Costumes - First Chapter - Santa suits

My husband, Ray, loved costumes. Probably one reason he loved circuses. So I will go into how I made them. After World War II the country had lots of things available. Across the street from where my parents lived was the school I went to kindergarten and junior high. It had a sewing room. One of my friend's mother was teaching a class. First I made a little coat for my son, Steve. Then Ray suggested I make a Santa Claus suit for him. I made one. I had to make him another later as he wore it out. He loved playing Santa Claus at Christmas. He did not like to do it for our own children but he did it for others. He did not want out kids to recognize him. Of course our kids were not stupid but it was something they did not want to know. When we moved to Kansas City he branched out. The area we lived in at Christmas had Santa drive through in a convertible throwing candy at the children. I think Sally was the first to catch on as one year the weather was very bad so they moved the occasion to a theater. When the kids got back in the car after the movie Sally noticed the sack in the back seat but she kept quiet. I don't think she wanted to know. Then later when we had grandchildren the Laffertys would have a kid party and he got to wear it. By now we were on the second outfit. When he got home he always like to go over and bug the neighbnors with a visit.