The outfit was just as adorable with the jacket off.  I had a hard time figuring out what to put under the suit.  Luckily there is the best second hand kid’s shop fairly close to us.  I hesitate to mention it by name because of my selfish nature.  Oh well, good over evil and all – Aunti Erl’s Exchange in Bedford is a great spot to find funky kids clothes for a better price.  Elizabeth, the owner, is great and I have taken lots of outgrown clothes there for credit.  I always walk out with almost as much as I brought!   I went in a semi-panic and found everything I needed but the socks.  I got the grey little boots there and they were perfect!  The shirt is from IKKS and I spent a little more than I wanted on that one but it was NWTs.  I don’t know if you can see it but it is a white t-shirt with parts of a grey and white knit sewn on chunkily with red thread.   I liked the contrast with the vintage suit plus did I mention it was down to the wire?!  I could not find the right socks anywhere so I bought a pair of women’s socks and then cut and sewed them to size.   I used 2 of the button’s from my Granny’s stash to shorten the suspenders but they still were a little droopy so I every so lightly stitched them to the shirt.  It made the diaper change a challenge but well worth it.

I had already picked out something suitable for my big guy who told me firmly, “Oh no.  I am NOT wearing the lederhosen!”  Have I mentioned the lederhosen before?  They are also thrifted and in perfect condition.  My oldest agreed to try them on for me once but made it clear there would be no repeat performance.  The lederhosen is now a family joke/threat.  Here’s an example of the power of the lederhosen.  Scene:  morning before school or as I like to call it, the dark period.  Let’s say my oldest is dragging his feet or complaining to the (my) breaking point and so I say something like, “Would you rather wear the lederhosen to school today?  It can be arranged…”  Works every time.    While at Aunti Erl’s I found a really cool pants and vest set, just the right size, color and softness to pass the many stringent tests of my big guy.  As incentive to wear the vest I let him pair it with a soft shirt underneath. He has a hatred for button down shirts that has nothing to do with fashion.  It’s a tactile thing, so the soft Italian combo fit the bill.

More importantly than looking damn cute, the boys held it together beautifully for a 6 hour affair.  Yup, 6 hour Bar Mitzvah.  As you know we like a themed birthday party around here so my oldest said afterward, “I think that was a disco & candy party”.  There was a DJ and a Teen Wrangler.  This guy worked hard.   I’m not happy with the photos.  I will be putting “attachment flash” on my Hannukah list.  But here they are so you can hopefully get the feel.

One of my favorite shots is this one of the big guy’s first time saddling up to a bar.  The bartender’s face expression in this one, coupled with the wine he was flowin’, made me love him momentarily.

Here’s my niece and nephews:  busting a move, doing to limbo and sitting quietly during the service!

Here are 2 of my favorite cousins of my husband.  I was thrilled to sit with them at big bad table 13. We had nice chats and my little one got to catch up with a favorite “honorary” aunt.

And lastly.  I don’t know the kid but I’m guess if ever there was a kid who didn’t need a big ass pixie stick it was this guy.  Here he is bowing to the DJ/fun booth and snorting something a lot more potent than pixie dust!