Fifth Annual Pumpkin Carving Party

This was a long day for Daddy.  But it was a great one, especially that part in the middle!

We start out with a chance to sleep in.  That actually was quite needed, it turns out, but I digress.  We had to get in to the church for the previously mentioned auditions.  

This was my viewpoint during the auditions.  We didn't take too many auditions, as this has just gotten approved yesterday.  However, I think we got enough kids to do the younger parts.  There is some debate about older parts, but that will hopefully resolve itself soon enough.  Daddy still got his seat in the middle of a long table, with two other judges on his left or right.  It was like American Idol, with people of all ages coming in to act our parts, read dialogue or sing.  Or rap.  Or dance in some cases.  One guy did a flip on the stage.  I'd rather he not try that again, as our stages at the church are made of CONCRETE.

Anyway, Daddy was anxious to get this party started.  What party?  The Fifth Annual Pumpkin Carving Party, of course!  This one was probably the most populated, as evidenced by all these pumpkins you see below.

Daddy didn't get to finish his pumpkin, partly because of hosting duties and also because he was cleaning out and carving Madison's pumpkin as well.  Hers is in the center at the top, a weird shape.

It's actually her initials instead of a nose:  MMC.  She drew out the design, and this year she even carved about half of the face before turning over the carving duties to Daddy.  And yes, she helped get all the guts out of the pumpkin herself.  Although one of her tricks was taking the guts from her pumpkins and sneaking it into someone else's pumpkin while they weren't looking!

The weather was absolutely perfect outside, and all the tools were lined up and ready to go.  Even better, Mommy had pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin spice cakes, the cookies we made yesterday, all kinds of ciders, and of course Mommy's epic chili.  There wasn't any leftover chili for anyone when all was said and done.

We are so grateful to have good friends come over and join us.  The best part is sitting there at the end, talking as we just look at the pumpkins all lined up, glowing in the darkened room.    And it is a great process, with some doing research online while others just make up ideas off the top of their head.  There was a lot of conversation spread all over the house, and a lot of serious effort on these pumpkins.

The party lasted a few hours, and one by one, everyone left, taking their pumpkins with them.  Daddy worked on his a little more afterwards, but it is more likely to be finished tomorrow.  That's because Daddy had to go back to work afterwards - with all the Christmas drama stuff going on, there was still so much to do for TOMORROW'S service.  So he said his goodbye to the family, and off he went to set things up.  It was a pretty late night, but there was still a contentment about things, as it was a really nice afternoon.