Halloween 2009

Happy Halloween! As we had been expecting since all of our kids have now been born 1-2 weeks early, we just had a feeling that Abigail would join us before Halloween this year and would be a tiny little newborn for her first Halloween. And she did! It was great timing since my parents have been visiting all week to help out with Abigail so they got to be here for Halloween as well to see everyone dressed up in their costumes. It also was a fun Halloween since we now have two little guys who were more or less excited about the holiday and one little pretty girl to dress up, too :)

Yesterday morning, we were surprised with a "boo bag" on our porch. Basically, this is when a neighbor anonymously places a bag of Halloween goodies on your doorstep with instructions and a photocopy of a ghost outline. You hang the ghost in your window so that others know you have already been "boo'ed" and then place two treat bags of your own on other people's doorsteps. The bag we received had supplies to make Halloween cupcakes so Nana and I helped the boys make these yesterday. What fun they had!

Here they are decorating their treats...

And the finished product!

Daddy and Pop also helped the boys carve a pumpkin last night. This was the first pumpkin that we have ever carved with the boys and they had a fun time. They (surprisingly) did not want to reach inside the pumpkin to take out the seeds and membranes, but they did have fun playing with the pieces of pumpkin that were removed as it was being carved.

Here they are with the pumpkin before surgery took place...

LOL, Andrew doesn't look too pleased with the paparazzi taking photos of him while trying to carve!

The boys had a great time with their finished pumpkin...

Finally, some photos from today of the boys in their costumes and Abigail in her little Halloween outfit. Pop and Daddy took the boys trick-or-treating in the late afternoon. It was rainy and gross out all day but luckily there was a small window of calm weather after their naps so they were able to go. Nate mastered saying "trick-or-treat" and walked almost the entire time (up one side street). Ben was so excited to go around getting treats!

Ben dressed up as an orangutang this year and Nate was a blue monster. He called himself "Cookie" (aka Cookie Monster) and we just let him believe that's who it was, even though it was just a generic friendly monster.

There go the boys, off to trick-or-treat!

While the men trick-or-treated, the ladies stayed home and Abigail was center of attention. Here's the princess all dressed up in her Halloween outfit from Pop and Nana. I LOVE the little ruffly pants!

Nana and Abby pose for a Halloween photo together in their black and orange outfits.

And the boys are back... I couldn't believe that Nate wanted to walk most of the time! Ben had already scurried into the house to have one of his treats by the time I grabbed my camera...

Finally, the three siblings pose for one last Halloween picture before bed, of course in their Halloween pajamas!