Pumpkin Carving

The hayride we went on last week included a pumpkin for each person, and they all ended up at our house. The kids decided they wanted to have a pumpkin carving party, so I made up a big pot of chili and they all came over.

I love pumpkins. I had them lined up by the front door with a pot of mums.

It finally rained here, so we had to dry off the pumpkins before we could even carve them.

Here everyone is getting ready to create...

Shawn is in deep concentration...

Jackson is rolling up his sleeves to help Shannon and Jason...
He helped scoop out the "guts"

One moment it was quiet...everyone was busy carving their own pumpkins..., and Jackson announced, "Look, I'm using a sharp tool". Now that will get your attention real fast.

Mother and Daddy kept Hudson entertained while I took pics.

We laughed a lot.

Made silly faces


and posed for pictures

Shawn and Darris with their spiderweb and owl pumpkins...

This is Darris' pumpkin lit up on the stairs.

You can see two of my little mice I cut from construction paper. The patterns come from Martha Stewart's website.



Here are the pumpkin carvers and their masterpieces.
Shannon and Jason carved Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story. Joey stuck with the traditional Jack-O-Lantern face.

Spooky...

It was a fun night. I hope our pumpkins last until Halloween.


Happy carving,

Family Fall Fun

Yesterday, my family decided to go on a picnic at a local farm. I threw together some apple muffins and Rice Krispy treats, some drinks, chips, hotdogs and buns. I even got out some thermoses to put boiling water in for hot chocolate and cider, but the day was so hot we were not interested. We also thought it would be a good opportunity to take some pictures of the boys. Well, we got some good pictures, but most of them were only good of one boy or the other. Why is it so hard to get two kids to look at you at the same time?

There was an old wagon we put them in...

and an antique buggy...

Hudson enjoyed the table full of pumpkins.
The boys played in a vat of feed corn.

There were swings...

things to climb on...

a bonfire...we cooked hot dogs


Even Mother and Daddy got to come. They don't get to go much, so I know it did them good, even though I am sure they are very tired.

Marshmellows are good, and messy.

Then we went on a hayride to a pumpkin patch where we got to choose our own pumpkin

Here is Shannon's family.

and the Newlyweds, Shawn and Darris

Jackson had to hunt for just the right pumpkin.

Shannon and Hudson guarded their pumpkins.

Even Joey and I found ours.

Here are all my kids.

and 2 little barefooted boys in the hay...

We had such a beautiful, although a bit hot, day. Sometimes the best memories are made when you just up and go do something without too much planning.

Happy Fall, y'all.