I know we’re all done with Halloween, but hang with me a moment while I show you the rundown of the 5th Annual Pumpkin Carving Party… I blogged about our Autumn get-togethers HERE. It’s kind of our kick – off to the Holiday Season for our family!
First, here’s Ellie, our very first and only granddaughter. She was a tiny Hallerina for Halloween…
We are pretty competitive in my extended family. We’ve gone from carving simple “Jack-O-Lanterns” to The Crocodile Hunter and Tiger Woods…I mean as each year went by the details were just amazing…And this year, once more, they brought their “A” Game! (Ummm, Baby Sister went to the LIMIT…maybe beyond the limit)
My nephew Wes was super intense…
He carved the King of Pop…he thought this was a sure-fire win…
My niece Colleen helped Baby Ava with her very first pumpkin carving! Ava was more interested in munching on cheerios!
They carved Elmo!!!
Brenda and Rose shared the carving duties…they are so much fun!
And just look at this adorable lady punkin they created…hat and all…her name, as I understand it, is MoDeen!
Timothy, my one and only boy, and his delightful girlfriend Jamie, took a different approach…the Pumpkin Burger!
We had 2 Captain Crunch pumpkins…I really wonder why? The sugary carb love that the entire family shares perhaps…
My niece Kalie and her friend Dustin carved the Captain…
And my baby, Emma helped my nephew Jeremy carve the Captain…
Why do I think Jeremy did all the work???
They both looked great…just alike!
And my baby sister, Debra…I almost can’t tell you this Peeps. Can you tell what she’s outlining on that pumpkin?
Oh my Holy cow, I’m just gonna say it…
She carved the face of Jesus!
Really, there’s so much to say about this…and yet, I can’t say anything. Her thought was this: Who could vote against Jesus?
I told you we’re competitive. Good grief. (Gotta admit…it’s pretty amazing, if it just wasn’t the face of The Lord in a pumpkin I could have sooo loved it…but I was very concerned lightening would strike.)
My daughter Stephie and son-in-law Jon carved this cute punkin…(Jon is a super inspiring “tweeter” @thejonsmith. Jon also keeps up with my blog and helped design it! )
The bird and the cat on the fence…
And the McKnight’s…my niece Jamie and her Fireman and UGA loving hubby, Trey, carved and tweeted at the same time! (if you tweet follow him:@SoFlyTrey )
The McKnights, newlyweds that they are, carved themselves…sort of!
Here’s the finished products…and do you think the face of Jesus won?
Nope. Neither the face of Jesus nor the King of Pop could top the heart-vote for the newlyweds…the masses voted for Trey and Jamie’s M & M’s!!!
Baby Sister was a pretty good looser…she did say that if you can’t win this contest with the face of Jesus…well… IT’S HOPELES!
After seeing her pumpkin I made a decision right then and there…this family needs a break from carving pumpkins…next year we’re doing a chili cook-off.
I was torn up all day wondering if Deb might go to hell for carving Jesus’ face in a pumpkin or if the REST of us would go to hell since we didn’t vote for it…
On a lighter note…here’s Baby Ava with her Nanny (my Baby Sista!) in her Kitty costume!
And once again…just ’cause she’s my Snookum…Elliot the Hallerina!(And Elliot’s mom, Stephie!)
Did I mention that this may have been over the edge…as competitive as we are, next year someone may claim to see the Mother Mary in a pot of chili…
And with that, the starting-gun went off and the Holidays began for this overly celebratory family!
This day was a good day…
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
You all out did yourselves again! Fabulous pumpkins! You inspired us to have our first Family Fall Festival this year and the competition was fierce. What a wonderful family you have. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! That looked like the most fun time ever! I may start this tradition in my family, when the boys are a little bit older.
I just had to come by and thank you for the wonderfully sweet comment you left on my blog. You hit the nail on the head! You truly understand. It is definitely a club I never wanted to join, and I ache when I think that I will never see my mom again this side of heaven. I had my first dream about her two nights ago. It was so real it took my breath away. She was THERE and her smile was so beautiful. I cannot tell you how wonderful it FELT. I couldn’t help but think how amazing our reunion will be in heaven. I can hardly wait! She was the most amazing woman I have ever known, or ever will know. There is so much I want to share with her each day. So many things my boys are doing. She adored them. But I feel an even greater responsibility to them to be the kind of mom my mom was for me.
Thank you again for taking the time to write such a sweet comment.
Many God bless you and your big beautiful family!
Traci
Traci, I love your blog and will continue to pray for you and yours…hugs
Thanks for inspiring me. Because of you, we had our second (or was it third?) annual pumpkin carving. Can’t wait to hear your menu. I used your white chili recipe.
WONDERFUL, and as Uncle Bill would say;
“marvelous, simply marvelous”……………….
I absolutely love the idea of having this Pumpkin Caring Party. I mentioned it to Craig and 2 of my 3 boys and got “the look”, basically the same look from all 3. The look that says”you are out of your mind woman”! So with that I dropped the subject. I’ll have to wait until I get more women in the family. It’s tough living with all males. Anyway, great party, great pictures, thanks for sharing!
~Velvet
Have to say robin: I am impressed. Impressed at the creativity. At the competitiveness. At the fun. At the, shall we say chuzpah, to not vote for Jesus. Imagine that! But i wonder if I get a vote. You should ask your peeps to do so. As for me…I don’t like pumpkin anything so I would have to veto the sandwich although it was creative. Since I am a very decisive person I would take…drum roll please…all of them. Seriously, I am amazed at what was done. However, I would have to choose either the King of Pop one (although I am not an MJ fan) or the M& M one. Now…I will try ducking the lightning that is sure to come.
Also, great way to start over again after sorrow. You found the cure for despair. Family & fun.
bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Sitting in God’s Place
How fun!! The pumpkins are amazing!
Ann´s last blog ..Dia de los Muertos
Looks like a blast! We wanted to have a party doing the same at my house but it rained for a solid week here- up to and including the party date so I had to cancel plans. Next year…we’re on! Thanks for the idea.
sherri´s last blog ..Here Comes the Sun…and I Say, It’s Alright!
What a fun time! I want to come next year!!!
Those are some AMAZing pumpkin carvings….not EVEN gonna comment on which one I would vote for!! All so amazing.
Take care,
Suzanne
suzanne´s last blog ..
What a blast! So much fun. Now I would have thought Jesus would be a shoe-in. Was it even close? He lost to M & M’s? They were certainly cute
I totally loved the pumpkin burger… so creative! But my favorite is your little Hallerina! That one is just irresistible!!
Vicky´s last blog ..A Glimpse of Halloween ‘09
Looks like a great Harvest Party! Elle is adorable in her costume and you look beautiful as always. Great family memories you are making:)
What a talented family! Looks like so much fun! If my family wasn’t all back east while I’m way out west, I would love to do this! My favorite is MoDeen. With such talent, I’m sure your chili cook-off is going to be just as competitive!
Eileen´s last blog ..This Treat is for You!
Now that I look at them again, I think the King of Pop should have won…
That looks like it was so much fun!! Thanks for sharing…your family has some serious pumpkin carving skillz
deb´s last blog ..HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
That looks like so much fun! I think you should keep the tradition going and have a chili contest in September
More time to get together! Very competitive family you have with lots of talent.
What an adorable family you have! Terrific tradition you have going here, don’t stop now! Maybe you can redeem yourself by composting the Jesus one to replenish the earth? HA! I’d be afraid to try a chili cookoff in a family this creative, the ingredient list may be a bit frightful!
Lisa´s last blog ..Falling and can’t get up
I swear, you have the most beautiful family!!!! And TALENTED….wow! All the pumpkins are amazing, I loved the King of Pop one and am surprised that Jesus was NOT a shoe in!!! I don’t think however, HE would be upset.!!!! This is such an inspiration….I may try to get this organized next year! Looks like you all had great FUN! Thanks for sharing. XO, Pinky
robin–i think that this is a fabulous tradition you are making sure continues from year to year! the memory making that these events has facilitated will be talked about for YEARS to come, so keep doing them! the chili cookoff has potential, but what about having each person make something with pumpkin in it, like an Iron Chef Challenge, and then judge the entries! that would fulfill the competitive natures of the group and still incorporate pumpkin into the event. you and hubby could provide the main course! way to go, girl!
jenn´s last blog ..An Experiment with Circles
Such a great time, such a great blog!
Robin and Mike, The party was AMAZING again ! The food was great, your decorations were great, the pumpkin carvings were great and we had a wonderful time. Your family is so loving and so much fun I truly feel blessed to be included in the festivities. Thank you for organizing the party and creating memories to last a lifetime. Love, Sparkle plenty
Those pumpkins are ReDONKulous!!! Ironically, when you showed the pictures earlier [on twitter or facebook? can't remember which?] I commented that the m&m’s were my favorite, too!!!
Seriously… not sure I ever mastered the triangle eyes let alone Jesus. You people are impressive. I would have let you guys carve while I played with those cute babies
gitz´s last blog ..Brought to You by the Letter F
You just have the most fun!
Celesta´s last blog ..I went into the woods….
I don’t know if I could have voted against Jesus. Brave family! Sorry I missed it. (unforseen family obligations) Love you
Ruthie´s last blog ..Cutting out Monday moaning