PUMPKIN CARVING PARTY

This year's pumpkins

The dog (notice how he sits)

Bobbing for apples

Bobbing for apples

Bobbing for apples

DS #1... Momma pushed him in when he was bobbing

Guests

Standing around the fire

DS #3 got an apple

Carving pumpkins

Cleaning out pumpkins

Painting pumpkins

More pumpkin stuff

Nice fire

"Look, Mom. I just finished painting my...... self."

Our youngest carver

DS #3 lost a tooth while eating a popcorn ball

Goin' on a hayride

Pure joy

DS #2 on the hayride

DS #1 and his best friend on the hayride

More hayride

DS #4 and some friends

Sweet family

Finished product.... do you see the owl?

So, last night (Sunday) we had a Pumpkin Carving party. It was SO. MUCH. FUN!

We had guests arrive about 4:30. We were all outside in the backyard... about 30 of us. We had Frito pies and hot dogs. Various drinks (non-alcoholic) and lots of desserts. In the fire pit, we roasted marshmallows and had s'mores.

Some kids bobbed for apples. Some played on the swing set and others on the trampoline. At one point, all the kids were involved in pumpkin carving or painting. I put down plastic so I won't have about 18,000 volunteer plants coming up next year. :)

After eating and bobbing and carving and painting, most of us jumped on a trailer and went on a hayride. It was SO fun. The kids chattered excitedly and the parents, while making sure the little ones didn't fall off the trailer, visited with the kids and with each other.

The weather was unseasonably cool. Cool enough, in fact, to need a jacket during the hayride, but mild enough to wear shorts or capris in the yard. The fire was perfect.

All in all, the night was a huge success. It was such a great way to welcome fall and to open up the holiday season.