Pumpkin Carving

We carved our pumpkins last week...the big, fat pumpkins that we got at the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago.  It was a process, because you know, everything in our house is a process when you have a perfectionist 11- year-old and an over-zealous 1-year-old.

Abby was undecided all through the gutting of her pumpkin as to what she was going to do. She finally decided to use the owl template she'd used on the pumpkin she carved at my parents house. Uriah carved Finn's baby pumpkin, although we let Finn help.  And I got my own pumpkin to carve.

We thought Finn might have a career as a professional pumpkin carver in his future. He was very dedicated to getting those pumpkin insides scooped out.

And then he tried to eat the pumpkin guts, so we had to take the pumpkin away from him. To avoid a meltdown, we let him keep the spoon, which he used to bang on the table and sometimes, on Uriah's arm. So...maybe a drummer in a rock band?

There was not one seed left in that pumpkin. She scooped and scraped and looked inside from every possible angle to ensure that there were no seeds left. Then she had to clean off the outside of her pumpkin before she could start carving it. Now if only she would apply that kind of solid dedication to her Social Studies homework, her grade might improve a bit.

I put some pumpkin guts in front of Finn, thinking the slimy-ness would keep him occupied. It did. It kept him occupied trying to eat them. He currently has 3 pumpkin seeds growing in his stomach.

Abby tried to help keep Finn distracted from noshing on seeds by making scary faces at him. He just laughed at her. He has this big belly laugh and he throws his head back and lets loose when he thinks something is really funny. Apparently he found Abby hilarious that night.

Oh, sweet pumpkin guts. I probably shouldn't keep referring to them as guts, but I'm not really sure what else to call them. Pumpkin insides? Pumpkin membranes?Guts definitely sounds better than membranes! Anyway, I soaked them overnight, then Abby separated the guts from the seeds. Uriah roasted them off and we have pumpkin seeds to snack on for the next week.

Finn's baby pumpkin was the first one done, so we turned off the lights and lit it up for him to look at. He just kept staring at it and pointing. By then he was ready for a bath and bed, so Uriah took care of washing the pumpkin guts out of Finn's hair while Abby and I finished our pumpkins.

We carved our pumpkins last week...the big, fat pumpkins that we got at the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago.  It was a process, because you know, everything in our house is a process when you have a perfectionist 11- year-old and an over-zealous 1-year-old.

Abby was undecided all through the gutting of her pumpkin as to what she was going to do. She finally decided to use the owl template she'd used on the pumpkin she carved at my parents house. Uriah carved Finn's baby pumpkin, although we let Finn help.  And I got my own pumpkin to carve.

We thought Finn might have a career as a professional pumpkin carver in his future. He was very dedicated to getting those pumpkin insides scooped out.

And then he tried to eat the pumpkin guts, so we had to take the pumpkin away from him. To avoid a meltdown, we let him keep the spoon, which he used to bang on the table and sometimes, on Uriah's arm. So...maybe a drummer in a rock band?

There was not one seed left in that pumpkin. She scooped and scraped and looked inside from every possible angle to ensure that there were no seeds left. Then she had to clean off the outside of her pumpkin before she could start carving it. Now if only she would apply that kind of solid dedication to her Social Studies homework, her grade might improve a bit.

I put some pumpkin guts in front of Finn, thinking the slimy-ness would keep him occupied. It did. It kept him occupied trying to eat them. He currently has 3 pumpkin seeds growing in his stomach.

Abby tried to help keep Finn distracted from noshing on seeds by making scary faces at him. He just laughed at her. He has this big belly laugh and he throws his head back and lets loose when he thinks something is really funny. Apparently he found Abby hilarious that night.

Oh, sweet pumpkin guts. I probably shouldn't keep referring to them as guts, but I'm not really sure what else to call them. Pumpkin insides? Pumpkin membranes?Guts definitely sounds better than membranes! Anyway, I soaked them overnight, then Abby separated the guts from the seeds. Uriah roasted them off and we have pumpkin seeds to snack on for the next week.

Finn's baby pumpkin was the first one done, so we turned off the lights and lit it up for him to look at. He just kept staring at it and pointing. By then he was ready for a bath and bed, so Uriah took care of washing the pumpkin guts out of Finn's hair while Abby and I finished our pumpkins.

Welcome to Fall.

I mentioned that we took the kids to a pumpkin patch a couple of weekends ago.  It was a random, spur-of-the moment stop.  We had to go to Sioux City, IA for Sunday brunch (work-related for Uriah...the hardships of the job sometimes!).  The day was absolutely beautiful, almost too good to be stuck in the car for a couple of hours, but on the way down, we passed this roadside pumpkin patch that looked ah-mazing.  We decided that it would make a good break spot on our way back home; a spot for the kids to stretch their legs and for some Halloween pumpkins to come home with us.

I can't wait to show you the pumpkins that we carved...just as soon as I get the new USB cord for my camera.  I dropped it in my coffee last weekend and had to order a new one from Amazon.  So, basically, I have a lot of pictures on my camera and no way to get them off!  Fingers crossed I can pick it up this afternoon.  

Happy Friday, friends!  I'm going to try not to drop anything important in my coffee this weekend...phones, camera cords, kids...

I mentioned that we took the kids to a pumpkin patch a couple of weekends ago.  It was a random, spur-of-the moment stop.  We had to go to Sioux City, IA for Sunday brunch (work-related for Uriah...the hardships of the job sometimes!).  The day was absolutely beautiful, almost too good to be stuck in the car for a couple of hours, but on the way down, we passed this roadside pumpkin patch that looked ah-mazing.  We decided that it would make a good break spot on our way back home; a spot for the kids to stretch their legs and for some Halloween pumpkins to come home with us.

I can't wait to show you the pumpkins that we carved...just as soon as I get the new USB cord for my camera.  I dropped it in my coffee last weekend and had to order a new one from Amazon.  So, basically, I have a lot of pictures on my camera and no way to get them off!  Fingers crossed I can pick it up this afternoon.  

Happy Friday, friends!  I'm going to try not to drop anything important in my coffee this weekend...phones, camera cords, kids...

On my mind today...

 

• The tree in our front yard has finally turned yellow.
• Now all of the leaves are going to fall off.  Onto the yard that I've already raked. Because I thought that tree was going to keep it's green leaves for. ev. er.
• Can you believe Halloween is next week?  I'm kind of excited to have trick-or-treaters to our house.
• We've never had that before because we've always been at Uriah's mom's.
• She gets trick-or-treaters but it's not the same as having kids knock on your own door.
• I need to finish Finn's costume.
• He gets to wear it to school on Monday for a Halloween party.  
• His first Halloween party!!

• Abby came home from school sick yesterday morning.  She was sleeping when Finn and I got home.
• I think she gave it to Uriah because he woke up sick last night.
• I think he gave it to me, because I woke up not feeling very good this morning.
• Families kind of suck in that way.
• I hope I don't give it to Finn...he's already snotty and has a slight cough.  

• We have pumpkins to carve this week.  
• 3 big fat ones.  Well, 2 big fat ones and a fat baby one.
• I'm going to roast the pumpkin seeds.
• I've been getting carving ideas online, but I think I imagine myself more artistic than I really am.
• Last week, Uriah and I made seafood lasagna.  It was my idea, but Uriah made it happen.
• I told him we make a great team: I'm the idea person and he's the executioner.
• I really meant executor.

• I ran on the treadmill after work yesterday and I got the most awful cramp in my calf last night.
• The kind that makes you limp after it's over because the muscle is still so sore.
• I might have almost cried, it hurt so bad.
• If Uriah wouldn't have been there to help, I probably would have called 911. 
• I don't do pain very well, as evidenced by the epidural I got when I was 6 months pregnant.  Just kidding, but I thought about getting it then.  You know, to be prepared.
• I'm going to do some weight training today - just arms and abs.  No lunges.  My calf still hurts.
• Tomorrow, I guess I'll take it a little easier on the treadmill...

 

• The tree in our front yard has finally turned yellow.
• Now all of the leaves are going to fall off.  Onto the yard that I've already raked. Because I thought that tree was going to keep it's green leaves for. ev. er.
• Can you believe Halloween is next week?  I'm kind of excited to have trick-or-treaters to our house.
• We've never had that before because we've always been at Uriah's mom's.
• She gets trick-or-treaters but it's not the same as having kids knock on your own door.
• I need to finish Finn's costume.
• He gets to wear it to school on Monday for a Halloween party.  
• His first Halloween party!!

• Abby came home from school sick yesterday morning.  She was sleeping when Finn and I got home.
• I think she gave it to Uriah because he woke up sick last night.
• I think he gave it to me, because I woke up not feeling very good this morning.
• Families kind of suck in that way.
• I hope I don't give it to Finn...he's already snotty and has a slight cough.  

• We have pumpkins to carve this week.  
• 3 big fat ones.  Well, 2 big fat ones and a fat baby one.
• I'm going to roast the pumpkin seeds.
• I've been getting carving ideas online, but I think I imagine myself more artistic than I really am.
• Last week, Uriah and I made seafood lasagna.  It was my idea, but Uriah made it happen.
• I told him we make a great team: I'm the idea person and he's the executioner.
• I really meant executor.

• I ran on the treadmill after work yesterday and I got the most awful cramp in my calf last night.
• The kind that makes you limp after it's over because the muscle is still so sore.
• I might have almost cried, it hurt so bad.
• If Uriah wouldn't have been there to help, I probably would have called 911. 
• I don't do pain very well, as evidenced by the epidural I got when I was 6 months pregnant.  Just kidding, but I thought about getting it then.  You know, to be prepared.
• I'm going to do some weight training today - just arms and abs.  No lunges.  My calf still hurts.
• Tomorrow, I guess I'll take it a little easier on the treadmill...

Today we are going to:

• Clean the house.  Oh, Lord, do I need to clean this house.
• Clean out the garage.  (I'd like to park in it as opposed to in front of it!).
• Do some laundry (maybe not all of it...there is still tomorrow.).
• Head over to the park.  Swing.  Slide.  Race around.  If it warms up, that is.
• Nap.  Nap long time.  (Both of us...I didn't sleep very well last night, so family nap today!)
• Read all of our books all over again...and since we've already read every single book this morning, maybe we will go to the library and get some new books to read.
• Make a menu for next week (I didn't have one last week and I felt very frazzled every evening!).
• Bake something...sweet?  Savory?  Okay, both!
• Put some apple cider on the stove to simmer so my house smells like fall.  And so my insides warm up; it's a bit brisk today.
• Finish the first season of Weeds (with a glass of wine after the kids go to bed, of course!) 

What are your plans for this weekend?  All day pajama day?  Or do you have something more productive in mind...

• Clean the house.  Oh, Lord, do I need to clean this house.
• Clean out the garage.  (I'd like to park in it as opposed to in front of it!).
• Do some laundry (maybe not all of it...there is still tomorrow.).
• Head over to the park.  Swing.  Slide.  Race around.  If it warms up, that is.
• Nap.  Nap long time.  (Both of us...I didn't sleep very well last night, so family nap today!)
• Read all of our books all over again...and since we've already read every single book this morning, maybe we will go to the library and get some new books to read.
• Make a menu for next week (I didn't have one last week and I felt very frazzled every evening!).
• Bake something...sweet?  Savory?  Okay, both!
• Put some apple cider on the stove to simmer so my house smells like fall.  And so my insides warm up; it's a bit brisk today.
• Finish the first season of Weeds (with a glass of wine after the kids go to bed, of course!) 

What are your plans for this weekend?  All day pajama day?  Or do you have something more productive in mind...

2 years of wedded bliss...

There was a couple from Iowa in the news this week.  Norma and Gordon were married for 72 years.  They were in a car accident and they died an hour apart, holding hands.

I know that it seems strange to mention it in a post about our anniversary*, but when I was talking about Norma and Gordon with Uriah this evening, he said how lucky they were to be apart for only an hour.

Uriah...I hope we have at least 70 more years together.
And I will hold your hand every single one of those days.

*Our actual anniversary was on Monday, but I have been very busy doing laundry from our anniversary weekend getaway and haven't time to dump my camera.
**You can read about Norma and Gordon here.

There was a couple from Iowa in the news this week.  Norma and Gordon were married for 72 years.  They were in a car accident and they died an hour apart, holding hands.

I know that it seems strange to mention it in a post about our anniversary*, but when I was talking about Norma and Gordon with Uriah this evening, he said how lucky they were to be apart for only an hour.

Uriah...I hope we have at least 70 more years together.
And I will hold your hand every single one of those days.

*Our actual anniversary was on Monday, but I have been very busy doing laundry from our anniversary weekend getaway and haven't time to dump my camera.
**You can read about Norma and Gordon here.