Trick or Treat!

I spent the early evening as Wonder Woman handing out candy in front of Curves to kids in downtown Forest Grove. When I got home I took Madelyn out with Uncle Randy and Bryson to hit up a few neighbors for some candy.

I realized we hadn't taken a photo with our finished pumpkins, so here they are getting mushy. I love our big one, I created the "TRICK or TREAT" design myself!

Crawling up the porch at a neighbors house with a little girl I don't know...also a neighbor.

I was very grateful when Randy offered to carry Madelyn for a bit, my arm was dying (I guess that's a good sign that she's getting heavy!) We planned on visiting four or five houses, but that turned into more like 20. Oops.

The next day Madelyn and Kezia scoped out Yuka's candy haul. She went trick-or-treating with a friend and her little brothers. Since this is Yuka's first real Halloween (it's not typically celebrated in Japan), I think it's completely acceptable for her to experience trick-or-treating in all its glory. She said, "I LOVE Halloween! I can get much candy for free!"

You said it, Yuka!

Festive Bib

It just wouldn't be "Baby's First Halloween" without a bib to prove it!

This sweet gift came from Grandma Bonnie

Amazing Feat

No, she's not walking. It's better...

Madelyn sat quietly through an entire choir/jazz band concert at Forest Grove High School. This is Yuka's Chorale Concert, and my vision of the evening included Gary and I taking turns playing with Madelyn in the hall and hearing bits and pieces of the concert. Instead, Madelyn sat in my lap, hardly even squirming...just listening. This could have something to do with it being past her bedtime, but then again, she's usually cranky when tired. I am so proud of her! She did get startled and start to cry when they stomped really loud during the African song.

Here she's holding Daddy's hand while we waited for the concert to begin.

Grandma Bonnie was so sweet to come support Yuka as well. The concert was great! It's been a while since we've seen something like this (brought back many fond memories of my Choir President reign at Westview) and we really enjoyed the music.

Halloween Treat Bag

A special treat bag from Grandma Winkel! Madelyn doesn't get to eat the candy, but she sure loved shaking the boxes like rattles! (Now, had they been actual rattles she would not have shown any interest)
Reading the heartfelt Halloween card.

Thanks Grandma!

Cousins Halloween Party

Aunt Laurel had a super-fun Halloween party for little ones! All of Madelyn's Winkel cousins were there, plus some of her second cousins (my cousins' children), and some of Laurel's nieces and nephews from her side of the family. Madelyn was a little young to participate in and/or enjoy some of the cute activities such as making "mommy mummies" and spider cupcakes. But she still looked cute in her little costume!

I grabbed a grape juice for myself, but Madelyn drank almost the entire thing! She figured out that straw pretty quick! (A few months ago she accidentally got a surprise gulp of Grandma Bonnie's Diet Coke because we didn't realize she'd be able to sip it!)

Most of the adults hid out behind various doors and the kids "trick-or-treated" around the house.

When we arrived, my Gram was wearing a hideous witch's nose and even flashing vampire fangs! Madelyn did not want to sit on her lap for a photo! She started crying the moment I tried to set her down with Gram. So funny. I think Gram did get a picture of her crying in her lap, so when I get that I will share it.

Enjoying some "Grandpa Time"

And some good tickles!

I can hardly believe we got these twenty children to sit still long enough for all the parents and Gram to get their fill of photos. We actually had to tell them they were done and could get up! Lots of princesses today!

Grandma Winkel and Madelyn enjoying the party

Then we had to rush home to get ready for the Huge Halloween Bash that Diana and I threw for GROAN-ups. No pictures of this, because the star of this blog SLEPT through the entire party in the next room like a little angel!

Carving of the Pumpkins

We had a family carving party tonight. Madelyn exploring the pumpkin guts

So I was actually trying to just get a cute shot of the pumpkin seed stuck to Madelyn's belly when she FLUNG (clearly there is no more apt verb) this glob of pumpkin goo into her mouth.

And now what we've all been waiting for:

Baby in a Giant Pumpkin!

Ta-Da!

Then we went right inside for a warm bath!

Learning to Use a Spoon

...What spoon?

I just let Madelyn have some fun with her bowl tonight.

What a mess!

But she thoroughly enjoyed it as you can see.

Pumpkins and Corn

Daddy hauling our huge pumpkin and tiny baby in the wagon.

Petting zoo with Grandma

Tromping through the corn maze.

This is an arial photograph of the corn maze. You can see part of the two-lane road on the right for some perspective. It is quite an elaborate design, and Gary's step-family designs and executes the entire thing themselves (apparently a professional company will do the same thing for the nominal charge of $25,000)

Checking out (and trying to keep Madelyn from squishing) a fuzzy-wuzzy caterpillar Dad found in the corn maze.

Being happy on a beautiful fall day

Adorable little rooster!

...aaand she's done with silly photos

Hay and Pumpkins

Of course we had to visit Baggenstos Farms again to let Madelyn pick out her pumpkin. This is the farm owned and operated by Gary's step-sister and her husband's family. The pumpkins were much nicer than the ones at the other pumpkin patch we visited, and there was a whole lot less mud.

Grandma and Madelyn enjoying the view from our hayride down to the pumpkin patch.

There's Grandpa driving the tractor. He helps out at the farm during these busy times of the year--and boy do they get busy! We were so lucky to come during an off-peak time and get a private hay-ride from Grandpa.

We found some huge pumpkins, and it was Gary's idea to get one of these...for the obvious reason of putting the baby inside!

Family Pumpkin Patch photo...awwww

Sitting on a pumpkin!

Attacking a pumpkin

Being cute with a pumpkin

and...yet another pumpkin.

Weight Check

We returned to the Pediatrician today to check on Madelyn's weight gain. She weighed 17 pounds, 1 ounce today, so she gained about 2 pounds this month. Everything is fine, and she is as happy as can be, even recuperating from the cold.

Here she is painting the mural with her socks.

She looks mad in this photo, but on the contrary, she was singing and flailing her socks around with glee.

Witnesses to the FIRST TOOTH!

It was so fun to visit with Sarah, Eddie, and little Demitri Evans. It's been too long--Demitri had changed a lot since last time!

Hey, we're trying to play here!

Having fun with Auntie Sarah

And as the title of this post suggests, it has FINALLY arrived! Daddy discovered Madelyn's first bud of a tooth while we were at the Evans' home. He was feeding Madelyn some of the delicious salmon Sarah cooked from his fork when he heard the metal scrape! So he stuck a finger in there, and sure enough, felt a tiny, sharp tooth poking out from the lower gums. Hooray! We're all glad that Madelyn won't grow up gummy.