Sweeneyblog v2.0: Elmo's Halloween and Our First Non-family Visitors!!

'Tis the season...for Halloween pictures. So, here you go. Also, we finally had Friends visit us - it was great to have the Cicaks come stay in lovely Lakewood. We were anxious to see how Ellie would handle having another child sharing her toys, in her space, and just all around "present." But she was a great hostess, and learned to take turns. She loved helping Kyle with things, and she found a new crush in Gail. She wouldn't leave her alone - it was cute, until it got a little annoying! It gives us great hope that she will want to be a loving, big sister, even when the new baby never leaves!

Anyway, enjoy the pictures. There will be some stories to go with the pictures as you scroll through.

I (Emily) was really intent on us going to a real pumpkin patch this year to find our own pumpkin and also take a hayride. I thought it would be a lot of fun. We didn't know that part of finding your own pumpkin involves picking a green one. Yup, there it is - our beautiful green pumpkin - the only one on the block!

Another great aspect of the pumpkin patch expedition was that it was very cold and windy. So, the hayride was a bit brisk. Ellie was very excited by the horses, though, so that was at least cute.

In case you were wondering, Elmo did reappear for Halloween. We actually went to Cincinnati to enjoy the festivities with family. We walked around Grammy and Papa Sweeney's neighborhood. Here are our Cincinnati pumpkins - one that Andy carved and one that Ellie drew on. Apparently in Cincinnati, you show off orange pumpkins - who knew.

The day before Halloween, Cincinnati was having beautiful 75 degree weather. Luckily Halloween was also beautiful, but it was chillier - thank goodness because Elmo gets very hot otherwise. I think her costume could also act as a snow suit come winter. But as for Halloween evening, she was very content and cute.

Other cute things she did during the evening included walking around to some houses to get candy. She figured out the routine quite easily, and she did a nice job of saying "thaaannnkks." When she finished walking around, she stood on the driveway yelling at kids to come get candy, saying, "Kids, come!!!" And then lastly, she decided that she had had enough candy to show off her very fast running skills. In between kids coming for candy, she ran down the sidewalk, yelling, "I run fast." It was debatable whether she was fast, but it kept her busy.

Our Visitors!!!
Our standard shot of Cleveland with visitors. If you decide to come see us, we will plan a trip to Lakewood Park, so you can get the lovely 2-building skyline of Cleveland in the background. Again, a little chilly.