Originally I was going to add this to my yesterday’s “Boo-tiful Babies” post – but it got to be so long I thought I would spread out the Halloween happiness and post it today.
Mitch was kind enough to send me a video of amazing telekinetic powers that would take my breath away if I were there back then. One aspect I appreciated is they show you how they accomplished it.
It was created and filmed in 2013 at the ‘sNice Café& Coffee Shop in the West Village. Mitch indicated that when he lived in NYC he was aware of it. But sadly, it closed in 2014. (It’s a cleaners now, which saddened Mitch when I told him.)
Enjoy this very clever and well performed video – courtesy of Mitch!
With few exceptions, Halloween has become a universal holiday celebrated by almost everyone – not only here, but around the world.
So just because you happen to be one of those who made a point to arrive too early and found yourself in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), doesn’t mean you couldn’t join in the fun.
It’s become a very common tradition to dress-up the preemies in cute costumes. Many NICUs organize costume craft parties for parents and nurses to engage their creativity. Parkland Hospital NICU in Dallas has special education students involved in creating the little one’s ensembles.
When I first started researching for this post, I had NO idea I would find as many different outfits as I did. And even the ones with the same themes were interpreted a bit different.
It kinda got away from me, but not wanting to leave out too many, I decided I’d put them into GIFs. I’ll start with one-offs and then move to similar ideas and close with favorites.
MISC
BEES
BOXERS
COWS
CRAZY CAT LADY
FLOWERS
LIONS
MERMAIDS
POPCORN
SUPERHEROES
TWINS
MY FAVORITES
The Viking with a beard; the Chipotle burrito; the skeleton with candy in his tummy; the mouse with all that cheese; the fire-breathing dragon
I hope you’ll agree that this is a boo-tiful story of a little boy and his special friend – Benny.
Because of the CDC guidelines (courtesy of the Trump virus) 2-year-old Theo Brady had his playdates cancelled and wasn’t able to visit his friends. But Theo eventually figured out a solution on September 15th, thanks to a leaking water heater. (Great example of the old adage: “A door shuts – a window opens.)
Theo and his Mom, Abigail Brady, took their dog down to the basement to put in the kennel before heading out for a trip to the beach. But what she found was a flooded basement from a leaking water heater.
She moved holiday decorations stored nearby out of the way so they wouldn’t get wet, and began mopping up the mess. But then she heard Theo crying out “Mommy! Mommy! Sel-eton! Help!”
She turned and saw Theo trying to lug the 5-foot tall plastic skeleton decoration up the steps. She had bought it a couple years ago for $20 at the grocery store to help decorate their front porch for Halloween. So she helped Theo bring the skeleton upstairs before they headed out.
But Theo adamantly refused to get in the car until the skeleton joined them. Abigail figured that being “locked down” Theo was lonely, and decided the skeleton would be a great friend.
So they got all buckled up in the car and headed out …
But when they got to the reservoir’s beach, Theo refused to get out of the car unless the skeleton joined them. So away they went, where they delighted other beachgoers with Benny propped up in the sand. (The family decided the skeleton needed a name since he’s been Theo’s constant companion – so they decided on Benny, after the taxi-driving skeleton in the Disney Channel movie “Halloweentown.”)
Since their first outing, Theo and the skeleton have been inseparable – they even eat together. (Abby says Theo loves to feed him, and then watch the food fall through his ribs) …
And run errands together, like grocery shopping …
Abby shares that since COVID has made 2020 such a stressful year for everyone, it gives her great pleasure to see the smiles and hear the laughter when folks encounter Theo and Benny.
Fortunately, Benny happens to enjoy the same activities as Theo – which works out well. So whether it’s quiet play enjoying some tea with Mom …
Or a trip to the playground …
You can be sure Benny is always included.
The only problem has been the few times that Benny’s head has fallen off – it upsets Theo terribly: “No, Mommy – no, no, no!”
Abby decided that she should share the joy that Theo and Benny have been providing friends, neighbors and strangers in their hometown of Herriman, Utah – so she started posting pictures and videos on her Instagram and TikTok social media platforms.
One video Abby shared of their adventure on TikTok, has been viewed more than 2.1 million times!
Abby and her husband, Casey, were a bit concerned about dealing with bedtime. But Theo and Benny enjoy watching Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” (They’ve watched it together at least a dozen times.)
And then Theo will “read” Benny a bedtime story …
They were concerned about actual sleep time. But Theo convinced them that Benny should remain in the room. So Benny quietly sits in a rocker keeping an eye on Theo.
No surprise – this Halloween Theo is naturally going to dress up as a skeleton. But they’ll just have some family members over because of COVID.
Abby admits that it’s a very cute friendship – “creepy, but cute.” (Her words.) She did say if Theo starts dragging a coffin around, Benny’s going back down to the basement. She actually hopes that by Christmas, Theo will move on to some toy that’s a little more manageable.
And although they actually took Benny with them to a wedding (not sure that’s such a good idea to upstage the bride) they haven’t had the guts to take him to a restaurant. But Dad is sure that if they did, Benny would order the spareribs.
But no bones about it, they’ve become such close friends that with some innards and epidermis Benny could be Theo’s brother by a different Mummy. So I hope I’ve tickled your funny bone, because friends and strangers agree that Theo and Benny are very humerus.
Let’s say “Good-Bye” to Theo and Benny with a quick recap:
