I now work.
Take care,
Val
Great pics! Also, my compliments to whoever made the pumpkin with the hearts for eyes... that's really cute, lol. :)
Thanks! The heart-eyed pumpkin belongs to my younger daughter (though Mom helped a bit with the carving).
Take care,
Val
Hey Validus,
Terrific pics!!! Besides the obvious great hair your kids have, seeing the fall colors in the background of one of those photos made me nostalgic for the Midwest -- I grew up in Northern IL near the WI border; but also spent a lot of vacation time in various parts of the Northern Great Lakes, including camping along the shores of Lake Superior when I was younger... I'm especially fond of Porcupine Mt. State Park in the UP near Ontonagon (SP?), and in the Traverse Bay area of the Lower Peninsula, near Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, even camped on South manitou Is. when I was in my 20s. My youngest nephew also went to college up in Ashland, WI, just graduated last year (but am embarrassed to say I forgot the name of his school - LOL)....
Such a drop-dead gorgeous part of North America, a lot of people don't have any idea of how special that part of the country is. Although I don't miss the long cold winters of the Midwest, and I love so many things about living here in No. Calif., your pics put a big smile on my face -- and I wish you and your family many happy memories in your new home, "by the shining great sea-water!"
- Ken in San Francisco
Thank you for the kind words, Ken :)
I've lived in the Great Lakes region all my life (as a matter of fact, I was born in Ontonagon, and my wife also went to Northland College in Ashland... small world!). Though my travels have taken me to the east coast, and as far west as Colorado, I'm glad to still be living here. If you ever make your way back to this part of the country, please be sure to let me know, as it would be great to one day meet you in person.
Take care,
Val
Hi Val, and congratulations on such a beautiful family. I hope your celebrations went well and wish you health and happiness for the year to come. Ian
Thank you, Ian :) It was, indeed, a wonderful and memorable holiday. Best wishes to you and yours, as well, my friend.
Cheers,
Val
Hi Validus,
Happy Halloween to you, and what an awesome set of photos, and costumes! Your sons have such excellent hair, cheers to you for encouraging them, and your oldest son really does make an excellent Legolas.
Thank you for sharing,
David
Thank you, as always, for the kind and encouraging words, David. I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. Happy Autumn to you and yours :)
--Val
Wow, Val, what great costumes! Legolas rules! The pic of his hair from the back is amazing! I bet your eldest son will have fond memories of this Halloween for the rest of his life. Wishing your family many more happy memories in your new surroundings. :) Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you for the kind words and well-wishes, Laura. I'm sure this Halloween will remain a wonderful memory for my entire family... the first of many in our new little corner of the world. Best wishes to you and yours :)
Take care,
Val
Great looking costumes! Your son's Legolas costume looks great. I didn't know / think you were old enough to have a 16 year old daughter. I actually had some high schoolers come trick or treating last night, so I don't think there's an age when dressing up and free candy isn't fun anymore.
Thank you, Garth! Yes, my wife and I are both in our mid-30's, and started young, though it's often hard for us to believe we have a 16-year-old already, too. There were plenty of high school-aged trick or treaters here, as well... I guess our teenager is just too uptight, but I'm confident that she'll learn to "get over herself" and have fun again someday.
Take care, buddy!
--Val
Very nice costume Validus! Very detailed and authentic. A Canadian trapper from 1810? Nice blanket coat! It's like something I'd just make and wear around anywhere!! With a different belt though!!
Take care guy. I'm glad you didn't have time for the book yet, because I'm still trying to find time for my stories, but don't wait forever for me.
- John C
Well done, John! It is in fact a blanket coat ("capote"), made for me by the wife of a friend many years ago. The belt is period-correct also, as a sash made from the blanket remnant was often used to hold the coat closed.
No worries on waiting for your stories... if I go the "website route," you'll be able to submit your hairy tales at your convenience :)
Best regards,
Val
That's true, it is an authentic belt. I remember the name Capote from a book at the library of how to make earl Canadian clothes. I have a beautiful & thick cotton and Alpaca wool blanket with thick fringe I want to make into a coat someday, with some fringe at the bottom and the extra fringe from the sleeves added to the sholders but attached to its strip so it hangs down to mid chest & makes it double thickness over the sholders. I don't remember the belt being made from a piece of the blanket itself but I do remember it looked that way and was some strip of something! Thanks Val. You're the best.