Russell the Pumpkin King

Russell and I were lucky enough to tag along with his GBear to the Dallas Arboretum. They had their fall pumpkin displays all around the arboretum. There were some pretty funky looking pumpkins. We spend 90% of our time in the Children's garden. They had little pumpkins everywhere and nice soft hay perfect for practicing HIS walking skills.

Russell growing in a pumpkin patch!

Happy pumpkin king

Why are you taking so many pictures?

Walking to give GBear a hug

Hay!

What's that?

Take me there!

Signs don't lie

He got caught!

This one is strange!

Cinderella came too!

Found water to play in!

Love this cute Pumpkin King!

Halloween 2015

Thanks to the high standards set by my sister Megan, Halloween costumes are a big deal in our family. This year I hadn't just had a baby, so we were able to put some more thought and effort into our costumes. The hardest thing is finding a costume that Stephen will agree to wear! So pretty much I let him pick the family costume theme and just hope to find/make costumes that will work... (I did veto his Halo and Star Wars ideas).

After lots of deliberation and internet searching our costumes were decided: Guardians of the Galaxy. Since there were only 3 of us instead of 5, we had to chose which character to be. I would have loved to have someone dress up as Groot, but that would have been very complicated. So we were Starlord, Gamora, and Rocket Raccoon.

Our super family

He's ready for action

Attack raccoon

What a cute raccoon face?!

(It's practically impossible to put stuff on his face!)

After 3 different Halloween events 

I got really good at putting on the makeup! 

Russell didn't know what to think of all the Halloween activities...

Then he discovered the candy...

And he was very happy!

Another joy of the Halloween season is decorating the house!

We had some ghost haunting our pictures!

Spiders also invaded!

I go to be artsy and paint a little.

Used my Cricut to decorate the whole house! 

It's also a Mikesell tradition to carve pumpkins. My dad has always carved amazing ones each yer. Last year he decided to make it a competition. Since Beth won last year, she got to chose the theme. She chose Tim Burton. Stephen and I found some fun ideas for our pumpkins. Mine took longer than I thought it would, but I won!! Woohoo. Now I just have to figure out next years theme... 

Stephen's pumpkin

My 1st place pumpkin!

C is for Cookie

We opened a few presents on Russell's birthday, but saved most for his birthday party that weekend.

Birthday boy and his loot

He LOVED his birthday cards and carried them around for days

Birthday boy and his dada

Russell was lucky to have so many family members able to come to his birthday. Brian, Kenna, Adleigh and Breydon even came early and stayed the night to make it a party weekend. Courtney and Trenton were even able to come up from Austin! We were also lucky to have a neighborhood activity earlier that day, so it was really a party day!

Aunt Courtney, Russell and Aunt Ashee

Showing Uncle Trenton where to go

Giving some love to the baby piggy... I'm kind of sad we

didn't get him on a horse like Adleigh, but there's always next year!

Of course his party could only have one theme- Cookie Monster!! He really is our cookie monster.

Lots of cookies to sample!

Photo collage to see how he has grown

We had to keep with the trend and have a smash cake for Russell: 

"Why are you singing to me?"

"Mom? What are you bringing me?"

"Oooo, fire!"

"Can I touch it?"

"Now I can touch it?!"

"Interesting!"

"Yay! I'm ONE!"

"I'm going to eat Cookie's face."

"This is so much fun"

A successfully smashed cake

Opening presents with the help of cousin Adleigh

Giving his new Chewie kisses

One happy birthday boy!