Gutting the pumpkins!

It was time for us to get those squashy things ready for Halloween!
Davelyn stopped by to observe and play photographer (thanks Dav!) while we dug right in.
Literally!
For many years, I refused to to this sort of thing. The kids were little, it was a hassle...and that's all I could remember from my youth.
I think it was a few years ago that a friend stopped by and brought me a carving knive.
I let him do all the work - I was scared to use such a tool!
The next year my girl friends came over and we had a "pumpkin re-enactment". The other adults did the cutting.
Last year, I think we were even pumpkin-less!

I am proud to say that this year, I finally did it! I cut and carved in ways I didn't think I knew how.

The kids had the gutting job...and had a great time with it!

This post is not for those who don't like the gorey details!

Ian and Megan decided to dig in the messy bowl...

Ian found "treasure"!

Um, yum?

Hard to believe, but these were then cleaned, roasted, and salted and enjoyed by many!
Happy Halloween!

Though crafty we are not -

By nature, our family is not very good with arts and crafts.
Glue, crayons, paint and scissors are just not our friends.
Too many catastrophes!
But this year, our pumpkins survived going "under the knife" and made up a special "choir" on the front porch!

My specialty (I took the deformed pumpkin with glee - it had sunken cheeks!)

Ian liked the one single tooth

and Megan's goal was to have more than one tooth - so hers had - two!

As Trick or Treat wound down..

The "Pumpkin Choir" was still hanging in there!

It was a perfect evening for costumes and little ones.

And so ended a scary eve...

Can anyone guess who (or what!) this is?

The result of my carving...

Megan's carving...

What the front porch looked like after dark!

A 50th wedding anniversary!

I was privileged to attend a special gathering - a celebration of 50 years together!
Carol and Carey Justice, my brother-in-law's parents, celebrated their golden anniversary!
Congratulations!!!
They chose to renew their vows, and we were their to help celebrate.



Here they are gathered...

The big moment, 50 years latere!

So very sweet and special!
Congratulations!

Our family enjoyed it!

Susan, Kara, and Rachael enjoy the moment

Dave, Cassie and Abby also enjoy

Cassie is thrilled to be here!

As is Kara...

And the first dance!

Immediately after renewing their vows, they danced to "their song" which I am hard pressed to remember at this point!

Of course, then there are always those who cut in!

Susan did a fantastic job of putting the party together!

The happy couple!

A Golden Anniversary cake

Complete with a topper from exactly 50 years ago!
Yes, that would be 1958!
Sheeessh!

How sweet!

We were encouraging smashing, to no avail

It was a lovely way to do this twice in your life!

Ian is 14!

Ian had his 14th birthday on Saturday.
It is so hard to believe.
Even in the midst of things, you know it's happening, you feel it, but
BAM!
Your kids grow up.
Right in front of your eyes!

So, I did a little memory jog into my digital picture library.

Just for reference, this is what you see today:

Who is that creeping out from behind?
That is IAN!

Happy birthday son!

Enjoy the rest of the picture history of Ian, at least in the last 5 years...

Ian was the karate kid...

As much time as Megan spends in the gym, Ian did just as much - with karate.
He began his trek in 1st grade, under the direction of Gary Steinen.
This is one of the earliest pictures of Ian I have, digitally.
He made it all the way to brown belt...
But then he decided he was done. :(

And THAT was Ian, a mere 5 years ago!!!

Thanksgiving at Grandma's

You can just hear the drama and the antics as we went to visit Grandma in Arizona!

As I recall, it was non-stop noise!

But, some time to rest even with an impish grin

and pause for a photo with Grandma!