Pre-Halloween

We've had a real festive week around here. I have never really been one to get into Halloween. I generally enjoy holidays and like to do fun, creative things, but I just have never cared a whole lot about dressing up or going to haunted houses or whatever. But this week, we really got into the swing of things. I suppose having a little dude makes everything a lot more fun. (I'm still not dressing up, though. Especially not this year.)

On Wednesday night, we had our annual chili and pumpkin carving night across the street with our family. When we're out in our backyard, Gavin points across the street no less than once an hour and says "Go to Max's house." He has a blast with his cousins and all their cool toys. So, he was more than ready to head across the street when it was time to go. We carved up some incredible pumpkins, did some slam dunks, enjoyed a delicious bowl of chili, had some treats, and called it a night and put everyone to bed on time. Dylan also took it up on himself to tell the boys scary stories around the lit-up jack-o-lanterns, and Gavin is still repeating those stories.

Getting this guy to smile for the camera is no easy feat.

...until Uncle Max arrives on the scene

Not an awesome picture of all the cousins...but aren't they cute?

Thursday was Gavin's Halloween party at Dawn's house. She really outdoes herself with an entire day of Halloween games, songs, treats, and stories. We send the kids' costumes in a bag, and she puts them on after nap. While we could barely get one leg in Gavin's Ewok costume when it first arrived, Dawn put the entire thing on, including the headpiece, and he wore it all afternoon for her. We'll see if we have the same luck on Halloween night. (I doubt it.) Anyway, it was the cutest thing to see all the boys in their costumes at pick-up. Gavin was sent home with a big pumpkin bucket filled with goodies, and I think they all had a great day. We had to pick up Dylan at the airport and a bring him to the truck at the oil change place, so we spent an hour and a half in the car...Gavin was more than ready to take his costume off by the time we got home.

After a few minutes in the car he shrieked "TAKE IT OFF!!" and the Ewok headpiece landed somewhere up front.

Mr. Smiles there in the middle

We are geared up for the real deal tomorrow and then ready to welcome November and Thanksgiving season. As for today, our agenda is clear, and we've got our brains churning up fun ideas of things to do. Lately it seems as if we've had fewer and fewer days without much on the calendar, so we are excited about a family fun day.