We haven’t always carved/decorated pumpkins. When my kids were little I was overly concerned about the evil origins of everything. But when Mittu and Jason wanted to try it a few years ago, I decided that decorated pumpkins were far removed from any evil origins, and it has been an annual activity ever since. We got together to do so last Saturday.
Jim bought the pumpkins ahead of time and then arranged them in a little pumpkin patch at the back of the yard for Timothy to “find” and gather.
After Mittu made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, we got to work.
Timothy, of course, can’t carve yet, so he painted his. Mittu joined him so he wouldn’t feel like the odd one out.
I used a heart design, but it fell apart right at the end because I had gotten a couple of places a little too thin. But Jim mended my broken heart. With toothpicks. š
Jim usually does a political design. Can you guess who this is?
Most of us used designs we found online, but Jason created his own.
Mittu’s painted Batman pumpkin.
Jesse went a little more spooky that we usually do. One of the lights I picked up changed colors, making this seem even more ghoulish.
Timothy checking out the finished products. He was quite intrigued.
But of course the best thing to do with pumpkins is to eat them in a pie. š
Mittu had made a pumpkin pie with chocolate chips and I made gluten-free sugar cookies in leaf shapes and pumpkin spice cookies (both from mixes from Wal-mart) – forgot to take a picture, and they’re all gone now. We each didn’t know the other was making dessert, so we had kind of a sugar overload for a few days, but it was good!
It was a fun night!
Stray Thoughts 
Very creative pumpkins! I used to carve pumpkins when the kids were younger. Thanks for sharing yours.
What fun! We never did pumpkins growing up – I’m guessing more because it would have been a lot of work for mom to coordinate it with seven of us (and it is kinda a waste of pumpkins – we were on a pretty tight budget in those days, and food was never wasted.)
I love that your husband mended your broken heart. If this were Facebook, I’d give that comment a laughing face š
I particularly like the fact that you go in for the activity because its a fun thing to do as a family and builds great memories. When i was growing up we saw Halloween as being evil, evil, evil. And I certainly still think that it is in large part but I’m easing up on my own kids when it comes to avoiding ALL aspects of it *out of a sense of fear*. Pumpkin carving can be QUITE fun (but I’d rather avoid it at the present with 5 kids under the age of 10 – gah!). But I decorate with them.
Also, I must say that Jim’s pumpkin is rather phenomenal. WOW!
I didn’t do the pumpkin thing with my children either, and I regret it. I also regret not letting them dress up in costumes and trick or treat. It’s so much fun for kids, we wouldn’t have had to be negative in costume choices, and it would have made memories. Looks like y’all had a great time!!
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I can’t believe how big Timothy is! What a cutie! I loved the picture of him checking out all of the finished pumpkins. And what a creative idea of your husband bought pumpkins ahead of time and then made his own pumpkin patch for Timothy to choose from! Great idea!
How sweet of your hubby to mend your broken heart! š
I love to see families doing activities together and enjoying it!
I love the idea of the pumpkin patch. The little Timothy sure is looking grown up.
Now THESE are some hefty pumpkins! Mine sit outside nestled among the mums and will remain uncarved.
I just love autumn!
We always “did” Halloween as kids, and I did with my own as well. Nothing evil, just dressing up and putting out pumpkins, etc. Although I must say, I’ve never been good at carving pumpkins. I am AMAZED at yours!! Wow!!!
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Love that the activity was adapted to include Timothy’s contribution. But I especially love that Jim mended yours with toothpicks! Brilliant.
Your porch looks awesome. How fun that each one is so different. I bet you think of your family every time you go in and out the front door.