following the glow of the jack-o-lanterns

So after all my hard work and searching - it POURED rain on Saturday and we were not able to go to the pumpkin patch because really who has time to go pumpkin pickin?  So we stopped by the local farm and quickly picked up a few pumpkins before it started to pour rain again.  Then we went and got costumes and went home to carve our pumpkins.

A few weeks ago I talked about carving pumpkins and how my kids come up with not so halloween designs.  We've done original abstract designs, batman and superman symbols and my all time least favorite - spiderman's face - twice  (don't even attempt it at home, not worth the trouble).  I was almost dreading what they would come up with this year. 

I shouldn't have dreaded anything.  Tyler chose a sword, and then changed it to the two small knife swords (no I don't know what they are really called) - to go with his ninja costume.  Nathaniel is also a ninja, but for the first time ever picked an actual Halloween theme and wanted a witch flying with a moon.  Bradley didn't care and doesn't really get a say yet, so dear hubby asked for a traditional scary face to go with the long stalk on top of the pumpkin.

What did you carve?

They're creepy and they're kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They're all together ooky...

~ The Addams Family Theme

who has time for pumpkin pickin

So after reading Three Times the Giggles 2-3 weeks ago, I got really jealous of their pumpkin farm where they picked their own. 

So I went online, in search of my own farm, and found this great site that is a directory for the whole US plus the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Canada. Just pick your location.

Pumpkin Patches and More

I found this GREAT one in our area.  It has a 10'cow, a pumpkin slingshot, ice cream parlor, petting zoo and a tractor bus that takes you to pick your own pumpkin - which is the point! I was so excited to find a pumpkin patch - especially after buying them off the side of the road for a couple of years (which isn't a bad thing and totally supports the local farmer).  I thought it would be great to take all my boys to, and even little man would have a good time.

But then of course we got busy, you know how it is. Sports and the hubby working weekends and at some point I have to do laundry and clean the house.  So we didn't make it last weekend or the weekend before.  But we ARE GOING THIS WEEKEND!!!  Just me and the boys (hubby still working) It may be late - but better late than never!  And I'll post pics of the 10' cow that you are all dying to see.  Wanna guess which kid tries to climb it?

So is there anything that you really want to do, but are having to wait until the last minute?

If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done. ~Author Unknown

Favorite Fall Activities

Multiples and More is hosting the question of the week



What is your favorite fall activity?

Well I have lots of favorites:
I love taking the boys to the fair - but I already wrote about that. I guess my next favorite activity would be Halloween. I love the decor, the costumes, the sweets, fixing Halloween dinner, and making Jack O Lanterns.


Jack O Lanterns are probably the hardest thing I do. See somewhere along the way I let my kids choose their design for their pumpkins and being a good mother I would make whatever they asked for.

The first year they got to choose, it was the Batman symbol and Superman symbol - not too hard. The next year it was spiderman. Not a spiderman symbol, but a spiderman FACE - do you have any idea how hard that is. That was the year I decided I was going to draw the line and make them go back to simple jack o lanterns. Whoever thought giving your kids what they want was wrong. Whoever thought encouraging creative expression was a good thing was wrong.

So in 2007 we went for something simple! And there I was in my kitchen carving the symbol for Wolverine and Power Rangers (fyi: I don't even let them watch power rangers, but that is what Tyler wanted to be for Halloween).


In 2008, I gave up. By the time my children were 6 they knew Mommy could do anything. I didn't want to burst their bubble - given time, they will start to realize how much Mommy doesn't know. I want my SuperMom status to last as long as possible. So for Halloween we had one original design by Nathaniel with his initials- 1yr old Bradley got the word BOO, and one fire breathing dragon for Tyler.

I wonder what this year will bring.