Halloween 2010

This was our second Halloween with Nicholas. Last year he literally had no idea what was going on, except of course for the "treats." He did remember dressing up as a pirate last year and when we asked him what he would like to be this year he replied, "Pirate." Since he has grown, (a lot) since last year, we had to get him a bigger sized costume. Speaking of growing....when we arrived home with our little bundle of boy, he was 39 inches tall and weighed 39 pounds. As I write this entry a mere 19 months later, there is a 46 inch tall and 67 pound baby boy fast asleep upstairs! As Nicholas would say, "Sheesh that's a big boy."

This year, like last year, we attended the "Monster Mile," in our community. It was held from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday, October 30th. Not sure if this event is actually a mile or not, because it seems like a lot more than a mile when we are done! But it is worth it since it is so much fun.

Both sides of our main street is decorated with Halloween and Fall decorations and local high school kids dress up in costumes and stand next to 55 gallon containers full of CANDY. Since the beginning is very close to our house, we began walking over to there about 4:45. We learned last year that the earlier you start, the better. When we first moved in to this community there were 901 people....we now have 7,800....Sheesh that's quite a proliferation of people.

We kicked off our Halloween weekend with the second annual carving 'o' the pumpkin. This was something that totally caught Nicholas off guard last year as well. We can only guess what he must have been thinking......"Why is Daddy plunging a large knife into the special pumpkin I picked out at the pumpkin patch?"

Well guess what? It happened again! We got him a pumpkin and then.....well, you'll see....

Enjoy the carving pictures, followed by the Monster Mile pictures.

We did not feel Nicholas was quite ready for actual trick or treating this year, maybe next year.....if we can find someone to hand out candy at our house while the three of us go trick or treating...please have your applications turned in by August 1, 2011.

The face has been drawn, the cutting instruments have been sterilized
and the newspaper has been spread out on the kitchen table...

"Isn't that the same giant knife wielding man who was in my kitchen last year??

Patiently waiting for his chance to show off his carving skills....

Forget the carving! Cleaning out the inside is a lot more fun....

He wanted to clean out the pumpkin all by himself....

But Daddy couldn't let him have all the fun...

He was a little man on a mission...

"If I use both hands, I can work twice as fast and get twice as dirty."

Lisa, our carving expert, consults with Nicholas on ways to increase his seed output...

We gave him a scoop to use, but he preferred the natural approach....

The fruits of his labor...

He was having a sensory overload playing with those pumpkin innards....

This was also a great way to introduce rich vocabulary like, "Squishy," "Gushie," "Stringy,"

"Icky," "Sticky," "Pumpkin Guts,"

"Messy," "Job well done," and finally,
"Don't touch anything until Daddy hoses you off in the driveway!"

Nicholas did not have a good feeling about game 5 which would be played November 1st
and end the World Series...but hey, the Rangers had an amazing season
and we are looking forward to next year and the Yankees didn't win!

Just moments away from the start his voyage to search for candy, candy, candy....

Is there a Pirate Doctor in the house??

Nicholas had just finished answering our question
(What does a pirate say?) with the phrase, "ARRR Matey"

We had just left our driveway and he was already looking for candy in his bag.....

But before we go, just one more picture!!

Along our travels we came across the beautiful Princess Kelsey from the country of Franz...

And now for some real characters!

Pirate Nicholas and Tigger..That's T - I - Double Guh - Er!

Pirate Nicholas and Blue

Pirate Nicholas and Barney

Pirate Nicholas and Spider Man

Pirate Nicholas and Scooby Doo

Pirate Nicholas and Thomas the Train

Pirate Nicholas and Elmo.....he loves Elmo!!

Pirate Nicholas and Winnie the Pooh

Pirate Nicholas and Cinderella

Pirate Nicholas and Darth Vader (one of my favorite pictures!)

Clifford is right....he IS nearly 4 feet tall!!

Hope you enjoyed your Halloween. Mommy and Daddy love you lots!!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

In October of 2009, after being home with Nicholas for about 6 months, we took him to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. We didn't stay very long because there was SO MUCH to see and do....it was overwhelming... Fast forward to early September of 2010, when Nicholas began asking us nearly everyday to take him to the Pumpkin Patch. We kept telling him we had to wait until they opened in October. A few days into October we took him back to the Pumpkin Patch in Flower Mound, TX.....

Nicholas was SO excited to finally get back to the Patch!

Who dares to cross under the nether regions of the mighty scare crow??

SO MANY PUMPKINS TO CHOOSE FROM.....He can barely contain himself.

Nicholas played with practically every pumpkin we
permitted him to place his paws upon.

This year we were able to go on a hay ride....a first for both Daddy and Nicholas. Here is a picture during the ride. (No Aronins are pictured)

Here is our driver. His name is Buford T. Huffnaegle III,
but most people just call him "Murray."

Nicholas with a fist full of hay....wasn't that a John Wayne movie??

When it was time to leave Nicholas wanted to stay and go again!

Pumpkins!

You can't really have a Pumpkin Patch these days without an array of gigantic bounce houses and inflatable slides. This is the slide that Daddy had to go on with Nicholas last year. I was prepared to take the plunge again this year, but Nicholas did an excellent job all on his own!

I am always so grateful when other kids allow Nicholas the little extra time
he needs without trying to race past him

Made it to the top! Time to slide....

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

He had so much fun he did it three more times!!

Here he is playing in a small house loaded with 17 screaming kids!! How do I know it was 17? Because I had to go in there and 'persuade' him to come out...

Nicholas loved sitting and becoming one with the pumpkins.
(while looking for bugs of course!)

One of many wonderful pictures taken by Lisa....

Just a couple of dudes hanging out in a giant pumpkin....

Just a close up of a couple of dudes hanging out in a giant pumpkin....

Here are my three favorite shots captured by Lisa....
ONE

TWO

THREE

Great shots by my Special Honeybear of Love and Goodness!!

We couldn't get the automatic picture taking thingy to work so we took turns to get
these last two shots before leaving the friendly confines of the Pumpkin Patch
and hitting Jersey Mike's for lunch.

Two of my most favorite people of all time!