Pumpkin Carving

We enjoyed what I'm pretty sure was the last of our beautiful fall days on Sunday.  Raking leaves and carving pumpkins... perfect way to spend our afternoon.  

The colors have been so beautiful this year.  I don't think you can beat the colors of a Midwestern fall.  

Many of our trees are bare and there is actually a chance of snow, ummm... TOMORROW.  But, fall has been gorgeous so I'll focus on that.  

Claire was set on designing a chevron pumpkin (totally my daughter).  Justin required her to rethink that after realizing how long it would take to carve her drawn on design.

This is Emma faking a happy face.  She was totally grossed out by the pumpkin guts. Oh, and side note... she changes into this leotard every.single.day.

Claire thought it was awesome.  

Mama got in on the action!

Proof Char was there.

Claire's on the left, mine in the middle, Emma's on the right

Happy Fall, y'all!

today

Claire's school had it's annual fall fun fair this afternoon.  I gathered up my crew of Frozen characters and walked over to join in on the crazy chaos fun.  Justin left for a work event yesterday and won't get back until after midnight tonight so I was flying solo for this.  P.S. weekend training for work = so not my favorite

I kind of love our homemade baby Olaf.

Life size version of Operation... awesome!

Some of Claire's kindergarten buddies waiting for pumpkin bowling.

It was a fun afternoon for the girls!  But, full disclosure, it kind of sucked for me.  The whole day was a bust and I blame my crappy attitude.  When my hubby is gone for work on the weekend, it's just hard to deal.  I attempted to make the weekend fun for us - I let the girls stay up late and watch Frozen last night.  Enter mistake #1.  My children need sleep and will not sleep in no matter how late they stay up.  So this morning just started off terrible because a certain (middle) child had melt down after melt down all day.  Which led to lots of consequences.  Which is vey exhausting to follow through with over and over again.  Which led to said child telling me how much she DOESN'T like me.  Which started to get to me after the 10th or so time.  Which led me to sit on my bed and cry like a baby after my kids were finally in bed tonight.  Parenting is hard.  Parenting three is crazy hard.  Parenting three without reinforcements is just plain insane.

Anyway. This post was about our Halloween fun fair and my crazy emotions hijacked it.  I think it's time for a glass of wine and mindless tv. 

Halloween 2013

The girls had a super fun-filled Halloween!  This was the first year they were both pretty opinionated about their costumes.  Claire was so excited to be Cinderella (thanks for supplying the costume, Grammy!) and Emma decided to stick with the princess theme and went as Belle.

Claire got to dress up for preschool and Emma and I helped with her class party.  We napped/rested this afternoon and then went to our neighborhood Halloween party. Can I just say we live in pretty much the coolest neighborhood EVER?  We had pizza and lots of yummy food, tasty adult beverages (boo that I missed out on those!), crafts, games, and even a 'hayrack' ride (hay in the back of a pick up truck).  SO fun!  And then there's the house who gives candy out to the kids AND margaritas to the parents.  Holla!  Except I couldn't partake.  Next year! ;)

We invited our Iraqi friends to trick or treat with us.  This is their first fall in the states which means their first Halloween.  It only took a few houses before their daughter got the hang of it.  Before long, she was leading the pack up to each house!

  

                                   



                                      (Hey Katie!)



Oh, and can I just say trick or treating in 73 degrees was amazing!  No long sleeves or long pants required.

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin carving 20-13 has come and gone.  Instead of going all out with one of his crazy carvings this year, Justin decided to let the girls draw their own designs on the pumpkins and then carve those.  It was SO fun to see what the girls came up with... and Justin carved them exactly how they were drawn on the pumpkins.  Hilarious!

                                Cleaning out the pumpkins



                        Drawing their designs..




                                                          Finished products!

Happy Halloween!

Our little kitty & puppy

Playgroup Halloween party

Getting ready to trick or treat with friends

Minnie 

Claire and her beloved Miss Ashley

Em & sweet Caroline

Pumpkins 2012

I think Justin's new goal in life is to outdo himself each year when it comes to pumpkin carving.  This year he had his idea ahead of time and even picked out the pumpkins based on his vision.  The girls helped him clean out the pumpkins and then Justin got to work.  

Claire doing her share.

Emma was more into watching than helping.

Working hard..

Justin gets more creative and ambitious with his creations each year.  Here are some from previous years...

Iowa pumpkin 2008

Schumacher Family Pumpkins 2010

Dora & Boots 2011

and here are this year's...

He was super excited about the verse he chose from Luke (2:32)... Jesus is a light to reveal God to the nations, light inside the pumpkin illuminating the verse... ;)  Such a cool visual.  But an even cooler reminder that JESUS is the way.  It is through Him that we see God and through Him that all nations will come to know the one true God.

Trick or Treating

...and she's off!

Trying to catch her sister!

Claire and Natalie.  Claire loves her 'big girl friend' and calls her Matalie.  :)

Neighbors!

After all the fun!

Check out her loot!!