Another Very Green Halloween

Once again, Ben wanted to be a tractor for Halloween. I should have known I was setting myself up to do big costume projects after last year. As many of you know, at the ripe old age of two, Ben fell in love with tractors. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if green blood runs through his veins. He likes all tractors, but John Deere seems to be his preference. Never mind that his Grandpa Tom has a New Holland and we have an old Ford (we're not counting little lawn tractors here).

It was suggested that I could simply reuse last years costume. It needed only minor repairs. I agree that Ben would likely have been happy, but I felt that would be a cop out. I was sure I could improve upon the design - plus I had fun making it. So, I asked Ben what kind he wanted to be. Without much hesitation, he suggested a John Deere Lindeman Crawler tractor. Jesse Lindeman converted John Deere tractors into crawler tractors before John Deere made them - Ben learned about these in one of his John Deere videos. The challenge was on.

Ben wasn't the only one that was green in our family this Halloween. Alex made his Halloween debut as a "Little Monster." Lately he is a smile, laugh, and cuddle monster!

Enjoy the pictures below, and feel free to leave a comment!

Holly gives a hoot, Alex the little Monster, Ben sans tractor (but still with JD green), and Andy with cobwebs on his shirt at Michael McNaughton's Halloween party. Fun was had by all!

Ben arrives at Odessa - the school has Fright Night the evening before Halloween for the kiddos.

Alex is a very docile little montser.

The brothers Campbell before heading out for trick or treating on Market street in Corning. Ben created the "Hat Tractor" as he calls it. Even toys dress up for halloween, I suppose.

Ben, Holly, and Alex as we begin our trick or treating on Market Street.

Above: The picture I worked from. I think Ben's is a pretty good charicature of the real deal.

Below: Ben in his John Deere Lindeman Crawler Model BO Tractor with dozer blade.

Alex the cuddly monster.

The Strong girls make adorable monkeys. Lorelei above with Todd, and Katarina below.

The pinata at Michael's party was a hit, but it wasn't hit. It was the pull kind. Michael's Mommy must have learned a thing or two by watching America's Funniest Home Videos!

Ben allowed Fisherman Michael to test drive his crawler tractor.

Left: Halloween 2008 - Ben as John Deere BO Lindeman Crawler Tractor
Right: Halloween 2007 - Ben as 1925 John Deere Spoker D Tractor

A blast from the past - last year's costume:

Above: Halloween 2007 - Ben as a 1925 John Deere Spoker D. All that was reused from last year's costume was the license plate, the SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle) triangle, Ben's hat, and - of course, Ben.
Below: A real and very rare 1925 John Deere Spoker D (the only year they were made).