Happy Halloween!

It was a dark and stormy night...literally. So rainy, windy, and cold that Gwen's trick-or-treating consisted of going to four houses and then home again. She didn't care a bit! (Below, the first photo is Gwen insisting on bringing her pink bear with her on our Halloween adventure into the storm. The second photo is showing that Gwen looked pretty cute from behind too! And the third photo is Gwen sitting in her chair, enjoying her loot...not by eating it, but by playing with it.)

Olives for Gwen

Jack-O-Lantern Time!

Gwen has really appreciated the plethora of pumpkins that have been around lately. During walks around the neighborhood she will point out each doorstep (which is virtually every doorstep) that has pumpkins on it by pointing and saying, "Pa pa pa." If there is a really big pumpkin or a lot of pumpkins she'll add some excitement and expression to her "pa pa"ing. A couple people in the neighborhood have those big, inflatable pumpkins, and Gwen really likes those. In fact, they become our destination during most walks. Gwen will probably miss the pumpkins when Halloween is over. Due to Gwen's pumpkin fetish, we thought she'd love carving our pumpkin.

She liked "drawing" a face on the pumpkin.

But once we took the top off and started scooping out the insides, she wanted nothing to do with it.

When we asked her if she wanted to help or hold a pumpkin seed, she would make this face, shake her head, and say, "No, no, no, no."

That is, until Gwen saw a ghost (or maybe it was Dad)...

and she realized the pumpkin wasn't nearly as scary as she had previously thought.

Once the carving was done and the candle was lit, Gwen warmed right up to the jack-o-lantern!

Halloween Preview

This morning Gwen tried on her costume (again!) and we visited a nursing home that is near our house. The residents and staff all agreed that she is the sweetest little sunflower ever! Mom brought some stickers for Gwen to give to the residents in hopes that having a job would help her be more friendly. She did like giving out stickers, as long as she could take them back again a minute later. The residents thought this was funny and cute. Gwen helped mom sing a few songs and recite a few nursery rhymes as we visited with different people. She gave out lots of smiles and got even more in return.

Gwen's Got Mail!

Today was rainy and cold, but Gwen got a package from Grammie and Poppa Crosby that brightened our day!

She enjoyed taking everything out of the box.

The package contained no tricks, but lots of treats for the whole family! Gwen got some lollipops, lots of adorable clothes (including new shoes and a Halloween shirt with a "cat" and a "pa" (pumpkin)), and a plate with a spider on it.

Gwen spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the lollipops and the plate. She would put the lollipops on the plate and then try to carry the plate somewhere without having a lollipop slip off. She was quite entertained! Mom thought it was funny that Gwen didn't know that the lollipops were actually quite tasty. After playing with them for awhile, a wrapper would come off a lollipop and Gwen would bring it to Mom to put back on the lollipop. The plate and lollipops even came in the car during an afternoon errand. However, on the way home, a wrapper came off and the lollipop reached Gwen's mouth. Mom was watching in the rear view mirror as Gwen got a big smile as she tasted the lollipop. Gwen quickly handed the other lollipops and plate to Mom so she could concentrate fully on her treat. She slurped and drooled over the banana split flavored DumDum until the the stick bent and eventually the pop came off completely due to drool. She was good about spitting it into Mom's hand, and it was all worth the sticky mess! (For the record, this was Gwen's 2nd DumDum, but she must not have remembered her first which she had during a photo shoot with Cousin Katie in August.) Thanks for the mail, Grammie and Poppa!

Gwen's First Halloween

Gwen had a happy first Halloween! Grammie and Poppa Crosby sent her a festive Halloween outfit. She dressed as a fluffy, yellow chick and looked so cute! Gwen got her first Halloween treats when she went trick-or-treating at the mall with some friends. She helped hand out candy at our house before she went to bed.

Happy Halloween!

Gwen's Halloween Costume Contest

What should Gwen dress up as for her 1st Halloween?

A little clown?

A little mermaid?

Or a little chick?

We have our opinion, but we welcome yours!