Picture October: Day 31

This year's Jack 0'Lantern.  Happy Halloween!

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: Day 2

"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" ~ 2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

16.  Apple pie with vanilla ice cream
17.  Knowing my family is together and safe when the power went out
18.  Mulled cider
19.  Leaves dancing on the wind
20.  Silence
21.  Clean laundry
22.  Mad DIY skills
23.  Carving jack o'lanterns
24.  Warm fuzzy socks
25.  The man of the house and the grand baby laughing together


For the month of November I am going to focus on giving thanks for each of the blessings in my life. Each day will include a post listing at few things I am thankful for. The purpose being to help me foster and develop a spirit of gratitude and praise into my life.

It is my prayer that each of you will chime in along the way and share a few things you are grateful for also.

Baby Pumpkins

The grand baby carves his first jack o' lantern!

This is gonna be fun!

Hmmm... what's in here?

ewwwwww!!!!

This does NOT taste like Oma's pumpkin muffins!

Squishy pumpkin guts... Hey - this IS fun!

Don't look yet!

2 little punkins!

It's The Great Pumpkin!

 

Last night was Jack o'Lantern carving time in our home.

Each kid (the Princess, the Little Man, and the Nieces) gets a pumpkin.  This process is interesting enough to watch on its own.  Will the pumpkin be picked for its roundness?  Having a unique shape?  Flawless flesh?  Because of the size?  Each child has his or her own criteria for the perfect jack o'lantern pumpkin.

The next step of course involves choosing just the right design for each jack o'lantern.  Silly or Scary?  This might be determined quickly.  Or it might involve great amounts of time pouring over jack o'lantern templates online to find just what fits the mood one is seeking for this year's creation. 

Then the fun really begins... 
The scoring of the design into the pumpkin flesh. 
Opening it up, and diving elbow deep into the heart of the pumpkin. 
Scooping out the strong smelling, stringy, slimy guts. 
And separating out all the seeds for roasting. 
Carefully cutting out the design.

And then finally... Finally... the moment of truth.  Carrying the finished product outside into the dark night and lighting the candle to reveal your finished Jack o'Lantern.