Halloween

This year for Halloween we joined forces with my brother's family.  We had briefly celebrated over the weekend with friends at our church's trunk-or-treat, but hadn't done the official pumpkin carving and taking pictures in costumes.  I know I say this ALL the time, but I feel so grateful to be so close to family.  My nieces and nephews feel like my own and they all love Daxton so much.  It's been so much fun watching them interact and share their personalities with him.  Luckily Dallas was able to come home from work a bit early this day to join in the family fun.  It's never the same without him! 

All the kids were able to pick out their own pumpkins and were in charge of drawing their designs on the outside.  Then with assistance the cutting, and then they were able to pull all the guts out.  Dallas opted for one more year of not having to carve pumpkins since Daxton was totally content sitting on the table and playing with his wet wipes...

A very tired Daddy after a long day of work...

Sweet little Olive is growing up so quickly.  She is the first niece that I haven't been able to hold all the time, since I usually have my arms full with Daxton.  It was nice to have some auntie snuggles while Dallas watched our little guy and Heather helped with the pumpkin carving.  She's built so differently than Daxton, long and skinny, where Daxton is short and stout, and yet it's funny to look back through pictures and see so many similar facial expressions.  I know there's an exact replica of the bottom left picture from the hospital when he was leaving the NICU!

Such cute cousins!

Ellis was NOT a fan of removing the "guts" from her pumpkin.  It was all she could do to not heave as she pulled each string one by one.  Needless to say, Heather helped her so it wouldn't take all night.  Will, on the other hand, loved being able to stab, pull, and scrape everything out.  The difference between boys and girls!

Costume Time!

Unfortunately, by the time we had all eaten, carved pumpkins, and gotten on costumes, our little man was pretty tired and ready for bed.  It was all we could do to get him to glance at the camera once in awhile.  We ended up putting him in Olive's crib while everyone went trick-or-treating.  There are some battles that are just not worth it!

A rather unimpressed monkey

Will went as Luigi from Mario Brothers and Lincoln went as a Hobo (aka Johnny Apple Seed :)

The whole gang ready to go Trick-or Treating...with only a few tears to show for it.

(Left to Right: Will as Luigi, Ellis as Princess Tiana, Rulon as Jenga Phet, Olive as a ladybug, Daxton as a monkey, and Lincoln as a Hobo.)

It was a fun first Halloween with our little man (monkey!)