Carving Pumpkins

For all the grumbling that my family did about white pumpkins... I did not even get to carve one. Brandon and Eddie grabbed them right away. Hmmmph! Ryan described to me how he wanted his face. Brandon took right away to creating his own and used the special kids pumpkin knife to carve on his own. Eddie is always on a mission to out do us all on the final product. He is really good at carving pumpkins. Brandon's turned out cool... he made eyes in the shapes of stars. This year I FINALLY MASTERED roasting the pumpkin seeds!!! I put them on a foil lined cookie sheet, drizzled with olive oil and salted them. Then put them in the oven on 357 for about 30-45 minutes until they were brown. YUMMMMMMYYYYY!!!!

Our design ready now to carve for Ryan

No peeking, wait until I am done Mom

Eddie stole my white pumpkin!!!!!

Brandon working on the lid

Attractive isn't it!

Still Working on My Lid

I got the lid completed on Ryan's pumpkin

Daddy, don't drop that goop on me!

Mom, this is gross, I cannot get all these seeds out!

Brandon trying to pull the lid off while Ryan works to clean out his pumpkin

Eddie cleaning out his pumpkin

Don't do it dad, you will get sick! SIKKEEEE!

Really, I do not photograph well!

The boys with their finished pumpkins

Me and the Boys with our pumpkins

Our Pumpkin Family! Happy Halloween!

Muck Dogs Fall Ball Comes to an End

We celebrated the end of the Fall Ball season for Brandon's team at Fosters Grille today. The families and team members got together for lunch and arcade games. Pam Evans made the cake for the kids. Each player received a trophy for their hard work this season. Coach Marc presented them to each one and then we gave out coaches thank-you gifts. Below are some pictures of Brandon at bat during a game at Loriella Park.

Waiting for HIS pitch!

Ball nicked his foot, so he was walked to 1st base.

A Rainy Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Belvedeere Plantation

Had to get a picture of the John Deere

Heading out to the Pumpkin Patch

Snuggle with me and keep me warm mom.

Sooo many choices, sooo little time!

A quick class photo before going to play in the hay barn

Look Mom, I am not afraid this year!

Well, today was bitter sweet. It was my "last" first Kindergarten trip to the Pumpkin Patch with Ryan. And true to form here in the 'Burg, it was raining yet again. It was sooo cold and wet that we actually cut the field trip short. We loaded onto our hay rides to head out into the patch in search of that PERFECT PUMPKIN. The kids wasted no time... with 5 classes I would guess it took us maybe 15-20 minutes for all the kids to pick there pumpkin. We then headed back for a our class a very cold picnic lunch under a tent. The parents got the kids hot chocolate to warm them up. Several kids were in tears they were so cold. And even my best attempts to layer him up, had Ryan still shaking and shivering. Our last activity was the hay barn where they got to swing on a rope and jump into the hay. This got them warmed up a bit. Then we headed to the buses to head back to school. I stopped quickly in the shop to pick up 2 white pumpkins for the house which I have always wanted. The kids and Eddie were groaning and did not want them.

Even in the rain and cold I still had so much fun. I love spending time with my boys, but one and one time is even sweeter. I lost count at how many times Ryan thanked me for coming, said I love and just squeezed next to me to cuddle and warm up. It truly melted me on the spot.

It really is so great to be a mom!