Pumpkin Patch

In 2008 we took Gianna and our godchild to the Pumpkin Patch the day before Halloween, only to discover it was closed for the season.  Thankfully some friends had decorated their yard and let us take pictures there.

In 2009 Gianna was newly toddling...

In 2010 it had officially become tradition...

 

Well, during the last hour it was open for the 2011 season, we finally made a visit to the pumpkin patch.  It was Halloween Day in fact and I just didn't want this year to be the year we didn't go. Iain and I always took her and boy, did I miss his help this year.  She wasn't poorly behaved, it's just the wrangling and trying to snap a few shots that always takes so much effort. We did it though.

 

Me. Want. Coooookie!!!!

I guess in my attempt to make sure that we keep 'embracing life' in the wake of Iain's death - I made an extra to make Halloween special for Gianna.  Iain loved celebrating Halloween with her and got the biggest kick out of seeing her dressed up.  He was always my biggest cheerleader in my attempts to make or assemble her costumes.  So, in his honor I made her this Cookie Monster costume. 

I saw the idea somewhere on Etsy for almost $50 and was convinced I could make it for much less. Sometimes my frugal determination gets the best of me, but this project wasn't so bad.  I spent about $10 thanks to my Hobby Lobby coupons. Am I the only slowpoke out there who didn't know you could pull up a digital coupon on your smart phone?  So helpful! 

 We only made three stops for the big day. No trunk or treats or anything like that.

 First stop was to see our godchild, Nate.  How beautiful is this four year old?

 Aren't posed pictures are so challenging at this age...

 ...these two lost interest FAST.

It's always nice to have a costume big enough for momma to hide behind...

 We went to my parents house and just Trick or Treated at a few houses.

 Met up with a sweet friend along the way. Matthew was the cutest Mickey.
He's also the cutest Matthew.

 It was funny watching her Trick or Treat.

 I neglected to mention that she shouldn't walk INTO the people's homes or help herself to candy from their bowl or make requests for her favorites.

"You got any lollipops?"

 I'll have to remember to do some better training next year.

 One of my parents neighbors and friend of mine suggested I ride her bicycle with baby trailer to her husband who was several houses ahead of us. She said her baby would be tired and her husband could chauffeur the kids. I wish you could have seen my hauling my cookie monster down the block. And wouldn't you know, her husband rolled his eyes (very sweetly) and said he wasn't interested. (Couldn't blame him one bit!)

His wife showed up later and took both Isaiah and Gianna to go find her older daughter. She came back with ANOTHER bag of candy.  The kid probably didn't go to a dozen houses in total and came home with some SERIOUS loot.

It was a nice evening. So happy for the blessing of my little Cookie Monster. 

So sad that our family photos just seem so empty. Missing Iain. :(

Halloweenie

Don't have any idea where that term came from...but she enjoyed wishing folks a

Happy Halloweenie.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Well, we ended up being a make-shift fairy ~ Abby Caddabby from Sesame Street, to be exact.

She saw the yarn for the hair in the craft store and said it looked like Abby Caddabby's hair ~ which it does ~ so we ran with it.

She doesn't typically pose for pictures, but the above one looks pretty close to a pose.

This one below has to be my favorite...

Our Trick-or-Treating extravaganza began and ended with only ONE house.

How pathetic is that?

She totally got the whole jist of it - and loved it, but the dang mosquitos were out and within ten minutes she had three welps on her.  Call me an overprotective mom, but I wasn't about to take any chances after our last mosquito 'event.'

We did get some great mosquito repellent, but I hadn't applied it yet since we were only going next door.  That'll teach me.

"Hello ebrybody! I'm here!"

She had even more fun handing out candy at my parent's house.  She stood in front of the window waiting for Trick-or-Treaters and would yell, "CHILDREN COMING!"

When my mom opened the door she'd say,

"Hi People! Come on in!"

Hospitable little fairy, isn't she?

Unfortunately, Iain had to work on Halloween, but he did make it last week when we went to a Trunk or Treat at our old church.  I'm glad he got to see her in action (and awe) then.

Check out the butterfly on the right....

I'm not sure if it was because my husband was working, but I have to say...

I hope Halloween gets more fun in years to come.

Pumpkin Carving

Did a little pumpkin carving th other night.

She got quite a kick out of the experience.

Daddy? Not so much. :)

But for his carving debut....

....I think Daddy did an awesome job!

Kudos, Daddy!

P.S.  If you want a treat, go check out THIS POST from the Delaney family.  Her sweet Cooper just turned two and she's amazing at all her attention to detail.

Pickle in the Pumpkin Patch

 

 Went to the pumpkin patch yesterday hoping to get a few sweet autumn pics. HA!  Seems like our little pickle has an aversion to photo opportunities lately.  She was so tired that she just used this pumpkin as a pillow for a few minutes.

The best way to describe her these days is incorrigible ~ but that's a whole other post.

Hard to believe such a cute thing can be so "picklish."

Well at least she's a sweet pickle....most of the time.

These are the only decent pics we managed to get of our pickle in the pumpkin patch.

We were excited to bump into our friends, the Hobgoods, while at the Pumpkin Patch.

Grayson is three and Emelia is 10 months.   

 Gianna enjoyed to company.

Is this the cutest smile, or what?

Now, buckle up for some SERIOUS cuteness.

 I know.

This little sugar plum made up for the pickled puffalump that we had to endure. :)

P.S.  Last year's trip to the pumpkin patch is HERE